He has spent twelve months embedded behind-the-scenes in Welsh rugby observing the full range of work carried out by the governing body and its member clubs while also gathering a unique insight into the life of an international rugby player.
His book Calon is a diary of his year with the Wales team where he was invited to watch all their preparations and travel to the international arenas where they played their games.
His time as Artist In Residence coincided with their achievement of winning the third RBS Six Nations Grand Slam in seven years.He also travelled to Australia where Rob Howley stepped up to the plate as Interim Head Coach for the 2012 Summer Tour.
His book reveals details which have never before been described in print of life in camp and the activities of the backroom team which makes the squad and the Millennium Stadium work.
“’Only the players who cross that whitewash can ever really know what it’s like to play for Wales, but I hope with Calon I’ve managed to get a sense of that experience onto the page, as well some of the human stories that run through every team and every match,” said Owen Sheers.
“It was an extraordinary year, both as a writer and as a Welsh rugby fan. The players and coaches were very generous with their time and their insights, making the residency a rare opportunity to get under the skin of the whole subject of Wales and rugby.”
The Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis, said: “The success of Owen’s residency is testimony to how rugby is embedded in our psyche here in Wales.
“He has gone beyond the brief of writing a straightforward sporting record of the past twelve months, but has created a record of what it means to be part of team Wales.
“As an outsider he spotted nuances which many of us inside Welsh rugby take for granted and I know his book will form an important part of the modern history of the national sport of Wales.
“The purpose of the residency was to reflect the social relevance of rugby here in Wales and his reflections will be of great interest, not only to rugby fans, but also to people who may never have realised just what this sport means to Wales.
“We are very lucky to have been able to attract a writer of Owen’s calibre to commit to the residency and I am extremely grateful to Professor Dai Smith and his colleagues at the Arts Council for making this happen.”
The Artist in Residence scheme is funded by the Arts Council of Wales and discussions are now underway to identify an artist from another discipline to fulfil a second residency.
Dai Smith, Chair, Arts Council of Wales said: “Arts Council of Wales is delighted to be working in partnership with the Welsh Rugby Union on this first ever Artist in Residence project for our national game. This is the first time any national team in the world has been involved with an Artist in Residence and Owen’s discoveries have been tremendous. He’s managed to capture so much of what goes on here at the stadium both on and off the field. Art and sport are part of the cultural fabric of our nation and this initiative promises to foster that ongoing relationship.”
