Four former members of Llandovery College – including Tycroes's Harry Randall - have been capped for three different countries on the same day, writes Huw S Thomas.

All four former pupils were replacements for England, Wales and South Africa in their respective matches.

On June 22, in Tokyo, Harry Randall came on as a replacement for England scrum half Alex Mitchell, whilst later in the day both James Ratti and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu got their first caps for Wales and South Africa respectively at Twickenham. Another who came on as a replacement to win his second cap was prop Harri O’Connor, who gained his second cap as a substitute for Kieran Assiratti in the 39th minute.

Fly half Feinberg-Mngomezulu saw 20 minutes of action in the game that saw the Springboks outplay a disappointing Welsh side and soon celebrated with a penalty from inside his own half.

Sacha was an exchange student at Llandovery from the famous Bishop’s in Cape Town and left an indelible mark on coach Nathan Thomas, the former Wales flanker. Thomas declared: “I rank him as one of the best schoolboy players I have ever seen, massively entertaining to watch and a real pleasure to coach.”

As for local boy Harry Randall, he had an outstanding day for England in the 52-17 thrashing of Japan, scoring a try and being everywhere in open play.

That news rubbed salt into Welsh wounds when considering that Randall had played for Wales U16s at Llandovery College but then went on to play for England at U18 and U20 when at Hartpury College.

The bright talent left Llandovery College in controversial circumstances after being ignored by his Scarlets region, much to the anger of both his then coach Iestyn Thomas and his Ammanford parents. Iestyn Thomas recollected: “The Scarlets said he was too small and his pass.

“But I assured them that his electric speed off the mark and swift pass made him a star of the future.

“Some of the solo tries he scored were unbelievable, often from his own line.”

“He’d been with us for three years but when the Scarlets decided he was too slight and his pass was not quick enough, we lost him to Hartpury College on a scholarship and the rest is sad history for Wales.”