From Ystradgynlais to the world!
Ystradgynlais have gathered the support of some of the biggest names in rugby to keep everyone engaged – and aim to come out of lockdown stronger as a result.
The Covid pandemic and lockdown has affected thousands of individuals and families across the country in many different ways but it has also brought clubs and communities together. None more so than in Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valley.
From quizzes, musical entertainment and Saturday evenings with some of the biggest names in the game, the Division Two West Central club has worked hard, not only to keep its own players, coaches, members and supporters engaged but its blue-sky thinking has reached rugby-loving fans all over the world.
Gareth Thomas, a former club prop and current under 10s coach, has picked up the reins as unofficial entertainments manager during lockdown, notably hosting Q&As with the likes of Shane Williams and Tom Shanklin.
He said, “We all just wanted to support the club at this time and it’s amazing how the community has come together. We started off by organising fundraisers for the local hospital and community through NHS T-Shirts and Easter egg donations. We also started weekly quiz nights supported by local businesses. That moved on to online live music evenings and then we thought about interviewing some stars of the game – our version of An Evening With.
“We’ve had Shane Williams, Adam Jones, Sean Holley and Tom Shanklin so far. It’s become a real highlight of the week for many – we’ve had more than 100,000 people engaging with us during our Saturday evening slot on our Facebook page, which for a small club is quite astounding.
“People can submit questions to us beforehand or during the live interviews and we’ve had people tuning in from all around the world. We’ve got Lee Byrne and Ben Evans booked for this Saturday and already had a question submitted from Australia! Nigel Owens is next on the list.
Club president Glyn Rees is currently in his 60th year with the club – he was honoured with a President’s Lifetime award at the Ireland game last August
“It’s brilliant how these internationals and big names are giving their time freely to keep the rugby community engaged and we’ve had some brilliant feedback. It’s not about raising money, just about having some fun and keeping everyone together.”
The internationals were only too pleased to be involved. Shane Williams said, “It’s great to see clubs like Ystradgynlais keeping everyone to keep engaged at this time, it was good to have a chat to be honest!”, Tom Shanklin adding, “Hopefully the buzz around rugby clubs will continue and help bring people back into the game once community rugby resumes.
Gareth believes a new generation of volunteers has come to the fore during this time.
“We’ve got some brilliant volunteers at the club who have dedicated their lives to Welsh rugby. However, during this time, others involved in the club have also wanted to help in whatever way they can. Social media is obviously key during lockdown so we’ve tried to maximise on that and we have some more ideas to help the club over the next few months and even once rugby is back up and running.
“We usually hold a Family Day and fundraising duck race for our mini and junior section during the summer. That can’t happen this year so at the end of July we’re going to hold what we believe is the first computer generated duck race! We will film the river and people can still buy their ducks which will be super-imposed in the same way as computer generated horse races. Watch this space!”
Club president Glyn Rees, who has been an integral part of Ystradgynlais RFC for 60 years is only too pleased to see the club being driven forward by younger volunteers.
He said, “Gareth especially and his crew have really grabbed the club by the horns in recent months and taken it to the younger generation using modern technology. It’s what we needed. In the past everyone played rugby in our area but now we need to sell it to young people and hopefully when we come out of lockdown, we will be in a better place to do that thanks to their efforts.”
Ystradgynlais boasts a healthy mini and junior section and is already benefitting from collaboration with neighbouring clubs to boost rugby in the area. There is also a growing vets Touch Rugby group in the area – Yogits.
Mr Rees added, “We joined with Cwmtwrch and Abercrave at under 14 level to form Tawe Titans and at youth level we’ve formed a successful partnership with Abercrave to form Upper Swansea Valley Youth which has really kept a lot of young people in the game.
“We are now part of the Valley Ferns Female Hub which is the icing on the cake so we are looking forward to getting that up and running, the Yogits are proiding an important opportunity for the 35+ age group and for the first time in almost a decade we have coaches and players keen to set up a Second XV. Our committee has gone from seven to 13 members and I haven’t been so positive about the future in a long time.
“We have a saying at the club – “The Future is Bright, The Future is Blue” and despite living through this terrible disease, hopefully the future is bright for other clubs too.”
The Yogits Touch Rugby group has proved a major success for veterans across the whole area
The Yogits Veterans Touch Rugby team, although independent of Ystradgynlais Rugby Club, is providing an important opportunity for the 35+ age group in the area. Andrew Morgan Jones is the founder and Lead of the Yogits Touch Rugby group. He said: “Age should not be a barrier to playing regular rugby. Whereas full contact rugby maybe behind the majority of our members, veterans’ touch rugby bridges the gap between contact and walking rugby.”
“There was nothing really out there between finishing rugby and Walking Rugby, which we weren’t ready for. I just booked some space in our local leisure centre and what started with five or six of us has turned into having around 50 people on our books from the Upper Swansea Valley and beyond.
“The physical fitness side is brilliant and that brings huge mental benefits, especially after retiring from team sports. Perhaps you wouldn’t fancy going for a run or cycle on a cold and wet winter’s evening but with a rugby ball, the desire is there all year round and is a reason to get together, providing a great sense of enjoyment and camaraderie. It also provides an opportunity to meet new friends and provides a sense of belonging.
“We have members from a wide area and there are now veterans touch teams in Chepstow, the Rhondda and Risca. We organise matches now and then but the key for us are the regular Thursday evening sessions. The desire for veterans touch rugby is there and we hope to inspire other teams throughout Wales once lockdown is over.”
Yogits have also been active during lockdown keeping the Thursday slot going with regular virtual quizzes and challenges.
“We have completed a 4000 mile challenge (through walking/running/cycling or just moving!!) raising £2k for Ystradgynlais Mind. We are looking to continue to build on our partnership with Ystradgynlais Mind to help raise the profile and awareness of effectively managing Mental health in our community and beyond.”
Tune in to the Ystradgynlais Facebook page for the live Q & A with Lee Byrne and Ben Evans 6pm this evening (Saturday).
