Nigel Owens column: Welsh rugby just did something very special and the WRU deserve enormous credit

I'm not sure if what we've just seen in Welsh rugby happens anywhere else in the world, but credit where credit is 100 per cent due.

The bank holiday Monday just gone marked the end of a wonderful 10-day rugby carnival, which saw more than 2,500 community players get the chance to shine at the Principality Stadium, widely regarded as the greatest rugby ground on the planet.

Officially called 'Road to the Principality 2022', the WRU-organised festival was the culmination of various national competitions for schools, colleges, clubs and diverse teams throughout Wales. I'm told more than 30,000 people attended, so that would suggest grassroots rugby is well supported.

Louis Rees-Zammit scores maybe his best try yet amid gasps from spectators

It involved everything from rugby tots, under-eights and differing age groups, through to the semi-pro Welsh Premiership Cup Final which saw Newport overcome a spirited Aberavon 25-21.

Senior Welsh Cup finals have historically been played on the biggest stage. Crikey, I still remember refereeing the 2006 game between Neath and Pontypridd, when a young fly-half with bewitching talent burst onto the scene, scoring a try and kicking his goals so expertly.

His name was James Hook. A star had emerged. Just six months on, Hooky was back at the then Millennium Stadium - this time making his Wales home debut in front of a capacity crowd as he was named man of the match against Australia. A few months further on again, he went through the entire scoring card with 22 points - try, penalties, drop goal, conversion - and won man of the match once more as Wales beat England.

Hooky probably remembers that final I talk of as much for the yellow card I gave him as anything else! Well, he did take out