Page 6 - GRFC NEWS
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 06
MINI & JUNIOR SECTION
FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
Gwernyfed mini and juniors are a thriving and vital section within the club with a registered 170 players taking part in both training and playing matches on Sunday mornings. This demonstrates the strength of grass roots rugby within our local community. The ethos of mini and junior rugby is to not only develop skills in rugby, but also for them to understand the importance of playing as a team, communicating with one and other and ultimately enjoy themselves. Important life lessons to be learnt for the future.
We have completed another very enjoyable season with many of the age groups just returning from tours to various parts of the country where memories are made for life. From a personal point of view, as head coach of the under 16s, our tour to Bideford was a fantastic experience and was the highlight of my time involved with this group of players and a fitting farewell to them as they step up to youth rugby next year.
I was elected chairman two years ago and I quickly began to realise that there is a significant amount work going on behind the scenes by a dedicated group of volunteers, coaches and committee members who make all this possible, not forgetting parents, guardians etc who give up a warm lie in on a Sunday morning to travel to all parts of South Wales throughout the winter!
The highlights within my tenure have been the growing success of the festivals for the U7s -12s that we as a club have hosted every September with clubs travelling from further afield to enter teams and it’s a fantastic spectacle to see hundreds of children and parent enjoying the day.
Last Septembers festival was particularly satisfying, but not without a significant amount of stress as the forecast for the day was showing an amber weather warning for high winds and rain for the day. There was a huge temptation to call it off however with great relief the forecast changed at the last minute so we stuck to our guns and it was with huge relief the sun came out at 10.30 just in time for the start of the festival!
Other highlights include our current U15s squad winning the blues cup at Cardiff Arms Park this season which is a first for our club as well as having 2 players from last years U16s selected for the Blues academy namely Rhys Anstey and Tyler Morris with Rhys Anstey being selected recently for Wales U18s! This is a great achievement for these players and demonstrates their dedication for the game and testimony to our club providing opportunities for players out here in 'the sticks’
On a final note, the Welsh Rugby Union are proposing a restructure for minis rugby (u7-11) to play during the summer months, this may have many advantages though its not without its challenges for us up here in the rural outposts of the Blues region particularly as there is a proposal that mid week matches could be part of the solution which isn’t ideal for us up here.
Following last months AGM, David Roberts is elected as the new chairman of the mini and junior section, and I’m sure he will be closely involved in these developments in the future - Dai is very keen and enthusiastic and I wish him the very best in his role.
Gethin Evans
Chairman, Mini & Junior Section
 Gwernyfed RFC’s Mini & Junior Chairman Gethin Evans reports as the section continues to flourish and grow!
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