Four brothers from Llanelli have made their rugby-mad parents very proud by finally running out together for the family’s beloved Felinfoel RFC.
Three of the Griffiths brothers – Rhodri (30), Rhys (29) and Ellis (21) have played for the club throughout their lives but there was no under 8 team for youngest brother Steffan (now 18) so he joined Llanelli Wanderers before moving to Bynea where he has enjoyed playing rugby ever since.
However, the family were very keen to find a way to get the four boys in the same team before the older boys hang up their boots and the club’s 2nd XV was the perfect solution.
It was certainly a day to remember for Dad Eryl, who has been the club’s minute secretary for 10 years.
He said, “Fran and I are very proud to see all four boys turn out for Felinfoel, the club that has been such a big part of our lives for so long since moving from Pontyberem. Big thanks to Bynea who allowed us to permit Steffan, and to Nantgaredig who gave us all a great welcome. We won the match, but that was secondary on the day – second XV rugby is much more about the social side of the game. “Steffan has always enjoyed his time at Bynea and they have been very good to him, but he played very well on Saturday and I think he enjoyed playing with his brothers so much, he may be tempted to come back to the club one day!.”
Eryl added, “Second team rugby helps build communities. It’s a great way to bridge different age groups, experience and abilities and it is certainly enjoying a resurgence in this area since the change in WRU youth rugby age rules. At Felinfoel, the players who would have been playing third year of youth rugby this season have moved up into the second team which means the seconds are now flourishing. We are seeing that in other clubs in this area too which is great because second teams are such an important part of a club, both in terms of the transition between youth and first team rugby and from a social point of view. We stayed at Nant for a couple of hours before going back to our clubhouse and that is important income for clubs too, especially after the last 18 months.”
Unfortunately mum Fran was away on the weekend and missed Saturday’s match but if Steffan follows the well-trodden family path back to King Goerge’s Field, there may be more family celebrations in years to come. No pressure Steffan but with ‘Viva La Foel’ already tattooed on his three brothers, it may be just a matter of time before the youngest sibling rejoins the fold! Whatever happens, each brother also has a ‘Brodyr Griff’ tattoo showing that family comes first.
