Wales rugby star Hallam Amos made a ‘surprise’ visit to Monmouth School for Boys this week ahead of the NatWest Six Nations championship.

The former head boy wowed the school’s pupils when he dropped in to assembly at The Blake Theatre today (Monday 29th January).

Hallam’s flying visit to his old school was kept secret from the boys, who were delighted to see the livewire wing return to his roots.

The 23-year-old handed out the school’s end-of-season rugby awards, and presented a Welsh jersey to the Captain of Rugby, Alexi Webb.

Alexi said: “When you meet a former pupil like Hallam it gives you confidence that you can go all the way and follow in his footsteps.

“The boys loved his visit and you could see that as soon as he walked into The Blake Theatre.”

Hallam, from Cross Ash, told the boys: “Rugby was always my main sport, although I did play a bit of tennis, football and cricket at school.

“Whether it’s sport, music or drama, enjoy your time at Monmouth playing and practising with your mates.

“Regardless of where you end up and, I have been lucky enough to play in front of 75,000 people in Cardiff against the All Blacks and against England when we beat them at the last World Cup, my favourite period of playing rugby will always be at Monmouth playing with mates.”

Hallam, who enjoyed seven years at Monmouth, had an impressive autumn series for Wales, notching tries against Australia and Georgia and setting up scores against New Zealand and South Africa.

Hallam has 15 caps to his name and played a total of 256 minutes – more than any other Wales player in the squad – in the autumn internationals.

The Old Monmothian plays his club rugby for Dragons in Newport and is in his fifth year studying medicine at Cardiff University.

He will be training with the Wales squad this week in preparation for their opening Six Nations match against Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday (2.15pm kick off).

Headmaster at Monmouth School for Boys, Dr Andrew Daniel, said:  “It was a great honour to welcome Hallam back to school and a privilege for the boys to collect their rugby awards from him.

“It was wonderful to receive Hallam’s international jersey which we will frame and put on display in the pavilion.

“We are very proud of Hallam’s achievements and we wish him and his Wales team-mates the very best of luck in the Six Nations championship.”