My family were all big Cardiff supporters, so as a child I went to watch them quite a bit and also Bridgend, where I was born and brought up, in Pencoed. Pontypridd was never really on my radar as they were rivals of both teams, but when I was in the Celtic Warriors academy I got to know the Pontypridd players and I quickly fell in love with the place and the supporters, who are the best there is in Wales in my opinion. Needless to say, I am very happy with the way things have worked out.
Pencoed Comp had a good rugby reputation – Gareth Cooper went there and Sam Costelow and also Tommy Reffell out of the current crop of Wales internationals. My P.E teacher was Simon King, who was also my first head coach at Pontypridd. I was devastated when the Warriors disbanded because we had a great set of boys, a really strong academy and we all had to go our separate ways. It was a mad time really. I got offers from Bridgend RFC, the Ospreys and Cardiff Academies and Pontypridd and it was because of the connection with Simon that I chose to go there. Even now when I see him down my local club Tondu RFC, it is strange not to call him ‘Sir’!
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin April 14, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin April 14, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Brough is so Hungary to build on early adventure
BIRMINGHAM Moseley winger Daniel Brough says his love for rugby was solidified when he spent two years playing for Portuguese team Lousa alongside Chile international Pablo Casas in what he describes as a \"boy to a man experience\".
There's more to come from this England pack
ENGLAND'S win over France last weekend was a huge confidence booster ahead of Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland because of the way the team gave themselves an opportunity to win - and the players seized the moment.
Ellis was a rock that we'll never forget, vows Old Reds' Dan
NATIONAL League rugby was rocked last week when Old Redcliffians prop Ellis Joseph passed away aged 27, and captain Dan Fry says the club's focus is to honour his legacy.
Coach hails his King for the day
REDRUTH had to dig deep to see off a physical Cinderford side who deservedly took a losing bonus point back home.
Flying Falcons hoping to make it six out of six
SON of a pig farmer, Freddie Lockwood has been a headline-hogging act for Newcastle this season.
England need to be more consistent
THOSE who believe England have turned a big corner following their last-minute fireworks against France are optimists, simply because their record so far under head coach Steve Borthwick suggests there will be more boom-and-bust.
Too tall to be a pilot, I found lift-off in rugby
Jon Newcombe talks to Josh McNally who says that, without the RAF, he would not have achieved anything in the game
Bears on top but Bath go through
BRISTOL looked the stronger side on paper and so it eventually the bonus-point win still wasn't enough for them to secure a place in the knockout stages proved but Bears were left to rue a 78-19 hammering at the Rec and a surprise defeat at Bedford which left them with too much to do on the final weekend of the competition.
Great that we found a way to win, says Sleightholme
OLLIE Sleightholme insists England have finally broken their glass ceiling but urged them to take a leaf out his club Northampton's book.
Diamond's war chest for relegation play-off
STEVE Diamond has built up a war chest as insurance should Newcastle find themselves in an end-ofseason relegation play-off with key players injured, but he does not anticipate dipping into it.
