PONTYPOOL RFC beat Glynneath 19-15 on Saturday for the Opt For Life Challenge Cup in a great game to mark the launch of a groundbreaking organ donation law today.

The match was the brainchild of blind kidney transplant patient Andrew Woolfall, who has supported the campaign for a new law in Wales on “deemed consent” with the Kidney Wales Foundation.

The 43-year-old former lorry driver from Pontypool started to develop problems 12 years ago due to complications with diabetes and went blind in his twenties.

He is supported by his wife Annette and son Lewis.

Kidney Wales Foundation chief executive Roy Thomas said: “It was a fine match with two committed sides at Abernant Park, with two historic clubs and the victory went to the Pontypool captain.”

Presenting the Opt For Life Trophy was president of Glynneath RFC Max Boyce MBE, who is a patron of Kidney Wales.

Mr Boyce was due to attend a dinner at Cardiff City Hall today with the First Minister Carwyn Jones and the Health Minister Mark Drakeford and guests to mark the new historic law coming into force.

The law is the first of its kind in the UK and will change the culture of organ donation in Britain.

Many patients from the areas covered by both clubs attend a new dialysis centre in Merthyr.

Kidney transplant patient Kyle Foster, who is part of the “Can Do Project” for Kidney Wales and recently climbed Kilimanjaro, was also due to attend the event.

Another Kidney Wales patron is Leigh Halfpenny who donated his Man of the Series prize money for the Lions to Kidney Wales in Australia which was forwarded by the Australian Rugby Football Union.