Howells exits the pro game with no regrets and some happy memories
THE words of the late, great footballer Diego Maradona still come to mind on the matter of when to call it a day in professional sport.
“I will not play professionally again. For the time being it’s an irrevocable decision.”
His indecision was, as they say, final.
That was in 1991.
He was still playing for Boca Juniors six years later.
Deciding when to call it a day is always the hardest call for any sports person.
But Dafydd Howells is happy with his decision.
The Wales rugby international has drawn a line under his professional career at the age of 26. One of 13 players released by the Dragons this week, the player who had once awed the notoriously fastidious Shaun Edwards with his natural-born talent had made up his mind, anyway, that it was time to exit the pay-forplay environment.
Six operations during his pro career made the call just a shade easier.
There’s unlikely to be any turning back.
“I’m at peace with my decision,” says Howells.
“I spoke with Dean Ryan at the Dragons. Regardless of whether there was going to be anything available there, I think I’d already made up my mind to take a step back.
“The last couple of years, with injuries and Covid, have taken a toll.
“I’ve been unlucky.
“I’ve had six operations over the years. I had my left shoulder done in 2013 and my right one went in 2017; in between, I had my hamstring worked on in 2015. My right shoulder went again in 2018, then I hurt my elbow in 2019, and then I had a home accident before Covid, cutting a tendon in my hand with a saw.
“And there have been niggles along the way. I rolled an ankle – six weeks out; I tweaked a calf muscle – three weeks out. This year I’ve been fit for the whole season but I haven’t had opportunities.
“It is what it is.
“I don’t blame anyone. “Now, the plan is to concentrate on things away from the pro rugby environment, which can be intense. I want something else as my main focus.
“I’m excited to see what happens.”
The likelihood is Howells will resurface as a semi-professional, potentially with an announcement imminent.
“I’m not really sure what I’m going to do away from rugby,” says Howells.
“A couple of really good friends have been kind enough to take me on in their business. It gives me a chance to mull things over rather than panicking and going: ‘I need a job, I need a break.’ They’ve been brilliant.
“I’ll also play as a semi-professional.
“I’m only 26, I still have rugby left in me and don’t want to pack in completely.
“Coming out of the pro environment allows me to still play and perhaps earn a little bit while working out what my next career opportunity will be.
“I’ll train twice a week, play on a Saturday and not have all the extra stuff that goes with being a pro.
“I’m looking forward to it.” Sometimes, circumstances just don’t play ball.
Back in 2013 then Wales defence coach Edwards was so impressed by the flying wing he’d seen playing for Wales U18s in a tournament in Grenoble that he phoned Neath coach Patrick Horgan to enthuse over him.
Howells was just breaking through with the Welsh All Blacks.
Edwards was blown away by the kid’s pace and elusive running.
There followed one of the great Welsh Cup final tries when Howells took off like a rocket to score for Neath against Pontypridd at the Principality Stadium. It was international pace in a semi-pro context as the then teenager collected the ball near halfway, zipped inside the first defender before making 20 metres and
accelerating past the last line of defence.
Within a couple of months, Howells was making his full Wales debut against Japan in Osaka at the age of 18 years and 78 days – so young he had his school books with him on the trip.
Another cap followed in the second Test.
Injuries started arriving in abundance soon after.
But Howells achieved more at pro level than many, winning caps for his country and playing for two regions. If his cup final try was something special and the score after just seven seconds in the U20s World Cup of 2014 eye-popping and then a bit more – it was acclaimed as the fastest touchdown ever scored – it’s his Wales debut that understandably provokes the warmest memories.
“Every international will tell you that winning the first cap is special,” he says.
“I remember little things: walking out of the tunnel to warm-up and being greeted by pure humidity; singing the anthem and looking at the crowd.
“It’s hard to put into words. “While singing I was thinking of my parents driving all over the country, dropping me off to play for West Wales U11s down at Stradey Park, driving me all over Wales on Sundays with Abercrave. Come wind, hail, rain or shine, they were both there, taking me training, starting me off in the Ospreys academy at 15, taking me to Llandarcy by seven o’clock in the morning. I’d train and then I’d go home after school. I remembered all the little things about how I got there.
“That first game for Wales will always be top of the list of any rugby memories I have.”
He’d been at the Dragons for three years before his release. “I don’t have any hard feelings towards anyone there,” he says. “I can’t complain.
“I had my elbow done a year last November and they were nothing but supportive.
“The pandemic then hit when I was coming out of contract and hadn’t really played after my elbow injury, but Dean gave me a deal for another year.
“It’s just that I haven’t really had an opportunity. Sometimes it works out like that.”
Howells doesn’t accept his being fast-tracked into the Wales set-up as a youngster prompted him to jump from A to Z in his development, missing out on important phases.
“I wouldn’t say it helped or hindered,” he says.
“I was fortunate enough to be picked up at such a young age, but I’ve been unfortunate with the injuries I’ve had. I guess I’ve struggled to get consistency going in between the injuries. I’m not resentful at all.
“I could not have asked for a better start to my rugby career than my Welsh cap. I’m not one for regrets.
“Of course you want to win as many caps as possible, but I played for Wales throughout the age grades and at senior level.
“No-one can take the senior cap on the shelf in my living room away from me. It’s there, and I’m proud of it. I have fond memories.”
He is right to have such recollections, as well.
Most of us will never get to play sport for our countries. Howells did exactly that. Life goes on.
Being a bright lad with qualifications behind him, Howells stands every chance of success in whatever he does next.
Let’s hope his luck turns for the better One of the game’s nice guys deserves some good fortune.