Page 8 - GRFC NEWS

08
VPS AWAY DAY
It was a wet day in all meanings of the word. It started off OK as we left at about ten from The Club with myself as driver oof the new replacement mini bus. It was very useful to have nine drivers who were so knowledgeable and giving advice - it made driving so much more enjoyable!
The first stop was the Penderyn Distillery. A quick tour lasting about 30 mins followed by few glasses of Welsh whiskeys, or samples to take home if you are driving.
Then on down to Pentyrch RFC with a lot more helpful advice from the nine other drivers. A well appointed club with good facilities. We were made very welcome by the committee, had a few jars before the game and when the Firsts arrived we went outside to watch the game. Then the heavens opened. Some of the more hardy ones amongst us stayed outside the whole time but it was hard work and we were thoroughly soaked. A few drinks and more food after the game, commiserations with the team for the defeat and then headed back for home. We stopped at the Llanover Arms, in Pontypridd, one of the oldest surviving pubs in town. Tight parking but with nine other drivers that was no problem and then into the Arms which was a welcoming place and we soon settled in. A dapper slight man made our acquaintance but his friendliness soon become obvious as he took a real shine to our chairman, Rob Stephens, much to the amusement of the rest of us. Still it not deter from an enjoyable visit. The next stop Cefn Coed where parking outside the rugby club was ably assisted by nine other drivers and we piled into the Drovers Arms. We should have gone to the Raglan Arms but we did not. A rather large lady was singing as we walked in and the suggestions she made on seeing a large group of men walk in raised a few eyebrows and cannot be repeated on in a family publication. We did not stay long. The usual last visit to the chippy and then back to The Club where surprising I was allowed to park without advice. But an enjoyable day with enjoyable company.
Pete Rowson Bus driver.
Gwernyfed Old Boy Adam Jones looks back on another season as he continues to climb the refereeing ladder both at home and abroad...
GWERNYFED RFC
BEHIND THE WHISTLE
The 2018-19 season was probably my most enjoyable season to date with lots of great rugby!
As the Welsh Premiership was being cut from 16 to 12 teams we knew it would be difficult and tense come the end of the season as it was more than likely to go down to the final few games to decide who would be relegated. The PRO 14 split into 2 conferences and with play off matches to decide Champions Cup teams and the league winners was always going to add extra spice to an already physical competition and the Champions Cup/Challenge Cup is always the most intense and probably the best club tournament in the world to be involved with.
With so much rugby happening every week the season was always going to be busy! My season all flowed into one with no break after finishing at the 7s Rugby World Cup in San Francisco in July. To be appointed to a Rugby World Cup is one of my career highlights so far - I will always remember refereeing in front of 60,000+ screaming American fans, it’s something that will always stick with me.
The 15s season started in September with me being involved in the Welsh prem and regularly being assistant referee in the pro14 and Champions/Challenge Cup. One of the highlights for me was to AR for Nigel Owens at the new Racing Metro ground against Leicester in the Champions Cup. The atmosphere inside the stadium was unbelievable and with a wide screen the length of the width of the ground the tension when any decision was close or went to the TMO was always scrutinised and made known what the feelings of the fans were as you had no excuse to get it wrong!
Over christmas I refereed some tough Welsh Premiership games, with BBC2 showing a Prem game every week there was more emphasis on the league and I think the way it was covered was great and the public seemed to enjoy watching local welsh talent play on TV. I was also on touchline for the Welsh derbies including Blues v Ospreys and Scarlets v Ospreys over the Christmas period. These games always have an extra added spice as players are playing for their Six Nations places.
I was then fortunate to be able to referee my second U20 6 Nations game between Scotland and Italy at a freezing cold Galashiels in Scotland! With the temperature reaching -12 and it being just a 1 score game it was extremely tough and close all the way throughout.
Leading into the final few months of the season, I was appointed to my first international game to referee between Spain and Romania in Madrid, a completely different climate to Scotland with the temperature reaching 28 degrees but the same intensity from the players.
At the end of the season I was appointed to referee the Welsh Cup final between Cardiff and Merthyr in the Principality stadium. It was a great day for local club rugby with Abergavenny winning the bowl, Brecon winning the plate and then having the honour to referee the Cup final. It was a great occasion.
Finally, I was once again on touchline duty for Nigel in the big play off game between Pontypool and Llanelli at Aberavon - this game had a lot on it with a place in the Premiership at stake and the support Pontypool brought that night completely outnumbered the Llanelli crowd and were vocal all game!
To top off a great season of rugby, I was delighted to be voted Welsh Premiership referee of the year for the third year in a row. To have this award voted for by the coaches means a lot. This season has been another great experience and learning curve the support I have received from the club has been fantastic and is fully appreciated! With next year being the 2020 Olympics and rugby 7s in the Olympics my aim is to give it my best possible shot to try and get there!
All the best,
Adam.
GRFC News