Playing the A game ...how the final Wales second-string took the field
THE resurrection of the Wales A team has long been a subject of speculation, but, like the 25-hour working week, such an occurrence stubbornly refuses to happen.
One day, perhaps; one day. Anyway, it’s now up to 18 years and counting since Wales’ reserves last played.
It was April 5, 2002. Tony Blair was prime minister, Boris Johnson was a journalist… and Mefin Davies led Wales to a share in the Six Nations A team title.
Their last game of the campaign was against Scotland, which they won 30-23 at Wrexham.
The second string was subsequently scrapped on grounds of cost.
Here’s the team that started that evening…
15. ADRIAN DURSTON
LYN Jones described Durston as “one of Welsh rugby’s enigmas” after signing him for Neath in 2002.
But there was no doubting his raw talent.
He was with Bridgend when the A team played their final game.
The two Wales caps he was to finish his career with had already been won, on the tour of Japan the previous year. Other teams he played for included the Ospreys, Viadana, Oyannax and Club Sportif Beaunois.
Durston moved into the property sector after finishing playing.
14. GARETH WYATT
HE was one of the most stylish wings on the scene during a playing career that took in spells at Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors, the Dragons and Newport.
The Pontypridd Express won just two caps for Wales, with many feeling he deserved more. These days he coaches Wales Women.
13. GARETH THOMAS
IT hasn’t been a quiet time since for the man affectionately known as Alfie. He went on to win 100 caps for Wales and also skipper them, notably in the Grand Slam campaign of 2005. He also led the Lions.
Came out as gay in 2009 and as HIV positive in 2019.
The former postman is now a bonafide TV personality, featuring on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Big Brother, and is also a campaigner for various causes.
An online poll once found him to be the 912th most popular person of all-time. For sure, his has been an eventful life.
12. TOM SHANKLIN
ANOTHER who would play an important role in the Grand Slam season of 2005... and also in 2008.
At Saracens in 2002, Shanklin was still climbing the rugby ladder and displaying the promise he would convert into outstanding achievement with Wales.
Also toured with the Lions in 2005. Now involved in hospitality, event presentation and media work.
11. MATTHEW WATKINS TRAGICALLY, the player known as Matthew J. passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer.
All who knew him hailed him as one of life’s good guys.
After a stint with Newport, he moved across to west Wales to play for Llanelli and
ps.
10. LEE JARVIS
ONE of Welsh rugby’s great points accumulators, the metronomic Jarvis had impressive stints with Pontypridd, Cardiff, Neath and Dragons, keeping the scoreboard ticking over for each of them.
His speciality involved booming long-range shots at goal, but, really, he was consistent and deadly accurate from any distance.
Just picked up the solitary senior cap, against Romania at Wrexham in 2003.
His misfortune was to be playing at the same time as Neil Jenkins, while Arwel Thomas offered something different with his will-o’-the-wisp running.
Jarvis later showed promise as a coach with Cardiff Blues seniors and academy, Merthyr and Beddau.
Has since moved into the railway industry.
9. ANDY MOORE
THE skilful scrum-half won four senior caps for Wales between 1995 and 1996. He played some superb rugby for Neath in 2002, his quick service giving his fly-half extra time and space.
Had started with Cardiff RFC and also played for Richmond, Benetton and Cardiff Blues.
Has overseen a number of successful business ventures. Also does TV commentary and is a triathlete.
1. GETHIN JENKINS WELL, here’s a big name.
Or at least a man who went on to become a big name.
Indeed, Jenkins was to morph into a Welsh rugby legend, winning his first senior cap in 2002 and going on to complete 134 appearances in Test rugby – 129 for Wales and five for the Lions.
Along the way, many turnovers were achieved and many piledriving tackles put in.
There were four Six Nations title successes, including three Grand Slams.
Now setting sail on the perilous waters of coaching. Has been working with defence at Cardiff RFC and is a transition coach with Cardiff Blues. Said to be promising, too – and why wouldn’t he be, with all that knowledge and experience?
