NOT many children get to make friends with a rugby legend, but that's exactly what happened when young Matthew Cresser, a pupil with special needs at Trellech Primary School, linked up with South African Gary Teichmann during hi school's Gateway Rugby session.
Born with cerebral palsy, nine-year-old Matthew made a huge impression on rugby star Teichmann, who described him as a spirited lad.
"He was fiercely determined not to allow his disability to prevent him from taking a full part in the session," he said.
"Quite simply, Matt was inspirational."
Teichmann, who last week, as captain of Newport, lifted the Principality Cup in his last game before retiring from rugby, said:
"Matt uses a walking frame with wheels to aid his mobility and seeing him do quite complicated rugby drills had to be seen to be believed."
"He manoeuvred his frame with one hand while catching, carrying and passing a rugby ball with the other - he was superb!"
With glowing mutual appreciation, Matt said: "Gary was great and I am very pleased that he won the cup in his last game."
"I'll always remember the day he came to my school."
As a lasting reminder of meeting Gary, young Matthew was recently presented with a signed, blown-up photograph of himself and Gary that now has pride of place in the family home in the village of Penallt.
Almost as thrilled as Matt himself were his parents, Paul and Melinda Cresser, proprietors of Andrews Chartered Accountants, Monmouth.
"All year, Matthew has enjoyed the school's fortnightly Gateway Rugby sessions and he has met several of the Newport players, but Gary is very definitely his favourite," Melinda said.
"Paul and I have been very pleased that the gateway Rugby community development officers have made the effort to involve Matthew in the sessions and the photograph has, in many ways, been the icing on the cake."
"He is now an avid Newport fan and, as a family, we went to watch the recent Newport v Caerphilly match at Rodney Parade and of course, watched the Cup Final against Neath."
Former Springbok skipper Teichmann told the Beacon:
"The real stars of this world are not sportsmen such as myself but youngsters like Matthew who achieve truly great things against seemingly overwhelming odds."