WELSH SPORTS HALL OF FAME ACQUIRES 1893 TRIPLE CROWN GOLD MEDAL

A solid gold medal marking Wales' first Triple Crown win in 1893 has returned to Cardiff after £3,000 was raised to buy it from its owner Down Under.

The 15-carat gold and enamel medal was awarded to Cardiff forward Frank Hill, dubbed the "Sam Warburton of his era".

The Welsh Sports Hall of Fame was given the chance to buy it at a reduced price from Mr Hill's descendent in Australia.

Hall of fame chairman Rhodri Morgan welcomed the medal back to Cardiff where it will go on display.

After Hill died in 1927, the medal passed on to his godson and was in turn left to his son Mark Lanning, who emigrated to Australia.

Mr Lanning rediscovered it and instructed auctioneers to find a suitable home for it in Wales.

He decided not to put it on open sale and instead gave the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame until the end of September to buy it for a fraction of the market price - on condition that it remained on display to rugby fans.

The only other known 1893 medal remaining is owned by a private collector, who has loaned it to the Welsh Rugby Union.

To read the complete article, see: Return to Wales for 1893 Triple Crown rugby medal (www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24048752)

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