Narberth RFC are currently doing very well in the Championship division of Welsh Rugby and one of the factors in that success is the points gathering of 23 year old Nick Gale, who, at the half-way stage in the competition, had amassed over half of the points scored by The Otters.

Nick is able to play at full back, on the wing or centre and as well as his try-scoring exploits has also kicked plenty of points with unerring accuracy from his trusty left boot.

Points’ gathering helps unexpected success this season

In fact, he came close to breaking the Narberth record for the most points in a match against Glamorgan Wanderers where he grabbed 28 points and was later told by excellent club statistician Ken Mathias he was just a try short of equalising Simon Daniel's top tally and that another conversion on top of that would have seen Nick out there as new top scorer in an Otters' match!

Narberth's second place in the table at half time was perhaps unexpected for most club followers because it was regarded as a period of transition since so many players had gone on to pastures new so that only Rhys Lane, Tom Slater, Dan Smith, skipper Alex Jenkins, Ianto Griffiths and Nick remained from the more experienced players, with director of rugby Jonathan Dodd also stepping down.

Nick’s dad Sean leads tight-knit squad

Nick's dad Sean moved up to that role from head coach, recruited Liam Gadd and Lloyd Phillips as coaches and after a heavy 40-6 defeat at Pontypool on the opening day Nick and Co have only lost two other games in moving up to second spot.

"That opening defeat showed us there was a real need for hard work and focussing on becoming a team which played for each other and Alex Jenkins has been an inspirational skipper, Ollie Reyland has grown in stature as vice-captain and players of the calibre of Jack Price and Liam Hutchings have really shown their ability to raise their game."

Family matters

It was perhaps only natural that Nick should become a good rugby player because as well as dad Sean, who was a try-scoring front-rower with Llanelli and Bridgend in his heyday, his grandad Norman was a captain with Llanelli and Wales, and uncle Byron also played for The Scarlets.

"I'm just glad I didn't follow in the family front row footsteps," admitted Nick with a chuckle, "and I suspect that my mum Elizabeth and sister Hannah, who have also been hugely supportive, are glad that I play where I do!"

Early start with Llanelli Wanderers

Nick also played football as a striker with Dafen Welfare as a nipper and enjoys squash for fitness but it is rugby that has always occupied much of his spare time, starting out in the family garden and setting out with Llanelli Wanderers as an eight year old coached by Craig Rees because some of his school pals already played there - and stayed there at youth level under the guidance of Lyn Price.

"I played for Carmarthenshire alongside some very good players from under 12 level right through to youth and also played for the Scarlets' under 20 team coached by Louie Tomkin - and the undoubted highlight of my time in youth came when I was selected for Welsh Crawshays Youth in a celebration match against Llandovery Youth.

Huge highlight – playing for The Barbarians!

"Another huge highlight for me was playing for the Barbarians against the Combined Services on Armistice Day 2014 on the famous Recreation Ground at Bath, where we were coached by former Welsh internationals Nigel and Phil Davies.

"I received a phone call out of the blue and I thought the invitation was a leg-pull until I received official confirmation by e-mail - and we played in front of a crowd of over 6,000 people and we were allowed to keep our shirts as a great memento of a wonderful day!"

“Playing in a Pembrokeshire KO Cup Final was also special as we beat Haverfordwest 31-0 at Bierspool.

Record points scoring with The Wanderers . . .

"I made my first team debut with Llanelli Wanderers whilst I was still in youth rugby and was really pleased to be chosen as man of the match in my debut against Betws and whilst there I broke the club record in one season, scoring over 350 points."

Nick also played for one season with UWIC and when he completed his PGCE at Bath Spa University it was at a time when Nick was invited by Jonathan Dodd to join Narberth and quickly adapted to the higher level.

. . . And joining The Otters!

"I felt at home from the start because I had travelled to the Lewis Lloyd Ground so much with my father and was made welcome by the players and The Otters' terrific supporters.

"We were playing against top sides like Ebbw Vale, Bargoed, RGC and Pontypool, who were in bottom place then and at the end of the season I shared the top try scorer award with Steve Martin, who joined co-centre Roger Davies in teaching me so much about back play.

"Although I was playing mainly on the wing I was taking some of the long-range penalties after practising well in training and since then I have taken on the role more and more, which I really enjoy.

"We were top of the table at Christmas and finished in sixth spot, no mean feat when you consider we were taking on monied clubs like Bargoed, Merthyr, Ebbw Vale, RGC and Swansea, who had current Welsh squad winger Keelan Giles scoring two tries against us.

"Last season was even tougher and we finished eighth after beating a huge Ebbw Vale side by 29-10 in our final match, but again I scored my share of the points in a decent season for me.

And finally . . .

At present Nick combines his teaching duties at Ysgol Gynradd Talyllychau, where he is responsible for all the sport, including rugby, with playing for The Otters.

At the time of writing Nick had played 83 league games for Narberth scoring a massive 476 points, consisting of 37 tries, 63 conversions, 53 penalties and two dropped goals!


He clearly enjoys both and we wish Nick Gale continued success at The Lewis Lloyd Ground with Narberth RFC because he is a credit to his family, his club and rugby in general!

*We would like to thank Narberth’s statistician Ken Mathias for help in the compilation of this article.*