My brother Dean went down to watch Amman last Friday night. They won the game, but there was such a huge excitement in the village before kick-off that it was almost palpable. It felt like there was a big event going on and there was a huge crowd at the club with people jamming into the clubhouse for a pint afterwards.
That is proper Welsh grassroots rugby and what we’ve been used to seeing for decades and decades up and down the country before Covid19 struck.
It’s a huge boost to not only Welsh rugby, but the country as a whole that we seem to be getting back to some kind of normality. There has been so much negativity for so long that now is the time to look forward and I really hope the feel-good factor of rugby returning at grassroots level can permeate up through the pyramid all the way up to Wayne Pivac’s national squad.
There has been a concern that the pandemic might mean people wouldn’t return to rugby and that’s not just players, but supporters, volunteers and those who perform vital roles at our clubs.
Denne historien er fra August 15, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra August 15, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
