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In Welsh international rugby match day programmes, amongst the DOBs, Caps, Heights and Weights of the players, you’ll now see “First Club” which is a brilliant gesture. Would (could?) the Welsh FA do a similar gesture in their football programmes? You’d very much doubt it, but if they did, they would, in all probability, simply be listing predominantly professional club academies, reflecting the rigid academy system in to which they’re harnessed. In rugby union, amateur clubs will often be recognised by the wider Wales support base because of their associations with players, regardless if those said players only ever played for the sides during age grade rugby. Bonymaen? Alun Wyn Jones’ old stomping ground. Justin Tipuric’s old haunt? Trebanos RFC. Where did the ‘Sherriff’ Ken Owens hail from? Carmarthen Athletic, of course.
With these rich and established rugby pathways, you’ll also get past professional players playing for their local hometown clubs long after their professional careers are finished. Wales’ all time record trying scorer Shane Williams found himself back in Carmarthenshire, seeing out his playing days at Amman United and even scoring at the Principality Stadium for them in the final of the National Bowl in 2017. I had the pleasure of playing against ex-British Lion Alan Bateman when he lined up for Bridgend based Heol-y-Cyw some years ago.
56 ALL SHAPES & ZEBRAS FROM TREORCHY