Conquering the Mountain gives St Joes a boost
ST Joseph’s will go into their opening game in Division 1 East Central with an extra spring in their step this weekend when they kick-off the new season against Mountain Ash, writes Rob Cole.
Not only are the club celebrating 60 years since their foundation, but the Cardiff side have just seen a second player from their junior ranks win a Wales cap. Not only that, a day later they were able to celebrate their second World Cup player.
And if you are looking for omens, then back Wales to do well in Japan over the next few months because the last time a St Joes product went to the World Cup Wales enjoyed their most successful tournament.
Rhys Carre joined Adrian Hadley in reaching the pinnacle of the game in Wales last weekend when he won his first cap against Ireland. Then a day later he was the bolter, and a big one at that, in Warren Gatland’s 31-man World Cup squad.
Some 32 years ago, Hadley was on the wing when Wales finished third at the inaugural World Cup in New Zealand and now Carre will be hoping to go even better as he steps up into the big time having impressed Gatland with his application in training and his attitude during the World Cup build-up.
“It was a fantastic weekend for the St Joseph’s club last weekend seeing Rhys play for Wales and then get picked in the World Cup squad. It has given everyone associated with the club a massive lift ahead of the new season,” said club chairman Simon Matthews.
“Rhys was always that bit bigger than anyone else when he joined us at the age of 10 and we thought he would make a very good second row. But his father was a prop and so it was probably only natural that he ended up in the front row.
“Our junior section is the lifeblood of the club and three-quarters of our senior side have graduated through the ranks. We’re incredibly proud that Rhys started with us and has gone on to do so well at the Blues and now with Wales.
“We have about 80 kids out every weekend and the whole idea is to produce players who can go on to play for our youth and senior sides. It’s not easy competing with the X-Box, football and all the other things that kids have to do these days, but we have a dedicated team that ensure they have a great time.”
Former Pontypridd back-row man Matthew Lloyd and David Walsh are coaching the senior side this season. They finished ninth in Division 1 East Central last season and, with a few new additions to their squad, including two props, they are hoping to be even more competitive this campaign.