RUGBY-LOVING Welsh tenor Trystan Llyr Griffiths has signed to Decca Records in a major deal.

The north Pembrokeshire singer put pen to paper on his contract at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, shortly before singing at the Wales v South Africa international match.

Trystan is mentored by fellow Welsh singer Sir Bryn Terfel who’s set to appear on his debut album – due for release in 2018.

Before then, Trystan can be heard on the festive new album ‘The Nation’s Favourite Carols’ giving a beautiful rendition of O Holy Night. In signing to Decca Records he joins a hall of fame, which includes Luciano Pavarotti and Joseph Calleja, some of Trystan’s singing heroes.

Trystan will also be performing at Rhosygilwen's sold-out Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 16 when he will be accompanied by Meinir Jones Parry and other guests this year are a brass ensemble from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Following his record deal, Trystan said, “I’m delighted to be joining Decca. They have one of the most impressive back catalogues of artists whom I admire, and I’m proud to join a current line-up of classical singers who have become household names.

“ I’ve just begun work in the studio to start recording my first album with them. This is possibly the best Christmas present, ever!”

Trystan joins a long list of international singing stars hailing from Wales, and recently joined Katherine Jenkins at London’s Royal Festival Hall for the Huawei Winter Concert.

Trystan’s interest in singing was nurtured by his grandmother at home in Clynderwen. By five years of age, he was competing in eisteddfodau as a soloist and alongside his brothers and sister in a vocal ensemble known as Y Teulu Griffiths/The Griffiths Family.

At school he balanced a flair for rugby with his passion for singing, joining both the local rugby team and Welsh male choir, Ar Ôl Tri, where his father continues to be a member.

Trystan’s path to a singing career has not been straightforward. After school, he split his time between playing rugby for Whitland RFC, Crymych RFC and working as a garage door fitter at home in Pembrokeshire.

But music soon won out and he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London before returning to Wales to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. Trystan then completed his training at the National Opera Studio in London.

This signing with Decca does not come out of the blue. Trystan was named the ‘Voice of Wales’ by Decca Records in 2012 following a search of over 600 singers in a series televised by S4C.

Last year was a big year for Trystan. He married his school sweetheart, Gwen, and then left Wales to join the International Opera Studio in Zürich where he’s been mastering his craft.