Around the Touchline Feature:

 

 
It is always a pleasure to bump into Andrew Meddings for a chat because he is so full of enthusiasm for The Pembrokeshire Vikings and has a terrific rapport with all the playing and coaching staff, plus families and friends who turn out to cheer the team on.
 
He still enjoys a run out whenever he can and is so full of enthusiasm about the club which he also serves so well off the field that to bump into him on the touchline usually sees him waxing lyrically about the great work that they do in a mixed ability set-up where everyone is treated equally and with great respect.
 
Andrew has played rugby for a long time but in recent years he has found his very special niche in the local game as he has helped out with the Vikings – and readily admits that he loves every moment of his involvement!
 

Vikings’ philosophy explained

 
“In November 2019 Simon Gardiner was talking to Delyth Summons, the Hon Treasurer at Haverfordwest RFC,” explained Andrew, “about his idea of setting up the Pembrokeshire Viking;  a Mixed Ability Rugby team, and he asked me to get involved as a support player.
 
“Unfortunately, due to covid, our progress was stalled, but I soon realised it was a great idea and wanted to be part of Simon`s vision and enthusiasm as he gave me the opportunity to take a coaching course and became an Assistant Coach.




 

A few memorable moments amongst so many

 
“Pembrokeshire Vikings continued to grow and in 2022 we played at Parc y Scarlets, and I was proud to be part of the team that beat Llanelli Warriors, scoring a try.  Simon Gardiner, along with three players, were selected to represent the MARI`s (Mixed Ability Rugby Invitational Team) that played at the Principality in May 2022; another great day for our club which again filled me with pride.
 
“The Vikings rugby has given me a new lease of rugby life seeing the enjoyment on the players’ faces. Playing alongside Ben and Ashley Couceiro, Dafydd Cowl, Bleddyn Gibbs, Josh Price, Youssef El Tawab and Jack Colley, with their love of rugby, makes me realise how lucky I am to have rugby in my life and proud to play alongside them.
 
“I now have the role of Treasurer, my partner Mira is club photographer, my daughter Lily designs the programs and also Welsh interviews and translation. Mira`s daughter Klara designed the website - so we are certainly involved as a family.”
 
“Pembrokeshire Vikings is for 16+ players with learning, mental and physical disabilities: we train every Friday evening at Milford Haven RFC 4G pitch at 6.45-8pm. We are always looking for new players, support staff and volunteers.”



 

Other sports

 
Rugby has always been Andrew’s sporting passion but he also played some football and cricket in school, although he readily admits that they didn’t have for him the attraction of the oval ball game.
 
He has also taken up running in more recent years, encouraged by Mira, and he has run the Cardiff  Half Marathon on three occasions.
 
“I had always been told it was a great event and people were right because the crowds are huge and very supportive so they help you along the way.
 
“The first time I ran to raise much-needed funds for the ‘Noah’s Ark’ children’s charity and on the last occasion I did the same for the ‘Pembrokeshire Vikings’ alongside Mira and people were very generous - and although I finished behind Mira it wasn’t by much and I felt I had to say ‘well done’ but pointed out to our friends that she is a lot smaller, younger and fitter than I am so I was quietly pleased!”



 

Early rugby start and success at Schools’ level

 
Going back to his rugby, Andrew had set out as a schoolboy at King Edward VI School  in Lichfield, where he was part of the winning under 16 team that won the County Cup Tournament by beating a Walsall team that included Rupert Moon and then moved on to youth and senior rugby where the standard was high and their best performance was reaching the quarter finals of the English Cup on one occasion but losing out to a very strong Harlequins’ side.
 
“Then family circumstances meant I was heavily involved in our business in Pembrokeshire so for three years after moving down when I was 18 I was unable to play.
 

Less than auspicious start with The Blues

 
“But when the right time came I joined Haverfordwest in 1987 as a flanker – with a really warm welcome from the late Dai Miller, plus coaches Peter and John Griffiths, although I have to admit it was a less than auspicious start.
 
