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Jason reaches 200 not out for the Otters
Jason Jennings has just reached a special milestone in his rugby career, because in the recent league game at Tonmawr the gritty second row played his 200th league game for the Otters, only the third player at the club to achieve this feat, as a testament not only to his durability but also to his loyalty.
This is a wonderful achievement and it's even more pleasing as he is a player that has progressed through from the club’s under nine side through all the age categories up to the first team, where he made his debut at the end of the 1998/99 campaign. Since then he has served the Otters really well in the intervening 12 years.
Junior and youth success
Jason attended Maenclochog CP and then Ysgol y Preseli, where he captained the school’s first team, and from the age of 14 represented Pembrokeshire County in all the age groups. The 1996 - 97 season saw Jason elected captain of Narberth Youth Team, but the season ended in disappointment as the young Otters lost 10 - 17 to Crymych in the County Youth Cup Final at Haverfordwest. Playing alongside him in the second row that evening was his brother Peter, and many of his closest friends including Mathew Williams, his future best man when Jason married Sarah. Ask Jason about influences on his rugby at that time and he would nominate Bobby Simons, who coached the youth XV.
There was ample consolation, however, when the 1998 - 99 season saw him lift the Youth Cup when Narberth beat Whitland 20 - 17 and Jason had the satisfaction of scoring the winning try late in the game. He would rightly nominate this success as one of the most memorable moments of his long career – and playing in that Whitland side was Michael Phillips, the current Wales International.
Supporters’ recognition
Jason’s leadership and outstanding form earned him Narberth Supporters’ Youth Player of the Year award for that season, a trophy which he had also won the previous season. During the 98 - 99 season he was a member of the Pembrokeshire County under 19 team which reached the Final of the Welsh Districts U19 Cup played at St Helens, Swansea, against a strong South Monmouthshire side. Although the County lost 47-15, en route they beat several fine sides, in particular their semi -final opponents Gwent whom they beat 17-16, and Jason in that game was awarded the ‘Man of the Match’ medallion at his favourite ground, outside of the Lewis Lloyd Ground, of course!
First team matters
Jason, together with his brother Peter, made their league debuts for the Narberth first team in the last game of the 98-99 season in a very difficult away game to champions Llanharan which Narberth lost 50-7, but the following season saw Jason play in 21 of the 26 league games when he partnered either the experienced Iestyn Evans or Bill Ridge in the second row. He scored his first league try in the 25-19 home win against Rhymney that season, and repeated the feat in the corresponding away game.
During the 2000-01 season he made up a youthful pairing with Jamie Bohata in the side and his outstanding form rightly won him the supporters ‘First Team Player of the Year’ award which was just reward for playing in all 30 league games. He also appeared in his first Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup final when Narberth beat Pembroke Dock Quins 48-15.
For several games during the start of the 2001-02 season Jason captained the First Team, and played a significant part in Narberth’s successful promotion-winning season, playing in 25 of the 30 league games as well as the five Principality Cup ties.
Major influences
He also learned a great deal by playing alongside such a fine player as Emori Katalau, who had joined Narberth at the start of that campaign. Another Narberth player who had a major influence on Jason was Simon Davies, who captained the team for a number of years and certainly led by example from his place in the back row.
“He was awesome,” said Jason, “so fit, uncompromising and committed that he didn’t have to say much – we just followed him.”
On the national front, Jason has always been a great fan of Ian Gough, the Welsh second row, almost certainly for the 100% attitude that Jason has, plus Valentino Rossi, who rides a motor bike in similar fashion!!
Otter through and through
In the following season, Jason played his 100th league game for Narberth, a total which he had achieved in just over four seasons, and in that period he had been fortunate in the few injuries that he had experienced. Over the following seasons, however, his luck changed and he sustained several niggling injuries which restricted his appearances with the First team, and with so many other fine second-rows at the club it's taken him that much longer to reach his 200th game than might have been expected for someone who started out so young.
But he has still made a big contribution to the success of Narberth, including appearing in a further two winning Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup Finals, a Junior Union Cup Final and was a member of the successful County’s Welsh Districts’ Cup winning side – and his willingness at all times to turn out for the Clubs Athletic team is to be applauded.
Further honours – and other sporting activities
During the 2006-07 season he was voted the Athletic "Player of the Year", but an award that meant more to Jason and which summed up his unselfish contribution over many years was presented to him in 2008-09 when was the recipient of the " Outstanding Club Loyalty " award, a richly deserved honour for someone who is an Otter through and through.
Although he has been fully committed to Narberth he has also played a bit of cricket with Maenclochog and loves challenging sports like kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, cliff jumping and coasteering, as well as being very busy as a partner at the family’s cheese-making business at Pant Mawr Cheeses.
And finally . . .
Narberth R F C has been a massive part of Jason’s life - some 21 years - and it was also responsible for bringing Jason and Sarah his wife together, and both are obviously excited at the prospect of the birth of their first child in April.
It is now some 11 seasons since Jason made his league debut for the Narberth first team and although he is currently the captain of the successful Athletic team still has a great deal to offer the senior side as whenever he is called upon one knows that he will give everything for his Club which he has served so well.
Club statistician Ken Mathias, who provided us with the details for this article, plus the excellent photographs, told us,
“Jason has been a terrific asset to Narberth RFC because he never gives less than 100% and is a great club man off the field as a bonus. We have been very lucky to have him in the squad and hopefully he will go on for some time yet because he has so much to offer.”
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