Sport

3 West Wales youngsters on Youth Board

Published

9 years ago

February 26, 2016

WRU Youth Board: The successful applicants during their videos

THREE youngsters from Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen have been successful in their application to become a part of the inaugural WRU Youth Board for 2016.

The board is made up of fifteen individuals aged between 16 and 21, seven of whom are female and eight male, who form a wide geographical representation of Wales and the national game, and will meet for the first time at Principality Stadium on Monday 15th February.

The Welsh Rugby Union has appointed the first members of its inaugural Youth Board after an online selection process, which saw a host of high calibre candidates, submit video applications via YouTube.

Thomas George (17) and one of the two youngest members Dan Evans (16) are furthest West, with Thomas a member of Fishguard Rugby Club in Pembrokeshire and Dan associated to Pembrokeshire Colleges, Dyffryn Taff School and Whitland RFC, whilst Cameron Petrie (17) is Carmarthenshire based, at Llandovery College, but also a member of the Ospreys academy.

The other successful applicants hail from all over Wales, with some keen players, whilst others are coaches and referees.

“We have gathered a rich and varied array of young talent to form the inaugural WRU Youth Board and I am very much looking forward to meeting everyone at our first meeting in February,” said WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips, who will chair the board – which will meet quarterly over the next two years – himself.

“We have a packed agenda and we are going to go right to the heart of some of the big issues affecting Welsh rugby at the moment for our first meeting, with no holding back.

“We asked each of the candidates to give their views on how we should engage as a Union with future players, referees, volunteers and supporters – people of their own generation and the next one coming through and we will be going deeper into those views.

“We will also be discussing the future of the youth board itself, its aims and its objectives and what we want it to achieve and asking some of the bigger and wider questions about the WRU and the way our national sport is viewed and operated.

“This is going to be good, open, honest and frank discussion and the WRU as an organisation is going to benefit hugely from what these young people will be able to offer.

“The new WRU Youth Board will play an important part in the future of the WRU as will the advisory panel we have selected to sit alongside it.”

One of the main discussion points on the agenda at the new WRU Youth Board’s first gathering will be methods of future engagement with young people in Wales, but the meeting will have a wide ranging remit and leave no topic off the table in its on-going discussions about the national game.

The standard of applications for the Board was extremely high and so a further list of 30 of the top candidates have been invited to sit on an ‘advisory panel’ to the board.

The advisory panel will be an important focus group and be asked for opinions on all WRU Youth Board topics throughout the year. All successful applicants have also received free membership to the WRU’s official supporters club as a recognition of their dedication to rugby.

WRU Youth Board XV for 2016 – with biographical information (alphabetical):

Kay Davies, 18, Powys (f) – studying Sport Management at Cardiff Met University, Sport Cardiff coach, Trefeglwys

Dafydd Duggan, 17, Powys (m) – Llanidloes RFC, RGC Development programme. Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, Llanbrynmair

Dan Evans, 16, Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire (m) – Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, Whitland RFC, Pembrokeshire Colleges

Samuel Evans, 16, Neath (m) – Dulais Valley. Neath College. U7s coach, level 2. Llandarcy academy of sport. Llangatwg Community School

Calum Haggett, 19, Porth (m) – Coleg y Cymoedd, Nantgarw. Gilfach Goch RFC. Former Wales U18s captain. Tonyrefal

Ela Jones, 17, Denbigh (f) – Clwb Rugby Dinbych, Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Nant Conwy girls. Coach U10s, U14s.

Andrew Moule, 19, Port Talbot (m) – Glan Afan Comprehensive. Referee.

Johanna Penrose, 17, Machen (f) – Wyclif Christian School, Caerphilly. St John’s College Cardiff

Cameron Petrie, 17, Llandovery (m) – Llandovery College. Ospreys Academy

Thomas William George, 17, Pembrokeshire (m) – Ysgol Wdig, Fishguard RFC. Player, coach, ref.

Menna Preece, 18, (f) Powys – Ospreys academy, Seven Sisters

Bronwen Prosser, 19, Cardiff (f) – King’s College Taunton. Studying Engineering in Cardiff

Luke Rees, 19, Abertillery (m) – Youth Sport Trust, Sport Wales. University of South Wales. Abertillery RFC player and coach. Ball boy. Sport Wales ambassador.

Emily (Millie) Williams, 16, Wattstown (f) – Porth County Comprehensive School. Wattstown RFC. Blues. Wales U18s. U15s coach.

Jo Williams, 18, Newport (f) – Dragons Senior. Level 1 ref. Treharris

Sport

Clarbeston Road AFC scores green energy goal with solar upgrade

Published

4 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Herald Sport

Local football club moves toward energy self-sufficiency thanks to grant

CLARBESTON ROAD AFC has taken a major step towards becoming energy self-sufficient after receiving funding from the Welsh Government and Sport Wales for a solar power installation at its Knock Playing Field facilities.

The club, which signed up to the FAW Together Greener Charter in April, was awarded an Energy Saving Grant which has enabled it to install roof-mounted photovoltaic systems on both its garage and changing rooms.

