Rugby News . . . from PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

Rhys picks up the points at Crymych RFC

Rhys Davies is one of the young sportsmen who have emerged in our county over recent years who has ability in a range of sports – and is currently serving Crymych RFC well as a points-gathering scrum half.

Rhys switched back to the Preseli Men from Narberth and in the five matches since then he has scored 52 points and generally acting as a useful link between their forwards and backs, with his willingness to take on the opposition as an additional bonus.

And when the rugby season closes next spring it is a fair bet that he will again don his cricketing whites for Crymych, where his big hitting was proved last season in one Harrison-Allen Bowl match where Rhys blasted 88 not out in only 34 deliveries, including ten big sixes as he led Crymych to victory. More of his cricketing exploits and other sports later.

Early start in rugby –

and success at youth level

It is fair to say that rugby has always been Rhys’s first sporting love because he started out as a six year old at Narberth and was soon in the under nine team that was coached by Rob Lewis, the Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet member for sport.

As he grew in size he was selected for the county under 11s (coached by Andy Grey) and West Wales – and represented his county at every level to youth alongside the likes of Dan Newton, Simon Gardiner, Alex Pickersgill and David Zangouris, They won the Welsh Under 18s Cup by beating Gwent 34-10 at Aberavon and young Rhys notched a few points with his trusty right boot.

Rhys also played rugby throughout his time at Ysgol y Preseli, in a team that included current Crymych team mates Sam Phillips, Guto Griffiths, Nick Bevan and Carwyn Phillips – and he also played two seasons for the Scarlets at under 16 level with Anthony Griffiths and Gareth Davies as coaches

Memorable matches

Rhys set out in senior rugby at Haverfordwest, where the coach was his uncle, Ken Davies, and he enjoyed playing with a good bunch of lads. Ask him about his major memory and he would have no hesitation in nominating the Bishop Cup game against Llangwm on Boxing Day.

            “We were clear favourites and eventually squeezed home,” said Rhys, “but I have never seen a team play with such passion as Llangwm. They swarmed everywhere and forced us to play at 100 miles an hour. I’ll never forget that game – it was a real eye-opener for me!”

He also had a season at Newcastle Emlyn as another part of his learning process and also enjoyed it there before last season saw him play at Narberth and he also had something of an eye-opener there on his debut.

            “We played against Cwmllynfell and I got knocked out by a punch from behind, and had a lovely black eye as a result.”

            “It’s all part of his learning process,” says uncle Ken with a chuckle, ”because he was winding the Cwmllynfell No 9 up!”

Switch to Crymych

This current campaign saw Rhys playing scrum half and he switched to outside half when his brother Aled was injured but readily admits that he prefers the scrum half berth. He eventually found himself relegated to the bench and decided to move to Crymych because he wanted to play more regularly, although at this time Rhys was Narberth's leading point scorer for the season on 54 points – comprising one try, 11 conversions, nine penalties  from seven league games.

He was made welcome by coaches Lyn Williams and Elgan Vittle, plus team manager Adrian Howells, and enjoys the company of his old pals Sam Phillips, Gruff Howells, Sion and Rhys Davies alongside the rest of the squad.

            “All I want to do is enjoy playing rugby,” said Rhys, “and I am doing that right now.”

Other sports

Moving on to his other sports, Rhys is clearly a big hitter in cricket but describes himself as a good fielder who bats and bowls a bit! As well as his lightning-quick undefeated 88 he has also scored other half centuries whilst playing at Maenclochog and then with Crymych – and grabbed five wickets on a few occasions. He has played in two Alan Brown Cup Finals with Crymych and one before that with Maenclochog, where he also missed another because he was playing rugby for the Scarlets on that day.

He could also be a more than useful golfer but hasn’t really got the time to play as much as he would like, but hits the ball very hard when he is on form and very wildly when he’s not! After one particularly good round at Haverfordwest, where he was playing off a handicap of 13, he was heard to mutter the immortal words,

            “This time next year I could be playing off scratch,” and his family have never let him forget that statement whenever he plays them now!

He also plays darts in the Preseli League for Tafarn Zinc and has plenty of 180s to his name – but admits that he is rubbish at pool!

And finally . . .

But it will be rugby that continues to feature as Rhys’s major sport and there is no doubt that at 22 years of age he has plenty left to give to the game. He repeats his sporting mantra when he tells us,

            “All I want to do is enjoy playing rugby as part of a team, no more and no less.”

It is clear that he has a strong determination to do things his way and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wish him every success in the forthcoming years because the game needs real characters and there is no doubt that Rhys Davies is one of those!

PHOTOS:

Rhys Davies.
Rhys Davies in action for Narberth. Picture by Patrick Jones.
Rhys Davies kicking three points for Crymych. Picture by Mark Vincent.