Rhayader
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Rhayader
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
R
hayader Rugby Club is a fine example of the important role that
a club can play in their local community. Rugby Club Magazine
recently caught up with Club Representative Danny Davies to find out
more about how they’ve been getting along lately.
He told us, “This is my first season at Rhayader
RFC after coming from local rivals Llandod RFC. What
attracted me to the club was the fact I’ve been a massive
part of mid wales rugby for the past fifteen years as a
player with Builth Wells and Llandrindod. Last season
I got a taste as Builth 1st team manager but for me as
an outspoken player I’ve always wanted to go into
coaching. Rhayader has pretty much folded due to
poor commitment from players so for me to drop down
several leagues was a challenge in itself. But what rugby
person doesn’t want a challenge in life!”
“The most challenging aspect of coaching is getting
the players training most weeks; being grass roots rugby
the lads all work and with family life in the way it’s hard
to get the lads training. The most rewarding part of it so
far this season is definitely the response I’ve had from
the whole club and town for that matter. The players
that I have managed to sign and bring in from local clubs
really have made a massive influence on the young lads
that are already in the team.
“Youth rugby is vital for the future of the rams; it’s
always great seeing the young lads coming through into
senior rugby. With several youth lads training with the
first team and the club putting on food after training it
brings the young lads into the first team environment.
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“The Rhayader Rams are massive in the community
which is why this season it was vital that Rhayader had
a team. We have had huge following and great local
sponsors in the lamb and flag pub that our chairman
Andrew Strand runs and without his support this season
the club would have gone under.
“For me as a coach the biggest challenge is losing
good young players to stronger local teams such as
Builth wells and keeping some of the stalwarts of the
club is very important to the running of the club. We
have such a great talent in the club at the moment and
local bragging rights to most of the other local clubs after
beating them this season. I put a lot of pressure on the
lads to perform but to be fair to them they have all pulled
through and that shows in our league and cup success
this year.
“The club ambitions are to gain promotion and with
the squad we have there’s no reason why we can’t! I’m
planning to stay on at Rhayader to see out the promotion
and sustain the club in the higher leagues of the WRU.
We’re a family club and are always looking for people to
jump on board and help as we’re a self-run club with a
small committee.”