WRU: Rugby News, November 2020
INSPIRATION WES SAYS RUGBY SAVED HIM
New Panteg head coach Wes Cunliffe insists Welsh rugby saved him from a life of crime and believes it has a lot to offer many others in his situation.
The well-loved Premiership back, who has played for Ebbw Vale, Newport and Cross Keys and hopes to represent Swansea when rugby resumes, makes no bones about the role rugby played in turning his life around.
As a teenager growing up in the Pill and Dyffryn areas of Newport, Wes became caught up in a spiral of lawbreaking until local police officer Darren Morgan introduced him to St Joseph’s RFC and advised him to put his boundless energy and obvious athleticism to good use.
The rest as they say is history and Wesley credits the sport, and in particular the people and welcoming environments he encountered in rugby clubs throughout Gwent for providing the positive and supporting influence he needed.
“When Ebbw Vale offered me my first contract, my grandad sat me down, told me I could be in prison or worse and this was my chance to get out of that life for good…” he said.
“…At New Panteg, we welcome all people at the club and I think that’s the same for the vast majority of Welsh rugby clubs. It’s important to get that message out. Rugby is for all, regardless of your shape, size, race, colour or sexual orientations.”
More here: https://community.wru.wales/article/wes-cunliffe-living-the-dream/
ONE ERA ENDS AND ANOTHER BEGINS IN PEMBROKE
It’s the end of an era for the Pembroke and District Rugby Union following confirmation that Charles Davies, who has served nobly as secretary since 1984, has stepped down.
At the union’s virtual AGM last night Davies, who gave notice in late 2019 that he would only be serving for one more year, welcomed Whitland RFC stalwart Suzanne Davies in as his replacement.
She will become just the third secretary to serve since the Second World War, with Glyn Morgan serving for almost four decades himself prior to Davies doing his 36 year stint.
Steve Holmes (Chairman), Brian Davies (President), and Delyth Summons (Treasurer) will all continue in their current roles.
(With thanks to Fraser Watson at Western Telegraph): https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/sport/18825461.charles-davies-steps-36-years-pdrfu-secretary/
O’FLAHERTY WINGS IT
The Welsh Premiership has produced its fair share of Welsh internationals, but last weekend it was able to boast a third Heineken Champions Cup winner.
And having joined Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams in picking up the ultimate honour in club rugby in the northern hemisphere, Tom O’Flaherty is hoping to double up with Exeter Chiefs by adding the Gallagher Premiership title at Twickenham this weekend.
Last weekend’s European winner’s medal from the win over Racing 92 already sits alongside his two Daily Mail National U18 Schools titles, the WRU National Cup winner’s medal from 2015, when he was in the Bridgend Ravens side that beat Pontypridd at Principality Stadium, and an Anglo-Welsh Cup winner’s medal from 2018 with the Chiefs.
The 26-year-old Lambeth-born, former Cardiff University student has come a long way in a short time. It may have been a rather circuitous route to the top, but for now at least the sky seems to be the limit for the flying Chiefs wing.
From being a highly rated scrum half at Dulwich College, he played for Blackheath, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Montpellier Academy, Bridgend and the Ospreys before signing for the Chiefs in 2017. He held off the challenge of former Wales and British & Irish Lions wing Alex Cuthbert to play in the showpiece final at Ashton Gate.
More here: https://community.wru.wales/2020/10/23/flying-oflaherty-happy-with-unconventional-route-to-glory/
PARRY CONTINUES SIR GAR DYNASTY
Sam Parry is the latest Coleg Sir Gar product to graduate to full honours with Wales.
Ospreys hooker Parry made his Test debut in the friendly defeat by France last weekend, his appearance off the bench in Paris continuing Sir Gar’s proud history of producing international players. In Wayne Pivac’s current Wales squad for the 2020 autumn campaign, Gareth Davies, Samson Lee, Ryan Elias, Josh Adams and Parry have all come through the Sir Gar system.
All five were involved against France.
The college’s director of rugby Euros Evans has also helped the likes of Scott Williams and Aled Davies and in the past Adam Jones and Rob McCusker pull on the Three Feathers.
It was under the guidance of Evans that Parry made the switch from the back-row to hooker, a decision which has ultimately helped him to represent his country.
More here: https://www.wru.wales/article/parry-continues-sir-gar-tradition-of-capped-welshmen/
THE WILLIAMS BROTHER WHO LEFT A RUGBY LEGACY OF HIS OWN
Peter Williams, who helped coach two of the most successful Welsh Schools U18 teams, died last month after a short illness.
He was the assistant coach to John Huw Williams on the tour to New Zealand in 1990, when Wales beat the young All Blacks 17-11 in Christchurch, and was head coach four years later when Gethin Watts’ side went to Australia and won 19-12.
Scott Quinnell and Andrew Lewis went on to play for Wales from the 1990 team in New Zealand, while the Class of ’94 in Australia contained future caps in Martyn Williams, Nathan Thoms, James Richards, Chris Anthony, Nick Walne, Jon Funnell and Leigh Davies.
The brother of former Llanelli, Wales and British & Irish Lions wing JJ Williams, he trained as a teacher at Caerleon College of Education after leaving Maesteg Grammar School. As well as being a good rugby player, he also won the Welsh Schools and Welsh AAA Junior Men’s triple jump titles in 1959.
https://community.wru.wales/2020/10/22/obituary-peter-williams/