FORMER British Lion, England and Gloucester rugby star Mike Teague was the guest speaker at Wellington Rugby Club’s first celebrity dinner of the year at the Athletic Ground on Friday night.

It was Teague’s third visit to Wellington and he told members and guests it was a “great club” and looked forward to his next visit.

The club organised the event to coincide with the Lions’ Test series with the All Blacks.

Club spokesman Allyn Chetland said: “The dinner was a huge success – a 99.9 per cent sell-out. We have organised these dinners twice a year in the past and we’re talking about having another later in the year.”

Another ex-England rugby player Graham Dawe, who is joining the club’s coaching staff this season, was among the guests, having earlier met with club officials.

The club have said that Dawe’s role will “essentially be in a technical advisory capacity and he will have the lead input on structure and content for the majority of coaching sessions.”

Wellington have lined up three pre-season friendlies - Saturday, August 12 home v Sidmouth, Saturday, 19th away v Chard, and Friday, 25th home v Minehead. Thatchers Cider sponsored Friday’s dinner.