Dad Sean may have been to the home of Welsh rugby before as both player and coach with Llanelli down the years, but son Nick will be making his first appearance at a venue that once graced his grandfather’s boots as a Wales captain.
Norman Gale won 25 caps as a tough as teak hooker for both Swansea and Llanelli. Now it is down to Nick to follow in illustrious family footsteps on the hallowed turf.
Both Sean and Nick became synonymous with Narberth rugby before teaming up as a coaching duo at the Wanderers, with Nick also turning out as a player. He will be in the centre for the final, with his dad hoping he has got his kicking boots on.
Since teaming up at the Wanderers last summer, they have helped to steer them to the upper echelons of Division 1 West. Gorseinon are the only team to have beaten them in the league this season and took full advantage of their rivals’ cup commitments to leapfrog them at the top.
Even so, Wanderers are only a point behind and have two games in hand as the title race heats up. A league and cup double is still very much on the cards.
“This is the greatest achievement the club has ever achieved reaching the Principality Stadium. We’ve been in a couple of local finals before, but nothing like this,” said club secretary Richard Keenan.
“We’ve made the most of it with a pre-cup final reception booked for the Friday night prior to the big game. We invited former captains, coaches and chairmen to join us, and we are taking at least eight busloads of fans with us to Cardiff.
“All our mini and junior players are coming along to support the club and we’ve kitted them out with flags. The interest in the club, and the impact of reaching the final, has been amazing.
“We’ve been through some hard times in the last 10-15 years, and it has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point. It was only COVID that saved us from relegation.”
Derek O’Donnell and Alun Davies have been through the thick and thin at the club over their 50 years of involvement each and Keenan is hoping their half-centuries of service are marked in the finest of style on cup final day. There are also a number of stalwart players in the matchday squad.
Centre Rhydian Morgan has more than 300 games in his credit, while replacement prop Ben Harris is 260 and counting. Elgan Morgan is the elder statesman on the bench at 36, while flanker Lloyd Pike has played for Llandovery, Llanelli and Cardiff.
Most of the squad have come through the mini and junior section.
