Developing a structured community program is a very keen passion of the Wales 7s squad and they regularly attend community events while away in various parts of the world during their season on the World Series.
This visit was an idea of the School Hub Officer’s for Bro Teifi, Llandysul, and Newcastle Emlyn School Officer’s, Llyr Jones and Curtis Bradford, respectively. The two see the value of role model’s supporting, not just for sports participation, but for general motivation in a number of school and life activities.
Luke, a medical student at Exeter University, appreciates the value of education as well as anyone, and enjoyed sharing those experiences as well as the experience of travelling the world representing Wales on the World Series, and being part of the travelling Great Britain squad that won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics.
The morning was spent with Luke playing sports on the school yard during the break period, followed with an hour in class with year’s 5&6 getting accustomed with the children’s reading material. Luke also held a question and answer session in each of the class room’s as part of his visit.
Luke’s enthusiasm was plain to see and he had some advice for the children: “It was fun to spend time with the children and hear their experiences of school. Hopefully they can take something from my experiences in balancing rugby and education to take them forward in both areas for the future.”
Wales sevens head coach, Gareth Williams, added: “This pilot was a great suggestion by two very pro-active officers. Such projects are things we are very keen to support when it fits around our training and competition schedules.
“Luke is a fantastic role model, and we are fortunate to have seven other core sevens players that fit that same mould. We are all, playing staff, and management, eager the Welsh public have a positive experience with the sevens squad and more events such as this are a pleasure to be part of, hopefully inspiring the next generation of rugby players who are as driven in the class room as they are on the pitch.”
