With the nation currently gripped by Rugby World Cup fever, one West Somerset player has enjoyed a very special victory in an international series with a difference.

Wez Pooley, 34, has returned from a tour of South Africa to his home in Minehead after playing for the Deaf Welsh National Rugby Team in Pretoria.

Wez, a teacher at 1610 leisure sites in West Somerset and Bridgwater, is hard of hearing and has played top-level rugby across the world as a member of the Deaf Welsh rugby team for the past 10 years.

As well as taking part in the test series, the teams worked together to put on coaching sessions for a school of 150 deaf children in Pretoria.

Wez described the experience as being as inspiring as it was emotional.

"The event meant such a lot to those involved as it had entailed such a lot of hardwork and fundraising with support from local companies and supporters to make it happen," he said.

"It gave us the opportunity to work with local deaf school children to show them through coaching that disability is not a bar to taking up sport or meeting your potential at any level."

Wales are the current world champions and won both their games to win the inaugural Africa Deaf Rugby Cup.