Rhydyfelin
the local jazz band, football club, boxing gym and the local
leisure centre use our showers, field and car parking bays.
We have the two local primary schools that each year hold
their prom nights at the clubhouse (free of charge). The charity
work that the club endure is fantastic, to name a few we have
raised £4000 for Velindre Cancer research, a local residents
house burnt down so we arranged a show in the club and all
proceeds were donated along with our gate money from a
game; all in toll we raised £2000 for the family. The Movember
charity for a player’s mother who was ill raised £2000 as well.”
Facilities
“We are currently looking to expand our upstairs area in
the club, planning has been granted albeit we are waiting on
possible funding/grants. Also, we need improvements to our
playing area and training paddock where we are currently
seeking advice regarding development.”
Challenges/Ambitions
“The challenges we envisage are mainly around our age
grade system; rugby is not coached in some schools hence the
children find other interests (computer games, football etc.).
I would like to see development rugby coaches visit schools
more often, personally myself I remember my teacher being
passionate about rugby to an extent you felt the same way when
playing for the school.
Our ambitions are to maintain a structure that enables
players of all ages/gender to take up rugby and enjoy playing,
to recruit a women’s rugby team and to have our club extension
completed and training paddock upgraded.”
Gareth Studley is the head coach of Rhydyfelin
RFC. He recently spoke to Rugby Club
Magazine, saying, “I have lived locally for the
past 30 years and my uncle, who was a player
for Rhydyfelin, asked me to come along to the
club. I subsequently donated my Wales U15
jersey to the club.
My main playing position was as flanker, the
same positions that my son’s Sam and Luke take
up within the current squad. Having coached
mini and junior rugby it is great to see that
half a dozen of our current squad have come
through the ranks. Junior rugby is obviously very
important to any developing club and the more
passion and commitment that can be injected
into schools rugby through their coaches can
only be a good thing for the sport as a whole.
The success this season is very much down to
the togetherness of the players. The step up
next season holds some trepidation for us with
the club not paying players however we have
a very committed and talented pool of players.
My hope naturally is that we survive in a tougher
league and I would like to wish everyone at the
club all the best for next season!”
www.rugbyclubmag.com
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