GETHIN JENKINS SCOOPS AWARD

THE great legends of Welsh rugby turned out in force this week to celebrate a new generation of heroes at the News of the World's Lloyd Lewis Awards.

The prestigious prizes - long held in memory of this paper's legendary sports writer who tragically died in a 1974 air crash in 1974 - have become a highlight of the rugby calendar.

Mervyn Davies, British Lions manager Gerald Davies, Wales and Barbarians star Tommy David, Wales internationals David Pickering and Windsor Major, former WRU president Denis Gethin and World Cup referees Derek Bevan and Clive Norling were among the guests hosted by the Welsh Rugby Writers' Association at the historic Cardiff Rugby Club.

All the awards were voted on by the WRWA - and the main trophy of the night, engraved on a heavy slab of Welsh slate, went to Welsh Player of the Season Gethin Jenkins.

Seventies star Davies presented the award to battle-hard Jenkins and the old warhorse has backed the Cardiff Blues star to join an elite band of Lions legends by becoming the first Welshman to play on a staggering FOUR Lions tours.

Davies, a Lion in 1971 and 1974, said: "Gethin has already been on two Lions tours in a row and who's to say he won't make two more.

"He's only 28 so he's got the best years ahead of him. Props don't mature until well into their 30's so there's even more to come from Gethin. He'll be a constant regular for Wales and the British Lions in the years to come."

Jenkins toured with the Lions in 2005 and has twice been a Grand Slam winner with Wales.

But it was his form last season that ended with a series of powerhouse displays in South Africa that saw him get the nod ahead of Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny and Alun Wyn Jones to be crowned the best in Wales.

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The night, jointly sponsored by the News of the World, Worthington's and Contour Premium Aircraft Seating , also honoured two other stars who will take Wales to a new era of glory.

Newport Gwent Dragons' young gun Jason Tovey claimed the Most Promising Player of the Year following the Wales U-20 star's sharp rise into regional rugby.

Tovey, who can play at fly-half or full-back, was called into the Wales squad for the summer tour to North America but was forced to pull out to play for the Dragons in their Heineken Cup play-off.

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Rhys Shellard won the Premiership Player of the Year award after the back-rower guided Cardiff RFC to the Principality title for the first time.

Davies said: "It was a great night and a real privilege to be back in Cardiff and there was a poignant minute's silence for the great Bleddyn Williams.

"Everyone is extremely grateful to the sponsors News of the World for their support towards rugby in Wales. Long may it last."

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