Five years ago, Gavin Bilton was lining up at the Principality Stadium opposite one of Welsh rugby's greats, Shane Williams.
This week, he is bidding to be crowned the world's strongest man. It has been quite a change of direction for the 33-year-old former lock.
Not too long ago, Bilton - nicknamed 'The Bull' - was turning out in the second-row for the likes of Bridgend, Swansea, Newport, Bedwas and his hometown club Caerphilly. It was the latter with whom he reached the final of the WRU National Bowl in 2017, only for Williams' Amman United to emerge victorious. He weighed in at just under 19 stone during his playing days, going up to 26.5 stone for his last two run-outs in the Welsh Premiership with Newport, and now tips the scales at a massive 30 stone.
