The Carmarthen Warriors 7s side started a new chapter in their history in 2015 with the formation of their Over 35s Legends side.

Their inaugural visit to the Flanders Open Rugby Tournament saw them return victorious with Kidwelly's Craig Thomas instrumental in their success.

The Legends vowed to return and defend their title in 2016, buoyed by the fact that Thomas had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Their quest to bring back the trophy and the £750 prize money for the Parkinson's UK charity became an important goal.

As in 2015, the touring party spent their first day in Belgium by visiting one of the many World War One cemeteries. Tyne Cot, the largest War Cemetery for Commonwealth forces in the world, was a poignant choice as former Welsh Rugby International Dai Westacott is commemorated there.

The squad laid a wreath at the site and spent time amongst the 12,000 graves and memorials.

Moving on to Dendermonde and the Flanders Open Rugby festival the following day saw the Legends ironically matched against Tyneside in their first game and then the impressively named Les Arlequins Gigot Rameurs.

Both were dispatched in seven try routs to no reply from the opponents.

Day two dawned with another 50-0 drubbing against a depleted Kemphanen.

With only the winner of each group progressing to the Vets Final, the Legends game against the only other unbeaten side Roubaix would decide who won the pool.

Playing like a typical 1970s Welsh Valleys side, Roubaix continually disrupted the Legends with their often illegal physicality. Assisted by some questionable refereeing, the Legends found themselves 5-0 down at the break, having had two tries disallowed.

The second half continued with some bad tempered exchanges until Carmarthen's Gareth Bennet broke free to level the scores.

As the clock ticked down, the Legends failed to break through the French defence and the game ended 5-5.

A nervous ten minute period followed the final whistle as officials compared the number of tries scored by each side to decide who proceeded to the final.

Unfortunately it was Roubaix who progressed having achieved a higher try count.

Despite their initial disappointment, the Legends vowed to return to Flanders in 2017 having still not been beaten at the tournament.

Furthermore, their fundraising amongst players supporters and spectators on the tour has to date raised around £1200 for Parkinsons UK.

This coming weekend sees the main Warriors side head to Bournemouth having assembled a very strong squad.

Once again the squad will be looking for a good performance as well as raising more funds for this years chosen charity.