TANKS, body armour and guns are not usually part of the

uniform for sports starts.

But they were absolutely necessary when two Welsh rugby

legends spent a humbling 24 hours in Iraq.

Scott Gibbs and Ieuan Evans are used to battling it out on

the sports field.

But they joined some true fighting heroes when they

travelled out to Basra with a party from Help for Heroes, a

charity helping soldiers injured in British conflict areas.

The former Wales and British Lions stars spent 24 hours in

the Iraqi city to publicise a fund-raising charity game, and

boost morale in the war-torn area by overseeing a sevens

match.

The rugby legends braved the heat and the dust to tour the

city with troops, clambering aboard tanks, firing weapons and

meeting soldiers.

The experience, they said, was humbling.

At a trophy presentation ceremony after the sevens match,

Ieuan said: "This has been a fantastic adventure and very

humbling. I was so apprehensive about coming because Kate, my

partner, was worried, but I am so glad I did."

Scott said: "Everybody we've seen makes sacrifices, missing

their loved ones, for our national security. I've endured 24

hours here and it's been fantastic, but could I do another day?

Probably not, because I want to go home, see my loved ones and

carry on with my life."

Ieuan added: "It made me think how we talk about playing in

hostile environments, but in rugby a hostile environment is

40,000 people screaming at us and a rampaging opposition. So

what? Those war metaphors sound rather hollow when you compare

it to this."

The pair will be taking part in an all-star rugby match on

Saturday, September 20, at Twickenham in aid of the charity.

Scott will captain an international side managed by Evans

against a Help for Heroes English team led by Lawrence

Dallaglio.

Speaking shortly after the Twickenham charity match was

announced, Scott, who will be pulling on his boots for the

first time since his retirement from top-class rugby in 2004,

said he'd been getting itchy feet to be back in the game.

"I know it has been a while since I last played, but I have

greatly missed the physicality of the game," said the

37-year-old, who played for Wales 53 times.

"So when Ieuan approached me to act as his captain for the

International Select XV, my only question was 'can I

play?'.

"It really has given me something positive to look forward

to, especially as the game is being played for such a

worthwhile cause.

"Seeing names like Lawrence Dallaglio, Martin Johnson and

Mark Regan on the other side is going to take me back to the

days when we were battling it out in the Five and Six Nations

and then teaming up for the Lions."

Visit: www.helpforheroes.org.uk