Talented Sporting Youngsters - Ifan Williams

Ifan Williams – a classy rugby player doing well at Hartpury College

Hartpury College in Gloucester is linked with the City’s rugby team that plays at the highest level in England- and recent years have seen them recruit a number of talented young players from across our county to study there and play for one of the four teams they turn out every week in each year group, against some of the best colleges and academies around the country.

One such player is Ifan Williams, who hails from the sporting family that includes his father Steve, who has represented The Police at international level, as well as playing for Pontyberem, Llanelli, Narberth and Haverfordwest, his younger brother Daf, who is in his first year at Hartpury and has also forced his way into the senior side, known as The Aces, and plays inside centre to his big brother at outside half, despite being in his first year.

They are joined by sister Alys (14) who loves football and netball, and mum Sian, who enjoyed sport in school and loved horse riding - but is the organiser par excellence in all that the family do!

Enjoying his BTech challenge in sport

Ifan started his B Tech in Sport last year, which is the equivalent to three A Levels and could lead him onto a sports-orientated degree course if he so chooses. In that first season he played regularly for The Bulls, which is the first-year first team, after he missed the start because of injury to his left shoulder whilst earlier playing for Crymych RFC against their counterparts from Tenby.

He also sustained a similar injury to his same shoulder some months after whilst in a PE lesson at Haverfordwest High which led to a big operation but was back in action at the start of the new season as he played for his new college against the likes of Cheltenham College, Exeter College, plus the Gloucester Academy, a match where he was captain of The Bulls.

This season saw Ifan starting all four of their early games as Cardinal Newman was the first they beat,  by a big score, and the other games against Truro College (Cornwall), Bishop Wand (London) and Beecham Cliff (Bath) all saw Hartpury gain convincing wins as brother Daf, and Rhys Phelps were the other Pembrokeshire boys involved.

Unfortunately, Ifan sustained something of a freak injury as he attempted a clearance kick and felt something go on his ankle/foot and later was diagnosed as torn ligaments, which has caused him to miss out on the action for the near future!

Early start to his rugby career

Ifan actually started playing his rugby as a pupil at Maenclochog Primary School and when he was a little older, he played rugby for a Crymych RFC team that was coached by the likes of Gareth Bryan, Mike Fussell, Andrew Evans and Meirion Ladd.

He also played for a strong Haverfordwest High School team that was coached by Mikey Jones and Neil Davies, and an excellent Pembrokeshire Schools’ team coached by Aled Waters, Mikey Jones, Rhys Fawcett and Tom Meredith, where he played up a year with Alfie Luger as his half back partner.

“The team also included talented players like Cian Ladd, Delme Alleyne, Rhys Phelps (who also is now at Hartpury as first-team hooker, but also currently injured), Harri Evans and Liam Hughes,” Ifan told us.

County and Scarlets Involvement

“At county level we reached the Plate Final of the Dewar Shield but sadly lost by two points to Islwyn Schools from North Wales.

“Last season I also played for The Scarlets under 17s, the first block culminating when we played The Netherlands and then five months ago when we lost to The Ospreys but beat The Dragons - and I scored a try in both matches.”

Shows promise in golf and cricket

Outside of his rugby, Ifan is already a useful golfer, playing off an average of 15, despite the fact that he is limited to a lack of time to drop it even lower- and he played cricket as an opening bat/wicketkeeper for Hook, mainly in the second team in the recently completed season, and scored half centuries in almost half their league matches.

In fact, his contribution was recognised at the club’s annual dinner where he was voted the second team’s players’ player of the season – and also best batsman – so we done Ifan!

Working back towards full fitness

Back at Hartpury, Ifan might be temporarily side-lined but is determined to keep as fit as possible in readiness for his return to action at the earliest opportunity- and is already working at his upper body strength under the watchful eyes of coaches Tim Stevenson and Tim Brockett.

He eventually aims to pursue a degree course in some sort of sporting activity, perhaps with regard to the business side of things, personal training or even coaching, but that is for the future.

But there is one thing for sure and that is the fact that whatever he chooses to do, with his sporting skills and determination, we are sure to hear a great deal more about Ifan Williams in future!