THIS wasn’t the only team Davies played for which vanished from the Welsh rugby scene.
A couple of years later he was at Celtic Warriors when they were wiped off the map.
At the time, Davies, one of the most popular figures in the game and a Wales captain, was left without a club. “What happened to Mefin was disgusting,” said the man who coached the Warriors at the time, Lynn Howells.
But the former hooker, who captained Wales A that night against Scotland, is nothing if not resilient and he went on to bounce back with Wales, Neath, Gloucester, Leicester
and the Ospreys.
Spent a long spell as scrum coach and working with the forwards at Worcester. Will be at Dragons when rugby resumes.
3. ANDREW MILLWARD
THESE days he is Ospreys’ managing director, having previously held down a role as general manager of rugby. He was also a performance manager with the Welsh Rugby Union.
In 2002, he was a strong-scrummaging tighthead with Neath.
He went on to anchor the Ospreys’ set-piece, playing an important role in the Celtic League title success of 200405.
4. ROBERT SIDOLI PONTYPRIDD were a powerful outfit at the time. with a youthful Sidoli running their line-out.
He went on to win 42 caps for Wales and was another who played in the sunny Grand Slam campaign of 2005.
The Merthyr-born lock also featured for Celtic Warriors, Cardiff Blues, Bristol and Dragons before retiring as a player in 2014.
Has coached at Pontypridd and Merthyr and is now director of rugby at Newport High School rugby academy.
5. GARETH LLEWELLYN
HE stacked up 92 caps for Wales during a marathon Test career that spanned 15 years. There were also many rich and varied experiences for Llewellyn in the club game with
Neath, Harlequins, Ospreys, Narbonne and Bristol.
The former Wales captain and ace line-out jumper showed a lot of early promise as a coach with a successful stint at English club Thornbury. He also held the reins at Tonmmawr and Neath.
Works as a sales executive with Lima Orthopaedics, saying recently: “It’s great.
“After I stopped playing, I did spend some time looking around to see what coaching opportunities were out there. But then I thought: ‘I’ll get what might be styled a normal job.’ I like it.”
6. MICHAEL OWEN
IF there’s been a better ball-handling Welsh back rower over the past 25 years – Owen’s old Pontypridd teammate Geraint Lewis aside, maybe – could he please make himself known in reception.
What a passer of a ball Owen was. Stepped up to skipper Wales after Gareth Thomas fell injured during the 2005 Grand Slam campaign. Toured with the Lions in the same year.
When he played, rugby always looked easier on the eye.
From September 2013 he took up a post as director of rugby at Haileybury College in Hertford.
7. BRETT SINKINSON
HE had been one of Henry’s Heroes when the Wales team coached by Graham Henry swept to 10 straight victories during 1999, with highlights being the win over South Africa and the Test series triumph in Argentina.
Sinkinson was outstanding against the Springboks, doing as much as anyone to secure Wales their first ever victory over them.
The Test rugby fun didn’t last. The following year saw the New Zealander found himself caught up in the Grannygate row when it was discovered he and Shane Howarth lacked the necessary paperwork to play for Wales.
Sinkinson later qualified on residency grounds.
The likeable and modest Neath flanker won 20 caps all told.
Working as a landscape gardener back home in New Zealand.
8. NATHAN BONNER-EVANS
AN immensely-powerful ball carrier, the big No.8 played some of his best rugby during his time at Neath.
Also had spells with Newport, Sale Sharks and London Welsh.
In a tongue-in-cheek pen pic back in the day, Rowland Phillips wrote of NBE: “Didn’t have the best start to senior rugby – went to Llanelli, then they signed Scott Quinnell. Went to Newport, then they signed Gary Teichmann and then to top it all he came to Neath and they signed me!”
Phillips went on to describe BonnerEvans as a future Wales cap.
Such an honour sadly never came his way, with injuries not helping.
Bonner-Evans moved into coaching with Neath and then Swansea.
Along the way he was an owner and director of NRJ Motor Company.