We have got two important roles, but the whole game is what matters
HE’S the back-rower brought up in the school for hard knocks that is Neath RFC before graduating with honours as a dual-code rugby international.
Yet Rowland Phillips readily admits he’s not even the best rugby player in his own house despite a stellar career in the oval ball game.
Because the man capped 10 times by Wales, before making 17 international appearances during a golden era for Rugby League in this country, happens to be the father and coach of Carys – the taliswoman of the women’s game here.
And the man who learned his 13-a-side trade up north with Warrington and Workington where he would also be part of the Great Britain set-up, puts up few arguments which one of the two has had the best international career.
“I suppose statistically she has,” said Rowland, not wishing to upset the family applecart.
“Between us, we have got 53 caps – Carys has got 43 of them and I have got 10.
“It’s a different game nowadays ... certain strengths I had worked!”
There’s no bickering as to who holds the trump card on the coaching front.
Rowland cut his teeth in spells with Neath, Aironi, London Welsh and Wales Under-18s.
He was Gareth Jenkins’ defence chief with the Welsh senior team between 2006-07 and for the last 30 months has been head coach of Wales Women.
It’s nothing new having father as a head coach.
Thomas Young has it at Wasps with ex-Welsh prop Dai the main man at the Ricoh Arena, while England rugby totem Owen Farrell had his defensive drills drummed into by when dad Andy was part of the Red Rose and Lions set-up.
And for 53-year-old Phillips it’s a bonus to have a sounding board sharing the family home in Neath. “It’s fine,” says Carys.
“We have quite a good professional relationship as coach and player. I think it’s important within a team culture that’s the way it is. your
“We have our own family time as well, which is fantastic.
“When you come away from here (Wales camp) it’s great to be able to look back and see we shared these moments together as well as a family.
“We are quite proud.”
It would appear so, with Carys still living at home and joking she’s “not moving out” ant time soon.
“Carys is pretty good at not doing it (taking rugby home). I’m the one who struggles with that,” says Rowland.
“I find it hard to switch off, Carys finds it a lot easier because she disappears about six o’clock to go to bed!
“To be fair, with Lloyd, my son, and my wife Sally – Brian Thomas (Wales and Neath legend) was her father – we have got rugby right through.
“My career, from the age of 25 to now, 53, has just been rugby so I haven’t got anything else to talk about anyway.
“I do understand that I get Sally looking into the distance while I’m talking just saying random ‘yehs’ all the time.”
With Carys being the captain and dad Rowland the head coach, it could conceivably lead to accusations of nepotism from those looking in.
So, do some people question the fact Carys has been made captain by her dad?
Rowland says: “It’s more other people’s perception what they think and sometimes I’m actually a bit harder on Carys because I am conscious, if I am showing video clips to the players, I just want to make sure the balance is right.
“If you are reviewing games, you don’t want it to be a showreel on one player, you want to make sure there’s positive and negative workons.
“It’s just getting it right for everybody. It’s not just for Carys.
“I will be honest with you, I remember when we first started and our first game was Scotland, and we were in camp for, I think, a two-day lead into the game.
“It was my first involvement and we didn’t speak to each other, we were just walking down the corridor with our heads off to one side.
“We were so conscious about what everyone else was worried about. We talk a little bit more now ... we just deal with the rugby and get on with it.
“It’s not about me and Carys, that’s not even in our equation. It just happens to be a coincidence and it is what it is.
“We are here just to improve the standards of Welsh women’s rugby and, from a coach and a captain’s point of view, we have got two important roles but the whole thing is important.
“As a team and we are certainly maturing as a programme. People are starting to understand things better and starting to look forward to a better future.”