A KEN Waters XV will take to the field at Rodney Parade in a game as part of the former Wales hooker's fundraising drive for motor neurone disease charities.

The ex-front row forward, who won a cap against Western Samoa in the 1991 World Cup, was diagnosed with the terminal illness in 2017.

Inspired by the efforts of ex-Scotland and Lions lock Doddie Weir, 57-year-old Waters has gone on a fundraising drive and has enlisted the help of his former clubs.

Players from the five teams he represented – Newbridge, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Risca and Caerleon – will join forces to take on a Monmouthshire XV in Newport on Wednesday, May 8 (kick-off 7.15pm).

Before the game there will also be a tag tournament involving Waters' old clubs that starts at 5.30pm.

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"Hopefully a large crowd will turn out and help raise awareness and some funds," said Waters.

"I have been massively helped by Bryn Parker from the WRU and the Dragons staff to get this game together and wish to thank them for their efforts in this."

Newbridge held a tribute dinner for Waters in January with the event – called "Life as a hooker!" – quickly selling out and raising almost £2,000.

"Everyone in rugby is aware of Doddie Weir and that he has been diagnosed with MND in 2015," said Waters.

"He and the rugby world are raising awareness on a national and global scale about this disease and raising funds to research a cure for it, and have recently announced that they have provided £2million for further research.

"I realised I was ill in 2015 and I was diagnosed with MND in 2017 with the progressive muscular atrophy form of MND.

"I may not be as well-known as Doddie, and I am not looking to raise the funds he is achieving, but I felt it was important to raise awareness and funds locally for the South East Wales MND Association, who support persons with MND and their families locally in our community."