Coombs fuels need for competition by coaching his village
ANDREW Coombs’ rugby career has come full circle after launching his coaching career with village side Nelson.
Last year the Wales second row was aiming for a place in the World Cup having completed his second Six Nations campaign against England.
Now it is Rhydyfelin and Penallta he is trying to get the better of in the third tier of Welsh club rugby at the club where he began his playing career as a teenager.
Coombs, 32, played ten times for Wales but was forced to retire last summer after failing to recover from a knee injury but refused to walk away from the game.
He said: “It was tough to finish playing and I didn’t think I’d enjoy coaching as much as I have but I’m lucky I’ve got a good bunch of boys in Nelson.
“The club is close to my heart so it’s nice to give something back to the lads who supported me throughout my career.
“But I also find it very difficult, you’re asking people to do what you want to do. I see guys walking on the field and I want to crack a whip at them. So you have to keep your emotions in the bag.
“You can’t be too hard because they’ve got to put work first. You know the ones who are lazy and the ones who miss training because they’re earning a living for their family.
“The guys are really committed this year and we’ve had a good start to the season and hopefully we can carry it on into the latter part of the season.
“Trophies are still important, even at this level. We’re an ambitious club. We sat down at the start of the season and it’s clear the guys want to win the league. They’re willing to do anything it takes to get there.”