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Haverfordwest RFC welcomes

Welsh rugby internationals

Haverfordwest RFC recently held its annual pork supper at the clubhouse in Merlins Bridge and members celebrated the 60 years since the first of these occasions was held in real style as their special guests were former Welsh second row Derwyn Jones and current Welsh flanker Sam Warburton.
Both had travelled down from Cardiff at the behest of former Blues’ player Geoff Williams, now Head of Sport at BBC Wales, and he was also in attendance at the supper to introduce both the 6’10” tall Jones, still the tallest player ever to don the coveted Welsh jersey, and Warburton, at 22 a rising star in the back row who has already garnered 10 caps at the age of 22 and was Wales’ ‘Man of the Match’ in the recent test in Scotland.

Questions galore answered

Both answered questions with complete honesty about their own careers in the oval ball game and the large crowd of former players in attendance thoroughly enjoyed what they had to say as MC Bill Carne organised the questions in his inimitable style, telling both star guests about the people posing the questions!
He also pointed out that Ken Howell, at 94 the oldest former player who attended the inaugural Pork Supper, and Brian Stephens, the current president and a ‘young man’ of 76, both acted as touch judges for Wales at full international level, both as highly-respected referees of their eras.
It was highly interesting to see what they had to say about the training regimes in the Welsh camp, with Jones as one of the first-ever Welsh players to turn pro and Warburton providing an interesting insight to the changes that have been made with regard to nutrition, the actual physical training and sports psychology in the intervening years.

Tradition followed

They both clearly enjoyed the meal, which was served by Hon Treasurer Delyth Summons and her ladies at the club, whilst the current youth team followed the tradition of serving the meals before dining themselves and listening to the question and answer session – and were promised a signed shirt by Derwyn Jones before the end of the campaign to help them raise funds!
The evening was brought to an end as Gareth Griffiths, the chairman of the club, thanked both guests and presented them with a club tie in recognition of their kindness in attending the evening, and sponsors Specsavers, who had Paul, Helena and Andy in attendance and clearly enjoying the evening along with the members of Haverfordwest RFC.

PHOTOS:  Top: Gareth Griffiths, Derwyn Jones, Geoff Williams, Sam Warburton, Brian Stephens and Delyth Summons at the Pork Supper.
Middle: Derwyn Jones & Sam Warburton with some of the youth team players.
Bottom: former Blues' player Richard Thomas shares a joke with Sam Warburton.