Cohesion was the focus for new Wales Women head coach Warren Abrahams during his first training camp of 2021.

Having been in post just over a month, Abrahams has spent time watching the Welsh performances in the Allianz Premier 15s and getting to know players and staff but the two-day camp was a welcome opportunity for quality face to face time with an enlarged training squad.

“We achieved our key aims on the weekend. The main thing was to learn more about the players. The more we understand them as individuals and as a team, that’s where we can make them better as players.

“The ultimate goal at the moment is to develop cohesion. We have to have the right people and make sure we work incredibly hard on those relationships between players and with management. Everything is tailored to making the team better and we also had some meaningful conversations around the legacy this team wants to leave for the next generation of Welsh women’s rugby and this team has to be the role model for that. That is a long-term goal.”

Abrahams is buoyed by what he’s seen so far. The vast majority of this training squad play in the Allianz Premiership and our players aren’t just making up the numbers. They’re putting down some big markers – just look at Kayleigh Powell and Hannah Jones who both earned a Player of the Match recently and Jaz Joyce who was Player of the Month for December. We’re really proud of how well our players are doing, it’s great for the programme and those experiences are just going to make them better.”

Siwan Lillicrap added, “It’s been nice to get together so soon in the New Year – the first step in a huge year ahead. The focus this weekend was on building a foundation and exploring what we’ve got as a squad.

“I think we absolutely achieved that, the relationships are developing along with a confidence in the squad . It’s been a tough, challenging camp but that’s what you want as we build towards the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup.”

Lillicrap welcomed the input of the new-look coaching team, former Wales captain and Colwyn Bay head coach Rachel Taylor coming in as national skills coach and former Ireland international and Penclawdd forwards coach Sophie Spence joining the set-up as Wales’ World Rugby coaching intern.

“Warren has been very inspirational for us already. It feels like he’s been in post much longer as we’ve done a lot of work on zoom already. It’s great to have Rachel on board. She’s a role model for many of us with what’s she’s done on the field as Wales captain and off it as a coach and Sophie too with her international experience and coaching knowledge.”

Training squad:
Forwards: Abbie Fleming, Alisha Butchers, Gwen Crabb, Georgia Evans, Cerys Hale, Cara Hope, Molly Kelly, Natalia John, Manon Johnes, Kelsey Jones, Beth Lewis, Siwan Lillicrap, Robyn Lock, Shona Powell-Hughes, Donna Rose, Caryl Thomas, Meg Webb, Teleri Wyn Davies
Backs: Alecs Donovan, Beth Huntley, Bryonie King, Courtney Keight, Jade Knight, Caitlin Lewis, Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones, Jasmine Joyce, Kayleigh Powell, Paige Randall, Jess Roberts, Gemma Rowland, Lauren Smyth, Elinor Snowsill, Robyn Wilkins, Flo Williams

THE WET weather pre-Christmas has affected the progress on the Narberth OTTERS new Snack Bar, but the plucky band of volunteers and some suppliers have rallied around in between the storms to do some of the essential work, prior to making the building fully weathertight.

In November Committee Man Macphee, chief recruiter of volunteer labour , press ganged the club Chairman Robert Lewis in to service. Rob used to be a class act wearing No 14 playing on the wing for the Otters. On this occasion Mac had him flying around the inside of the building fitting the insulation inside the walls of the timber frame. He was ably assisted by block layer Trevor Thomas alias “Tomcat” who on this occasion swapped his trowel for a saw and knife to cut the lightweight insulation panels. Kevin Pyne , all 6’4” of him, was useful in fitting the pieces in the top of the wall !

Bacon Butties and coffees were frequently sourced from the Spar minimarket by Architect Ken Morgan to keep the team replenished on cold and damp winters days. Ken commented: “I had the initial idea for transforming the way Burgers and snacks were made in a tiny hut. So I came up with the idea of creating a new purpose-built structure. I feel that supplying the volunteer who are helping in this objectives, and who give up their time so willingly, deserve a warm snack and a hot drink in such poor weather conditions” . The Chairman Rob Lewis is intending that the RFC will lay on a supper and alcoholic beverages for all sponsors, volunteers and financial donors when the project is finished. That will also include members of the local press who have given magnificent support in publicising the project.

During December Celtic Scaffold Solutions very kindly turned up to provide a scaffold around the perimeter of the building to give the volunteers safe access to work at height on the new roof. Proprietor Luke Morgan has donated his time and equipment entirely free of charge. The Rugby club is extremely grateful and proud of his sponsorship. This allowed Mac and John Evans alias “Jinko” to fit the heavy Roof Joists and the sloping fillet pieces, known in the trade as firring pieces using a nail gun supplied by builder Dorian Phillips. The timber joists were very kindly donated by Agricultural Buildings supplier John Morris.

Unfortunately, or to use the term favoured by the Prime Minister in these Covid times, – Alas, the plywood roof deck and weather-proof rubber membrane cannot be fitted until some dry weather arrives. It is hoped that won’t be too long coming.

In the meantime to finish off just before the Christmas Break, Mr Gareth Edwards of Whitland, proprietor of GNE windows and double glazing, turned up with his colleague Sid to fix all the external windows and door. Macphee said: “where would we be without the extreme generosity of such sponsors. Two windows were supplied by Merry Bros; The large corner window frames and glazing were supplied by GNE Windows and The external door and Frame were paid for by Committeeman and Youth Coach Mr Bill Ridge who was also an outstanding former player for the Otters”.

The Narberth RFC would welcome any further offers of financial help, materials donations or voluntary labour in order to move the project forward into the internal fitting out stage. It is hoped that by the Spring the building will be close to a finish ready for the start of a new Rugby Season. Let’s hope this works out.