Wales will wear black armbands against England today in tribute to former international Matthew J Watkins who has died at the age of 41.
Watkins has passed away after a brave seven-year battle against cancer.
The news has rocked the Welsh rugby community on the day Wayne Pivac's side travel to Twickenham for the Six Nations clash.
Wales' current squad will pay their respects to the former centre, who was a hugely popular figure in the game.
It's emerged Watkins, wife Satcey and sons, Siôr and Tal, were invited to spend a day with the Wales squad recently ahead of the Six Nations match against France.
They met the players, including Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar and George North, with Watkins expressing his gratitude to the squad afterwards for giving his boys "an amazing day".
Watkins was a friend of Wales coaches Stephen Jones and Byron Hayward, who he knew from his days as a player.
A WRU statement said: "We are deeply saddened by the news that former Wales international Matthew J Watkins has passed away.
"The squad will today wear black armbands to show their respects. All our thoughts are with MJ's family and friends."
He was diagnosed with a rare form of pelvic cancer in 2013 . In 2018, he discovered the cancer had spread to his spine and in January this year revealed it had spread to his head.
Watkins was capped 18 times for Wales between 2003 and 2006 and was a hugely popular player during his time at Newport RFC, Llanelli and Gloucester.
After playing youth rugby with Newbridge and Pontllanfraith, he was a regular figure for Newport RFC for five years between 1997 and 2002, making 118 appearances before joining Llanelli.
He then went on to make more than 100 appearances for the Scarlets and also played for Gloucester before signing for the Dragons in 2009. Watkins, from Oakdale, near Blackwood, retired in 2011.
