Unsung Heroes

GG’s still going strong for the Blues

Gareth Griffiths can certainly lay claim to being a very loyal rugby man because as well as playing for Haverfordwest RFC from youth through to retirement in his mid 30s, took up the role of coach with the youth team and more recently served on the management committee, with the last four years as chairman.
Known to all at the club simply as ‘GG’ because of his initials, he would say that it is his job to field the flak that is sometimes directed  towards the club by a few members and he enjoys working closely with his hard-working committee to provide the best rugby facilities that are available for the players.
“The club is very much on an even keel,” says Gareth, “and we are particularly lucky to have Delyth Summons as Hon Treasurer because she does a brilliant job. Graham Dalton has always been a great help, as is Dai Jenkins with regard to the pitch and changing rooms, plus Brian Stephens as a stalwart president. They are the back-bone of the club and deserve every praise for all that they do.”

Early start and soon in the First XV

Gareth started his connection with the Blues when he joined the club’s youth team and played at No 8 in a back row which also included Ceri Curtis and John ‘Landers’ Lewis, who has put a bit of weight on since then and was president at last year’s county show. Also included in that side were players of the calibre of Wayne Morgan and Peter Griffiths, and they reached the final of the County Youth Cup.
GG played his first match for the first team, a friendly at Brawdy, when he was 18 and became a regular in the team when he was 20. Over the years he played alongside the likes of Anthony Lawrence, Billy Martin at outside half, Andrew Grey and Gelly James at No 9, plus Brian ‘Ginger’ Davies as the best captain he played under, Phil Scurlock, Denzil ‘Tarw’ Davies, Herbie Scurlock, Mike Phillips, Freddie Clarke, Mike Llewellyn and Dicky Evans, to name but a few.

League and KO Cup success

The Blues won the league on a number of occasions and Gareth appeared in four KO Cup Finals, winning three of them. The only defeat came against Narberth at Neyland when his old pal Rob Harries dropped two goals to register the only points of a hard-fought encounter to nudge the Otters through – and still reminds GG about it whenever they meet! He was on the bench when they beat Milford at Pembroke but made the starting line-up when they overcame both Whitland and Narberth at Crickmarren, Pembroke.

Family five for the Blues

On the family front, Gareth was one of five brothers who played for Haverfordwest as Mike also played second row for Llanelli and Bridgend, Nigel was an ace try-scorer with the Blues who was renowned for his interception scores, Steve also played on the wing and Robert was, like GG, a back row man.
“It would have been nice”, says Gareth, “to have had all five of us play together but it never came about. Four of us managed it on one occasion but I think Stephen was out injured at that time.”
Gareth’s wife Sarah doubles up as his biggest supporter whilst sons Rhys (21) and Lloyd (16) have both played for the club as juniors.

County pride

Ask Gareth about other proud moments and he would unhesitatingly nominate representing Pembrokeshire as a major plus.
“I played for the county over 20 times and I was thrilled to receive my county colours after turning out against some really good teams like Llanelli, Aberavon, South Wales Police and Pontypridd. It was also great to play alongside rugby men of the calibre of Richard Jones (Narberth), Nigel Merroney, Tony Brace, Andrew Rose and Gethin Evans (Tenby), Geraint John (Haverfordwest) and Geraint Bowen (Narberth). What superb players they were!”

Coaching success

Gareth decided to retire in 1987 because he was busy in work and he had a young family – but he returned to coach the young players at the club for around five seasons and the Blues had youngsters of the quality of Steve Williams breaking through as they enjoyed success in the Youth Cup, as well as the Griffiths Cup. He also helped coach the County Youth team at the time that Jonathan Thomas was emerging and it was around this period that he accepted an invitation to join the Haverfordwest RFC management committee.
Outside of his rugby, Gareth played a little cricket with Young Farmers but was too busy working to play every Saturday in the summer months, and his current colleagues at Haverfordwest Rugby might not know that GG was a useful 800 metres athlete when he was in school, with the afore-mentioned John ‘Landers’ competing in the 400 metres in the same team.

Rugby as first sporting love

But rugby was always Gareth’s first love and as a back row man he soon earned a reputation for ‘living offside’ which he still maintains is a little unfair.
“Right on the edge, always right on the edge,” he admits with a chuckle,”  but I always tried not to give away penalties so I can’t have done too badly!”
Ask him about the players amongst the opposition that he respects most and without hesitation he would nominate Richard ‘Stag’ Jones, Roger Price and Nigel Merroney, whilst he says that Keith Fleming was an excellent ‘minder’ to have with the Blues because he was such a hard flanker and so fast about the field as well.
“I could name great players from Haverfordwest and the county for hours,” admits Gareth, “and I was privileged to meet them and play either with or against them. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I also enjoy helping now but it is not quite the same as playing.”
Talk to rugby men at the club and they would say that Gareth Griffiths has done a great job as player and administrator – and long may he continue to play a big part as an unsung hero at their Merlins Bridge complex with Haverfordwest RFC!