Welsh rugby star badly hurt in crash

THE FORMER Welsh rugby captain Robert Jones and his brother Rhodri - who also has played for his country - were badly injured in a road accident in which a police officer died yesterday.

Robert Jones, of Swansea, suffered arm and chest injuries when the taxi he was travelling in collided with a police car in the town at around 1am. A spokeswoman for Morriston Hospital, Swansea, said the 33-year- old was in a "satisfactory" condition. His brother sustained a broken arm and leg injuries and was "stable".

The dead man was PC Ian Godfrey, 30, a passenger in a Peugeot Panda car which, police say, was not on an emergency call. The driver, PC Craig Bowden, 28, was yesterday having surgery at the hospital for a fractured diaphragm. His condition was "serious".

Taxi driver Colin Stead, 43, was also in the hospital with serious chest and abdominal injuries. Two other passengers in the taxi - Robert Jones' wife Megan, 34, and Rohdri Jones' fiancee, Helen Davies, 22, - were also injured. Megan Jones sustained leg injuries but has left hospital. Ms Davies suffered a fractured leg and was said to be "satisfactory".

Scrum-half Robert Jones gained 54 caps for Wales between 1986 and 1995, captained the side and played for the Lions. He now plays for Cardiff. Rhodri, who plays scrum-half for Swansea, was on Wales' tour of Argentina last week when they won both test matches.

PC Godfrey was described as a "popular" officer. He was married with two children and had been a policeman for 18 months.

t Welsh Office minister Peter Hain was unhurt after he flipped off the track yesterday while taking part in a qualifying round of the Commons versus Lords motor race at Donington Park in the East Midlands.