Tributes paid to Cross Keys player Gordon Hackling
Mr Hackling suffered horrendous bad luck in his opening game in the 13-man code when he broke his leg in a clash with Batley. But he showed his strength of character to bounce back from injury to play again for Hull KR before returned home in the early Sixties after retiring. Mr Hackling, who was from Pontywaun, played for Cross Keys on 127 occasions in the 1950s, largely as a blindside flanker, after starting his rugby career with Abercarn. When his playing days were over, he ran the Tredegar Arms pub in Risca before going on to become a self-employed builder.
Source: southwalesargus.co.uk