Rugby News . . . from PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

‘Stodds’ is still going strong

and creating records!

Phil Stoddart was known as a rampaging prop with Narberth, Haverfordwest and Llangwm in his younger days but it seems the old warrior can still cut the mustard because on a recent Saturday afternoon he travelled to watch Llangwm 2nds to take on their counterparts from St Davids, half jokingly saying that he might turn out for ten minutes.

Well, 44 year old ‘Stodds’ showed that he is still able to put his rugby knowledge to good effect because when he arrived at St Davids it was to discover that the Wasps’ first XV was short of a front row man and he was press-ganged into turning out for the Firsts!

Loved every minute!

He played for the whole of  a half and admitted to PembrokeshireSport.co.uk that he loved every minute of it. It also gave him some interesting records because he has now played first team rugby in four different decades and is almost certainly the only Llangwm player who played in their centenary and also in their 125th anniversary seasons – and he was so pumped up afterwards that he was heard to say that he might even try to play a match for Llangwm in their 150th year - but even Phil might find that hard-going!

Rivalry resumed

When he played at Narberth there was a great deal of friendly front-row rivalry with hooker Steve ‘Jed’ Gerrard, who is now domiciled in New Zealand and still playing out there. The pair still keep in touch and it is a fair bet that ‘Stodds’ was texting Steve on Saturday night to tell him about his involvement that day. Unfortunately for Phil and Llangwm there was no fairytale ending because the Wasps lost to the Saints but it is almost a certainty that he will make other appearances if his club are short – and we will let you know all about it!