Wes Cunliffe: Living the dream

The well-loved Premiership back, who has played for Ebbw Vale, Newport and Cross Keys and hopes to represent Swansea when rugby resumes, makes no bones about the role rugby played in turning his life around.

As a teenager growing up in the Pill and Dyffryn areas of Newport, Wes became caught up in a spiral of lawbreaking until local police officer Darren Morgan introduced him to St Joseph’s RFC and advised him to put his boundless energy and obvious athleticism to good use.

The rest as they say is history and Wesley credits the sport, and in particular the people and welcoming environments he encountered in rugby clubs throughout Gwent for providing the positive and supporting influence he needed and is very proud of his rugby journey since then, representing some historic rugby clubs and even representing the land of his father, Jamaica, helping their sevens side to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.

Off the field, Wes was determined to give something back to young people who may be growing up in similar circumstances as his own and since telling his story two years ago [CLICK HERE], he is now doing just that, leaving his job as a forklift driver to become a youth case worker for St Giles Cymru.

“I was approached by an employee working for the charity to apply for an upcoming role for their work with children throughout the Gwent area involved in serious organised crime and at risk of child criminal exploitation.

“It’s exactly what I wanted to do – use my own experience to make a difference to other young people.
“Nothing shocks me. What most people see as a normal upbringing doesn’t exist for some young people, whether it’s through poverty, crime, domestic violence and I know that because I’ve lived through it.

“Rugby helped me to walk away from that life and that is what I’m trying to do for the children I’m working with.”

Chris Charles-Wyatt, Community Team Leader at St Giles Cymru said: “Wesley is a very open person and comfortable in sharing his first-hand experience with colleagues and professionals, allowing people to get an understanding of the difficulties and challenges people face and how easy it is for exploiters to see these vulnerabilities. Wesley now uses his experiences to help other young people who have been groomed into Child Criminal Exploitation or those at risk or involved in Serious Youth Violence.

“The St Giles’s strapline is ‘Turning a past into a future’ and Wesley and his colleagues are living examples of this. We are so proud of Wesley and we support and champion his success not only with us but with his rugby carer.”

Following the Black Lives Matter movement, Wes is keen to speak of the positivity he’s always felt as a black rugby player in Wales.

“In my rugby career I have seen some isolated incidents of racial abuse but 99% of the time I’ve always been made welcome. The positives I’ve gained from Welsh rugby far outweigh any negatives.
“However, I feel we could do more to encourage people from BAME backgrounds into our sport as there are huge benefits all round.

“At New Panteg, we welcome all people at the club and I think that’s the same for the vast majority of Welsh rugby clubs. It’s important to get that message out. Rugby is for all, regardless of your shape, size, race, colour or sexual orientations.

“I’ve always been welcomed by some fantastic home and away supporters whether I’ve been at Ebbw Vale, Pontypridd, Pontypool, Newport, Cross Keys or wherever and it’s important to also attract supporters from all sections of society as well as players.

“Community engagement is key where my job is concerned – I see the benefits of working within the community. Whatever background they’re from, the kids just see me as Wes, their case worker, and I see improvements from working with them.

“I think the more BAME youngsters in communities see role models such as Leon Brown and Ashton Hewitt, that will inspire them to come forward and take part in the game.”

Meanwhile, Wes has big plans for New Panteg – and Swansea – when rugby resumes.

“After completing my WRU coaching level 1 and 2, WRU Council member Bryn Parker put me in touch with New Panteg who were looking for a coach. I spoke to the committee and they just saw me as the right man for the job which was great to hear.

“It’s very much a family club, we’ve seen good numbers at training recently and there’s a good vibe about the place. We are keen to build as a squad and be competitive. We’ve have set some ambitions for when rugby resumes.”

The position is one Wes believes his beloved grandparents would be proud of.

“My grandfather, Owen Cunliffe was from Blaenavon and my nan Margaret, who died when I was 15 was from Panteg. They did so much for me and would be particularly proud of me coaching New Panteg in their local area.

“When Ebbw Vale offered me my first contract, my grandad sat me down, told me I could be in prison or worse and this was my chance to get out of that life for good.

“Apart from the chance the police officers gave me in introducing me to rugby, and the support clubs showed me, especially Ebbw Vale where I was still going through some tough times, that was another big turning point. If it wasn’t for my grandad, I probably wouldn’t be here now, he supported me and took me everywhere.

“We were more like brothers really. He did so much for me and yet when he was in trouble, suffering from cancer, there was nothing I could do for him.”

As for Swansea, Cunliffe is keen for a new challenge as a player. “Hugh Gustafson approached me and to get another chance and a new challenge within the Premiership is fantastic.”

Whatever happens post-covid, one thing is certain, Cunliffe has a lot more to give Welsh rugby and anyone keen to turn their life around.