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Meinir loves her rugby as a player and coach
Meinir Walsh is the coach at Whitland Ladies Rugby Club and she double up by coaching the boys in rugby at Ysgol Bro Gwaun in Fishguard, where she teaches mathematics, as well as taking on the role of team manager with the county under 18 team coached by Kim Norkett.
She had previously played hockey for Fishguard ladies but had always loved rugby, although her dad, Ken Howell, had played football in the Meidrim area when his farm work allowed. She had always followed Paul and Gavin before she was invited to play rugby at Haverfordwest, attended a training session and was immediately hooked as the team played a series of friendlies. Meinir started out at No 8 in a team coached by Nigel Hancock and hubbie Paul, but gradually moved through to the role of prop, where she settled for the rest of her playing career. Other players from that team included Meryl Hancock, Lucy Berry and Emily Banner but after three good seasons the team disbanded because a number of the younger players went off to college or fell pregnant!
Off to college herself – and a Fishguard involvement
When she was in her 30s Meinir decided to go to University at Caerleon to qualify as a maths teacher but there was no team there so she concentrated on her studies and managed to fit in her lectures so that she was able to return to Fishguard for long weekends. She started work locally and was involved when Fishguard set up a ladies’ team – and they had Alan Phillips and Paul Walsh as coaches as they travelled long distances to play Cardiff Quins, Aberystwyth, Waunarlwydd and Morriston. Included in that team were Meinir, Natalie Bowen, Lucy Berry and Nina Bishop and they did superbly as they won the league against far more experienced sides.
Whitland bound
But then a number of players left through college or having babies and Meinir found herself on the move to Whitland, where she was made really welcome and played regularly, with the real highlight being her selection, along with daughter Natalie for the West Wales Squad.
“We played against East Wales and running out alongside Natalie was a great thrill. It was a memorable moment and it was made even better by the fact that we won the game.”
Meinir played until she snapped the cruciate ligament in her knee and had to focus more on the coaching aspect of rugby, forming a formidable team with Alan Lewis and Andy Webster, with Owen Robinson joining this year. The team trains every Thursday evening at 7pm and although they have a good turn-out they are always looking for new players to boost the squad and be guaranteed a warm welcome.
Team managers count
Sue Davies has been the team manager throughout Meinir’s time at Whitland and Meinir says that Sue is the veritable cornerstone of the set-up because she does such a brilliant job. Meinir now finds herself doing that particular job with the county under 18s coached by Kim Norkett, making sure that all the players are informed of coaching and sessions and confirming their attendance, organising the kit and generally looking after the paperwork – and Kim describes her as “a real gem who we couldn’t do without.”
Coaching start
Meinir started out in coaching when she was invited to attend a course and decided it was something different that she would enjoy – and took to it straight away when she started out with her preliminary badge so that she could coach the junior players at Fishguard and followed up with her level two badge.
“Helen Edwards and I were the only females on the course,” says Meinir, which was really challenging but we had brilliant support from the fellers, who treated us two girls as equals. They didn’t even grumble when they found us in the same team as them, which was really great.”
Family matters
She hails from a sporting family because her husband Paul, known to all as ‘Walshie’, played on the wing for Fishguard, whilst son Gavin is now back playing at hooker for the Seagulls after a spell at Whitland. He also played for every county team from ages 9 to 18, where the final age group won the Welsh Counties Cup, and for the Welsh Colleges for two seasons. Daughter Natalie plays on the flank for Whitland Ladies after representing the Pembrokeshire boys’ teams up until the cut-off age of 14, and was in the Welsh squad at under 16 and under 19 levels.
Whitland travel afar
Whitland also have to travel a lot to play away games but Meinir doesn’t mind that since Whitland have a good crowd of girls who enjoy each other’s company. They have played two matches so far this campaign, losing away at Dolgellau and then going down to a strong Waunarlwydd outfit at home.
“We are not dismayed by those results,” says Meinir “because we know they are going to be two of the top sides. We are a relatively young side and we will get stronger as the season goes on.”
Meinir is proud of the progress of her team and adds,
“To any doubting Thomas who feels that ladies’ rugby is a nonsense they should turn up and watch before they judge. They might actually enjoy the high skill levels and be surprised by the physicality of our game.”
Busy in school
At school, Meinir not only keeps very busy in the Maths Department but also helps Emyr Hughes coach the first team after seeing the lads grow up in rugby terms from raw novices to being a useful side which has already beaten Taskers and Pembroke easily but lost to a very good Preseli team. They are off to play in Barbados eventually and Meinir is involved in the organisation of what should be a memorable tour. It is typical of her ‘hands on’ approach because Meinir Walsh loves getting involved – and it is a pleasure to see this nice lady so involved for the benefit of rugby in our county!
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