Warburton has been figurehead for the WRU’s new ‘#IAMWALES’ project and is already featuring on billboards and in advertising around the country, but he has now been joined by a select group of volunteers, coaches and players from the community game.
The Wales captain has been initially matched with a range of ‘real rugby people’ who are held as exemplars of the unseen support structures which underpin the more visible elite game.
The campaign, which will largely be run via digital media, will use a series of videos, pictures and interviews to take fans deeper into the lives of each individual and highlight the contributions they, and many like them, make to the national cause.
It will run on for the next two seasons, through to the 2015 Rugby World Cup charting the progress of th e national side and the rugby community which follows it and is set to feature more individuals, more Wales stars and a host of celebrity names as it is rolled out in the coming months.
But it all starts with a group of hitherto unknown and unsung heroes of Welsh rugby: 14-year-old Wattstown Girls vice-captain Kirshia Williams, 11-year-old Cowbridge forward David Harris, WRU supporter’s club member Craig Jones, Oakdale U9s coach Paul Jones, referee Craig Evans, Pembroke Dock Harlequins back row Barry Parsons, Rhydyfellin coach Dylan Phillips and Taffs Well junior club secretary Donna Marshall.
Each of the new ‘models’ feature in posters alongside Warburton, but they will also have their own individual stories to tell and the WRU will be encouraging other fans, volunteers, coaches and ‘real rugby people’ throughout the country to make their own contributions to the campaign.
“I AM stronger with you, lifted by my nation, spurred on by your voice, honoured to stand with you, I AM Wales,” are some of the inspirational words used by Warburton as he addresses his country in the same way that he would address his fellow players in the dressing room in preparation for battle.
Wales face the three top Southern Hemisphere super-powers, in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, alongside RWC 2007 nemesis side Fiji at the Millennium Stadium next month with the WRU hoping the nation can reciprocate the Welsh captain’s sentiments and inspire Warburton’s side to glory – and the selected eight have been the first to contribute:
Craig (Jones) said: “I AM there in the heat and in the cold…I AM there with you on the pitch for every tackle every kick and every pass…”
Barry said: “I AM carrying my heart in my hands…. I just love it, the Wales team are an inspiration …every Saturday the butterflies still get me.”
Kirshia said: “I AM proud to be Welsh and it means a lot to me when I watch Wales play…I hope that they win.”
Paul said: “I AM never alone in rugby… it means everything to me, it flows through my soul…”
David said: “I AM nothing without the 14 players beside me… we go to rugby as a whole family… they make sure I AM always supported in doing the sport I love.”
Craig (Evans) said: “I AM the man in the middle, I AM the hero and the villain, I am doing what I love”
Donna said: “I AM with friends… rugby is part of our family routine, where our friends our, where our children learn, where our social live is…”
Dylan said: “I AM passionate…”
Fans can be a part of the campaign and inspire the Wales team to victory this Autumn as they take on the All Blacks, the Springboks, the Wallabies and Fiji here www.wru.co.uk/iam
Tickets to watch Wales in the Dove Men Series 2014 at the Millennium Stadium, which sees Wales face Australia on Saturday 8th November (kick-off 2.30pm), Fiji on Satuday 15th November (2.30pm), New Zealand on Satruday 22nd November (5.30pm) and South Africa on Saturday 29th November (2.30pm) are available now from http://www.wru.co.uk/tickets or via your local rugby club.
Biographies
Sam Warburton (26) Flanker, Cardiff Blues
With 46 Wales caps and an historic British and Irish Lions series win over Australia, as captain, under his belt Sam Warburton has already crammed great success into his short career.
The Cardiff Blues back row captained Wales to the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and then the Grand Slam in 2012, before leading the Lions to glory in 2013.
Sam is also a former captain of Wales at Under 19 and Under 20 level and has skippered the senior side on 20 occasions.
Kirshia Williams (14) Flanker, Wattstown Team Pink
Kirshia Williams started playing a year ago joining Wattstown Team Pink with friends after a taster session organised in October 2013, to start the team up. She is the side’s vice-captain and top try scorer who won the ‘Most Committed Player’ award last season. She says she loves playing as part of a team and keeping fit and enjoys rugby much more than she thought she ever would.
Craig Jones (30) Gold WRU Supporters Club Member, Hereford
Craig is born and bred in Wales, is a number one fan and has Welsh rugby in his blood. He currently lives just over the border in Hereford, but loves everything about match days at Millennium Stadium and being Welsh. He says he sees rugby as ‘a way of life’.
Donna Marshall (34) Club Volunteer, Taffs Well
Donna became involved with Taffs Well rugby club when her son started to play there aged nine and rugby quickly became a family pastime. The atmosphere at the club made her want to do more and now organises fund raising events and tours for the mini & junior sections amongst other tasks. She says rugby has been responsible for connected here family with her local community and regards the Wales team as ‘the stars in the sky my children can aim for…’
Dylan Phillips (44) Secretary, Rhydyfelin
Dylan started playing rugby at U8 for Rhydyfelin and played through the age grades right up to the senior side, captaining each team he played for. He is a back row and now coaches at the club as well as performing club secretary duties but still plays the occasional game. He has been secretary for the past 4 years and it’s a role he really enjoys. He has three sons who all play the game he loves – two of them for Rhydyfelin and one for Pontypridd – and his ambition is to join them all on the pitch for a charity match soon.
Craig Evans (22) Referee, Glynneath
Craig started playing rugby at U10 for Cwmgwrach and later turned out for Glynneath. Craig loves refereeing and aims to go as high as he can, so he may be one to watch for the future! He says he is happy to be the man in the middle come rain or shine and loves the variety of challenges that the game throws his way. He is also a passionate Wales fan and says international rugby and village and town rugby are a major part of his DNA.
Barry Parsons (25) Back Row, Pembroke Dock Harlequins
Barry loves everything about rugby and believes it to be a uniting force for the nation. He started out as a youngster at Pembroke rugby club, but it wasn’t until he moved into the pack that rugby really clicked for him. ‘When I started out I was stuck on the wing and I hated it, I didn’t fit… but a few years later I was hooked’, he says. He believes rugby has a place for everyone and all the hard work is always worth it when Saturday comes.
David Harris (11), Forward, Cowbridge
David started playing tag rugby for Cowbridge when he was six-years-old. He has represented the Vale of Glamorgan at U11 as well as his schools Ysgol Iolo Morgannwg and Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg. David’s father also coaches the U12 team at Cowbridge RFC and his brother plays for the U10 team, so rugby is truly a family affair. He says he has ‘grown up watching Wales’ and never ceases to be excited when they play. He says his whole family get behind him on matchday: ‘…my mum, dad, brother and sister and this helps me to see that I am supported in doing the sport I love’.
Paul Jones (45) Coach, Oakdale Minis
Paul played rugby at Junior School and became involved with Oakdale when he took his son to join up and found they were looking for volunteers. He started helping out with whatever needed doing then took the WRU tag rugby course, followed by Level 1 coaching and Level 1 Referee course. He has moved up through the age grades as his son has progressed through the club and describes the game as ‘an emotional roller coaster’. He finds watching the development of players of all abilities and teaching them teamwork and new skills to be particularly rewarding.
