True Welsh rugby warrior who would 'literally bleed for the jersey' ends playing career for new chapter amid glowing tributes

When revealing what he had planned to mark his retirement as a Bath player, the club’s legendary prop Gareth Chilcott declared: “I thought I would have a quiet pint…followed by about 17 noisy ones.”

It isn’t known if Nic Cudd went down the same road after he called time on his playing career on Sunday, but there are plenty out there who would be prepared to toast the 33-year-old former Dragon after his exit from the rugby-playing scene.

His final game came for Carmarthen Quins against Newport. A warrior of a player, there was no going gently into that good night for Cudd. “He was awesome,” reported Quins’ team manager Steffan Thomas of his last performance on a rugby pitch. “But then he always is.”

Newport won 28-19 in west Wales. Cudd did an interview for S4C afterwards, when he confirmed the curtain had indeed fallen on his time on the pitch. There was barely a hint of self-congratulation from a player who has made a career out of putting the team first.

"It was my last game today, yes, “ said Cudd. “The youngsters can have a chance now.

"I am a bit disappointed with the result and the score. We made a lot of changes and I'm proud of the boys.

"I am happy to finish. I have played long enough and have had enough injuries. I am happy with what I've done and it's been nice to have had a year with Carmarthen Quins. They're great boys and there's a lot of talent there to carry on."

Maybe Cudd should have had a career in personal protection, for throughout his time in rugby he has seemed brave enough to take a bullet for others. Always first to put himself in harm’s way by contesting the ball on the floor no matter how many opposition forwards are thundering towards him, intent on smashing him out of the way, he established