“I was picked for a third team that had been thrown together for a cup match at Tenby and found myself in the centre with Will Candler, and we have remained firm friends ever since. There was a bit of a melee when one of our players was fouled and Will and I looked at each other and ran to help out, we thought.
 
“But someone aimed a punch at me so I threw one back and the referee was perfectly placed to spot only my indiscretion amongst quite a few others there - and I got my marching orders!




 

Into first-team action amongst some real characters

 
“I felt very bad about it but it seemed to get me noticed because I had trained with the ‘also rans’ for three months but was installed in training with the first and second squads!
 
“I was taken under the wing of Keith Fleming, who influenced me greatly and introduced me to some tough Pembrokeshire Rugby.  Richard Thomas, Wil Candler, PJ Thomas, Graham Evans, Neil Banner, Andrew Curtis, Nigel Hancock, Steve Barnett and the late Steve James and Derek Coles were also big influences on my playing time with ‘The Blues.
 
“After I had served my ban I made my first-team debut in the back row and had Keith Fleming as my unofficial ‘minder’ and I soon learned what a great player he was - although in a pre-season friendly a little later we played against each other and I felt the force that so many others had a told me about!
 
“I had three wonderful seasons in a first XV packed with real characters but in 1994 my father passed away suddenly and I didn’t have enough time to focus on rugby - a decision that was reinforced when I tried to make a return to action and badly pulled a hamstring almost as soon as we started, which certainly wasn’t good in terms of our business!”
 

Surprise return to the game when he least expected it!

 
And that was the end of Andrew’s playing days, or so he thought, until Callum Wilson started a Pembrokeshire Barbarians’ team to play a few games against other veterans’ sides and he really enjoyed it.
 
It certainly whetted his appetite but his return to the game purely by chance because he works in the same office as Delyth and Emma Summons, who do so much yeoman work at Haverfordwest Rugby Club, and in popped Simon Gardiner, who is the leading light with the Pembrokeshire Vikings.
 
“Delyth explained the way that The Vikings played mixed ability rugby, as it caters well for those with any disability alongside others who wish to start out in a new sport or haven’t played for a while.
 

Settled in well as a coach, especially as a mentor to some lovely characters

 
“It set me thinking and then after a while Simon asked me if I fancied a game and I popped along - and loved the ethos as everyone was treated as an equal and the emphasis was on having a great sense of enjoyment whilst meeting new friends.”
 
Andrew quickly settled in and took his Level One coaching badge so that he could work as an assistant coach with the players who have additional learning needs and is thrilled at the improvement shown by some lovely characters who are clearly enjoying their involvement.
 
“We have already had three representatives in the Welsh MARI team which played at the Principality Stadium as Simon was one of the coaches in recognition of all his wonderful work.”
 
One of the special parts of his role is to be an on-field mentor for players Ben and Dafydd - and when Dafydd picked up a loose ball in a recent match against Cardiff Chiefs and sped to the line, no-one cheered him on more than Andrew!
 

And finally . . .

 
“I am now Hon Treasurer and work alongside Marina Morgan (Chairman), Graham Elliott (Hon Secretary) and Simon, who is still a guiding light alongside some very supportive parents, wives and girl-friends.
 
“We had our first presentation dinner at the end of last season, superbly organised by Rachel Gibbs at Milford Haven Rugby Club, and we couldn’t have had a better evening as everyone danced until the early hours after the meal and excellent food, with everyone receiving a special ‘Vikings’ slate coaster, and guest Bill Carne was thrilled with a specially-engraved slate which he clearly treasured!
 
“We had a quiet time in the build-up to Christmas and after plenty of training sessions we played against The Chiefs at Llandaff RFC and then a return match at Milford Haven, and we also have fixtures against Swansea Gladiators and Llanelli Wanderers in the pipeline.
 
So it’s all systems go with The Pembrokeshire Vikings - and we will watch their progress with great interest as we pop along to watch and enjoy a quick chat with Andrew Meddings on the touchline; once he comes off the field after playing for a special club that he loves with a passion!