THE final piece in the jigsaw has been found in the hunt to locate all the families of Newport RFC players who the Welsh Rugby Union wanted to award posthumous ‘President’s Caps’ for representing their country after the Second World War.

Thanks to a public appeal by former Black and Ambers club historian Mike Dams which was published by the Argus, the relatives of Frank E Morris have now been traced.

Nicola Duggan, 41, from Llanmartin, Newport, and her brother Richard Brooks, who lives in Ireland, are the grandchildren of the prop who died at the age of 73 in 1986.

The descendants of four veteran Newport players – DH (Doug) Steer, Tyssul Griffiths, WG (Bill) Jones and Billy Williams – were presented with Wales caps in the summer at the World Cup warm- up clash with Ireland at the Millennium Stadium, 70 years after they took the field at the end of World War II.

Now Mr Morris’ grandchildren are also set to receive the same honour on his behalf, possibly at a forthcoming home 2016 Six Nations match.

All five Rodney Parade heroes took part in the so-called Victory Internationals, played in 1945 and 1946 between British, French and New Zealand sides.

Five Nations matches had been suspended when war broke out in 1939 and the tournament did not resume until 1947, two years after the end of hostilities.

Victory Internationals weren’t recognised as official or capped matches by home unions at the time, due to the fact so many players were still on active duty with the British armed forces in Europe and Asia.

An army sergeant, Mr Morris played for Wales in the unofficial international against Scotland at Swansea in 1946, an encounter which the hosts lost 25-6.

He was also one of seven Newport men who played in the Monmouthshire team that beat the New Zealand Services 16-0 at Pontypool Park and in the Black and Ambers side who also drew with the Kiwis 3-3 at Rodney Parade that same 1945/46 season.

Later a publican and shopkeeper, he made 52 appearances for Newport in his three seasons with the club and also played for Pill Harriers.

Mrs Duggan explained how she became aware of the appeal to trace him: “I was searching online for information about by grandfather because my sister-in- law in Ireland was looking for a photograph of him to get as a present for my brother.

“When I saw Mike’s appeal in the Argus, I was absolutely thrilled. It’s all come as a wonderful surprise and we are very proud that my grandfather is to be honoured.