AN ABERGAVENNY man who played alongside the likes of Phil Bennett and JPR Williams when Wales toured Argentina in 1968 will finally receive his much belated international cap 45 years later.

Nantyglo born and former Ebbw Vale scrum half Glyn Turner was 21 when he was selected by the WRU to play for his country against the Pumas in September, 1968.

Despite, playing the full 80 minutes in two tests, (9-5, and 9-9), Turner, or none of the other players, including future Welsh greats Bennett and JPR, who made their 'official debuts a year later, received a cap for the tour.

During this period Wales did not award caps for international games against opposition outside of the eight registered IRB countries, but over four decades later the WRU have agreed to award caps to a total of 26 players who did not receive caps at the time.

David Turner, who will be proudly watching his father Glyn being presented with a Welsh cap, told the Chronicle, "In the first test against Argentina, dad scored a memorable try, involving JPR Williams and Laurie Daniel, that was started under Wales's own posts. To this day it's often shown on Scrum V in the build-up to matches when we play Argentina.

"He also scored a try for Gwent County at the Welfare Ground against a New Zealand team featuring the legendary All Black scrum-half Sid Going in 1972. To this day the picture of my dad scoring that try in the corner sits proudly on the Ebbw Vale club house wall, and that part of the pitch is now known as Turner's Corner."

Glyn Turner began his rugby career playing at Garn youth and Nantyglo RFC, At a young age he made a solitary appearance for Blaina RFC before being snapped up by Ebbw Vale.

An 18-year-old Glyn, who also worked at the town's steelworks, made his debut for Ebbw Vale in Feruary 1966 at Strady Park against Llanelli. Although he occasionally played in other back positions, he was primarily a scrum half, and in nine years he made 350 appearances and scored 147 tries for the club he captained on many a occasion.

During the early years of his career, Glyn was touted as a contender to be the next number nine for Wales, but as his son David explained, "That position, soon came to be dominated by the great Gareth Edwards, who played 50 plus back to back appearances for Wales and my father, like many other scrum halves in that era, never made it past the bench."

David added, "Many have questioned why, dad, who was widely acknowledged as one of the best number nines in Wales never moved to one of the 'big five' clubs as it may have given him more international opportunities, but he was happy at Ebbw and simply did not want to play for any other club."

However, in the mid 1970s with the steel industry in decline and job security a serious concern, Glyn packed up bags and made the decision to follow other players like David Watkins and John Bevan north and play rugby league.

David explained, "Dad signed for Hull Kingston Rovers, and at that time it was a controversial move to turn professional and play rugby league. Once you made that decision you could never return to rugby union."

Leaning more toward the stand-off or centre position during his time playing league, Glyn was soon called up to the Wales national side where he made his debut as a sub against England at Salford in 1975.

As part of the Wales squad, Glyn toured New Zealand and Australia for the 1975 rugby league world championships. His last international game was against England in 1978.

Glyn played for Hull KR until January, 1978 when he moved across the city to play for rivals Hull FC, until injury forced him to retire from the game in 1980.

In the wake of rugby, Glyn became a prison officer. In 1991, he and his wife Gaynor moved to Abergavenny where they have lived ever since. Until their retirement, Gaynor worked as a teacher at Brynmawr Comprehensive and Glyn worked at Usk prison.

David said, "Dad still follows rugby but he is also very much into his football and is a Cardiff City season ticket holder.

"Although it may be 45 years after he played for Wales, all his friends and family are very pleased that my father, who is a very modest and quiet man, is finally receiving a cap for playing the game he loves for the country he loves."

Glyn Turner will be awarded his international cap ahead of the Wales/Tonga game at the Millennium Stadium, on Friday, November 22.