Wales have made it to the knockout stages of the World Cup and are unbeaten throughout the competition. It’s an impressive feat considering the dreadful record we’ve had over the last few years, but Wales is built on rugby, and there’s no one we can thank more than the grassroots levels of the game where all the players got started playing the sport they love.
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00:00 Without grassroots you wouldn't have the World Cup.
00:03 You wouldn't have players out there who have started their trade on venues like this.
00:09 Wales, although stuttering somewhat on the pitch in the last few years, is built on rugby.
00:14 And we wouldn't be in the quarter-finals if it weren't for the thousands of rugby clubs
00:18 dotted around the country giving children their first chances at the sport.
00:22 Without grassroots, there is no Rugby World Cup.
00:26 But to give a base of sport as well, because obviously not many people, not a lot of people,
00:35 go all the way through to professional level, but to give a base of sport, being active,
00:40 particularly within the communities, is something you probably look back on when you get a bit
00:44 older and realise how hard it is to cater for kids of a vast age range, particularly
00:51 in one sport let alone a plethora of opportunities.
00:56 Alan Wyn Jones is no stranger to the biggest stage and he says that his early years playing
01:00 were massively important to him and hopes that young people around Wales will make the
01:05 most of the fantastic clubs all over the country, which offer so much more than just a game.
01:09 Like I say, it's not looking back, harping back and being proud and romantic about it,
01:16 it's just being grateful for the opportunity that I had to do things that I've achieved.
01:20 A lot of places, the clubs will have a lot of kids from the schools, etc.
01:27 So a lot of those friendship bonds and social skills will have been developed, but obviously
01:35 it's new friendships, it's opposition, it's competing, being challenged, sticking to a
01:41 formal training plan, all these sort of things that equip people not only for school but
01:46 life and whatever they go into in the future.
01:51 The clubs that help grow the sport are pivotal to the strength of rugby in Wales, with thousands
01:55 of players starting out at small clubs, giving them lasting memories, building relationships
02:01 and challenging themselves in the sport, giving them all the best chances in the future.
02:07 It's all part of their extended family, you see them, they come in on match days, they
02:12 have their burgers or their food and they really feel part of it.
02:16 And they also then come down when the international is on the telly, it's full of kids watching
02:21 and they recognise, oh Liam was down the club last week, Nicky was down the club last week.
02:26 It's all about those figures, giving them something to aspire to.
02:30 Some will make it, some won't and as a club we welcome the opportunity to push them, but
02:35 they all will enjoy it.
02:37 We've got guys playing out here, they've played 45, 46, still playing, first team rugby, they've
02:43 been playing here 30 years, 40 years, it's a way of life, it really is good.
02:50 So as the whole country waits on and hopes for more success out in France, spare a thought
02:54 for the local teams and the youngsters out there every Sunday morning who give it all
02:58 and make rugby what it is in Wales.
03:01 James Beach Watkins, Local TV.
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