Page 7 - BRFC NEWS SPRING 2018

Rhys Iley has kindly taken time out to write and share his experience of moving back to Wales and getting involved with Brecon RFC...
BRECON RFC
AN EXILE RETURNS...
Having spent the best part of 20 years being based in Hertfordshire, my wife Gwen and I had the opportunity earlier last year to seriously consider a move “back home” to Wales. However, with three young children, good friendships and living in a nice area, a lot was at stake, was moving the right thing to do, and if so how would BRFC figure in our thinking?
By way of introduction I grew up in Shropshire, but my mother is a Tredegar girl. Gwen comes from a farming family in Carmarthen and for a long time we hoped to move at least a little closer to them. Growing up, rugby had always played a role in our family, 5 nations days were always a big deal, and with my Dad being a huge Leicester Tigers fan the merits of Dusty Hare v JPR were hotly debated.
A life long lesson was taught though, that Rugby is and should always be an inclusive game, great rivals can be great friends, the team is more important than any individual and there is a position for everybody. I genuinely loved the fact that rival supporters could sit next to each other, enjoy the banter and share the occasion, and I will never forget my first game at The Arms Park as a boy. It was tremendously exciting, a brilliant yet safe atmosphere and unlike going to watch Shrewsbury Town in the early 80’s at the Gay Meadow - especially when Cardiff were the opposition!
Gwen and I have loved our international days, whether it be away trips to Ireland, “home games” at Wembley or heading over the bridge to Cardiff, win or lose, always a good day out, and as members of London Welsh, latterly Old Albanians or going to see local premiership side Saracens, club rugby was always something to enjoy.
So in August, with places secured in Christ College for our children Megan, Tadhg and Mabli, and a job offer as a Vet at Honddu Vets for Gwen, we picked up sticks, sold our house and headed west.
Tadhg had been playing rugby for both his school and his local club, Old Albanians for
a few years, and he was very keen to continue as he moved up to the U11s. Choosing a local club when your not from the area can be a bit daunting, so why Brecon? I can only give a personal perspective, and these were my priorities
Having spent many years in my twenties leading youth clubs, I fully understand not only the privilege but the responsibility you have to the young people who come along, and to their parents. Safe guarding officers and policies therefore were top of the agenda.
But after that, does the club have a women’s/girls’ team? ie how inclusive is it really, how friendly, welcoming and helpful are club officers to my email inquiries and questions? first impressions really do count. Thankfully BRFC has a great website, and Ron, Alan Taylor, Ian Evans and Gareth Bowen responded quickly and helpfully to my questions, from where to go, what kit to bring, club facilities and probably the biggest worry for any parent.. head injury protocols. On our first training session both Alan and Gareth were there to meet us, as was team captain Cai, who introduced Tadhg to all his team mates and we were off!
But what about the quality of the coaching... why was this not a priority before joining? Simply put my son is only 10, he wants to have fun, make new friends, be included and learn the game from coaches that inspire and welcome him. Brecon has that in spades, AND the coaching is first class.. but there is no point being a great technical coach if you can’t relate to young people and work out how to bring out the best in them.
If the sessions aren’t fun, and if you don’t feel included, doesn’t matter how good the coaching, you wont be back. If parents don’t welcome new parents, doesn’t matter how good the coaching is, you won’t be back. Are there many differences between our old club and new? Size yes, but that’s inevitable and size is not always a good thing. We were used to training sessions of more than 60 boys and girls in Tadhg’s age group... but its
hard to find your place in such a crowd. The biggest difference however is in how the RFU and WRU coach their minis and juniors. Now I am not qualified to say what is better, but what I would say is that I hope the WRU is always looking for best practise from around the world. It should never be afraid to “borrow with pride” from others if it going to bring more young people into the game, and if it supports the growth of local clubs... healthy growing clubs at the grass roots level are the life blood of any sport, and ultimately could bring great rewards at the international level. Tadhg has had to learn a lot, going from a 9 man game with no positions (eg closest 3 players to breakdown form the scrum) where everyone gets to learn everything to a full 15 man game with positions. Currently his favourite position is scrum half - but lets see how he and all the boys develop over the coming years, both physically and technically.
As a parent I too was welcomed warmly, not just by the other parents, but also by the club officers, and this is important. So much of a rugby club goes on behind the scenes, often with little recognition, and we must never take it, or those who serve the club for granted, for without them there is no club. We plan to be in Brecon for the long term, and putting roots down, be it in our church, school, work, neighbourhood or rugby club is so helpful in making Brecon home.
My weekend priorities are to my family, children are only young once and we should cherish those years, so first XV games will take a back seat for now, Andy and team I am cheering you on but its the U11’s that will be my focus for this season!
So thank you to everyone in the club who has made us feel so welcome, it is a great club, with wonderful facilities.
But the last word must go to Tadhg who after only a couple of weeks said “Daddy I am really enjoying my new club”, “Oh why is that?” “Because everyone is so friendly and I am learning load...” enough said.
for all the up to date news go to
www.breconrfc.co.uk
BRFC News
SPRING 2018
07