The project also includes battery storage, helping the club maximise its use of renewable energy. In a further boost to sustainability, the changing rooms now feature an iBoost solar immersion heater controller, which allows solar energy to be used for heating the water in the showers.

A club spokesperson said: “One of our key goals under the Greener Charter was to install solar generation and other energy-saving measures to reduce our environmental impact and cut long-term costs. Thanks to the grant support, and the excellent work of local contractor Preseli Solar, we’ve been able to achieve that.”

The installation reflects a wider push across grassroots sport in Wales to tackle climate change, cut utility costs, and futureproof facilities. By generating their own power and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, clubs like Clarbeston Road AFC are helping lead the way in community-level sustainability.

The Herald understands that the funding was part of a broader Welsh Government initiative to support sport infrastructure improvements with an environmental focus.

***Photo caption: Solar boost: Clarbeston Road AFC’s changing rooms and garage at Knock Playing Field are now fitted with solar panels and battery storage (Pic: Clarbeston Road AFC/Facebook)***

Sport

Race Preview: Barry Island 10K 2025

Published

4 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Herald Sport

NATASHA WILSON, Gemma Steel and Omar Ahmed lead the start lists for the Barry Island 10k this coming Sunday.

The race returns after a two-year sabbatical and hosts the second race in the 2025 R4W 10K Series at the quirky and popular seaside town famed for the Gavin and Stacey sitcom series.

Natasha Wilson (33:09) is the second fastest Welsh Athlete in history for the Marathon. She was the winner of the Cardiff University / Cardiff Half Marathon in 2022 and the victor of the Swansea University / Swansea Half Marathon last Sunday in 72:13.

2014 European Cross Country Champion Gemma Steel (31:26) last ran on Welsh soil at the Asics Home Nations 5K in Cardiff in 2023 finishing eighth in 16:15. She is the 11th fastest British Athlete in history over 10K and last raced at the Midland Counties Road Relay Championships in March.

Kate Estlea Morris (33:38) was the winner of the Reading Half Marathon in 2024 and a runaway winner at the Brecon Carreg CDF 10K last September and will look to challenge Wilson and Steel here.

Olivia Tsim (33:48) will also be in action and was second at the Adidas Manchester Marathon on her marathon debut in April and a previous winner of the Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay 10K. She was also the winner of the season opener in the Welsh 10km Series at Caerphilly.

Alaw Evans (34:23) was the 2023 winner at the CDF 10k and a consistent performer that could cause an upset here.

Omar Ahmed (28:35) is a prolific racer and is rarely beaten. He most recently took victory at the Swansea University / Swansea Half Marathon in 63:13 last Sunday and is also a previous winner of the Run 4 Wales 10K Series.

Phil Wylie (29:30) finished fourth here at the last edition of this race and returns on Sunday.

Mike Ward (29:31) was the runner up at the Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10k in early May and will face-off against the race winner Jonathan Butler (29:52) who is the final sub 30-minute performer in action here.

Daniel Hamilton (30:17 and Adam Bull (31:03) are next fastest.

Sport

Ceredigion prepares to host 2025 National Road Cycling Championships

Published

6 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Herald Sport

County to welcome elite riders and fans for major sporting event

CEREDIGION is gearing up to welcome some of Britain’s top cyclists later this month as it plays host to the 2025 Lloyds National Road Cycling Championships and Beicio Cymru’s Road Cycling Championships.

The prestigious event, organised in partnership with British Cycling, will run from Wednesday, June 26 to Sunday, June 29, beginning in the picturesque seaside town of Aberaeron and finishing in Aberystwyth.

Spectators are invited to watch along the routes but are urged to choose safe viewing spots that do not obstruct the cyclists or race officials.

To support the smooth running of the championships, temporary road closures will be in place around Aberaeron and in and around Aberystwyth. A full list of closures can be found at:
www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/tourism-leisure/cycling-championships

The action begins on Thursday, June 26 with the individual time trials. Riders will set off from Aberaeron, racing through scenic countryside via Ciliau Aeron and Llanerchaeron before finishing on Lampeter Road. Time trials will run between 9:00am and 5:00pm.

In Aberystwyth, the ‘Caru Ceredigion’ area on the Promenade will host a range of stalls and exhibitions from Friday to Sunday, offering something for all ages. On Sunday, a large screen on the Promenade will live stream the final day of racing.

Businesses and residents across Ceredigion are being encouraged to decorate their properties to show support for the event and give visitors a warm welcome.

Due to high-speed racing — with cyclists expected to reach speeds of up to 50mph — all vehicles must be removed from the race routes. Any vehicles left along the course will be towed away for safety reasons.

British Cycling’s production team will use drones to capture aerial footage of the races. Private drone operators are asked not to fly drones along the course or near the production crew.

Councillor Clive Davies, Ceredigion’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said:
“Ceredigion has a proud track record in producing elite cyclists, including Josh Tarling, Stevie Williams and Gruff Lewis. Hosting the national championships is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our county and inspire the next generation of young riders.”

To coincide with the main event, the popular Summer Series for young Ceredigion cyclists will return. Three rounds of family-friendly races, organised by Ystwyth Cycling, Welsh Cycling and Ceredigion Actif, will take place on: