Alun Edward Islwyn Pask was born in Blackwood on 10 September 1937 and educated at Pontllanfraith Grammar School and Loughborough College where he qualified as a teacher. He later worked for BBC Wales. One of the quickest and most skilful number 8's of his generation he captained Abertillery and gained 26 caps for Wales, six as captain, between 1961 and 1967. Three of the matches, including his try-scoring debut against France in 1961, were at wing-forward. A double-Lion, he played a total of 36 matches, including eight tests, for the British Isles in South Africa in 1962 and Australasia in 1966. His three games for the Barbarians included the match against New Zealand in 1964. Alun Pask died tragically in a house fire on 1 November 1995, aged 58.