The Pembrokeshire School’s under 16 rugby team made an amazing start to their campaign in the national Dewar Shield competition, which is rightly regarded as the Blue Riband event for their age group.
 
They completed a five-match clean sweep in their zone by beating Carmarthenshire, RGC (North Wales), Mynydd Mawr & Dinefwr, Ceredigion and Llanelli - so it is small wonder that their head coach, Aled Waters is a very proud young man himself because he is so full of praise for their commitment, high skill levels and willingness to work hard in pursuit of excellence.
 
Their 40-5 defeat of Llanelli confirmed their quarter-final status and when they were awarded the huge ‘Cyffig Glyndwr’ (Glyndwr’s Sword) it was a great way to prepare themselves for the last eight of the competition, knowing that they could be drawn against one of the so-called ‘big guns’ who traditionally do well at that level.
 

Grandad Teddy established Aled’s love of sport

 
Aled hails from the Kilgetty area, where he would say that the major influence on his early days was his late grandfather, Teddy George, was a fine cricket and footballer for the local team and was still involved until he sadly passed away.
 
He gave Aled every encouragement to just enjoy any sport and Aled had a 5 for 5 haul playing cricket for Kilgetty and had ‘two left feet’ in football so it wasn’t long before he turned to rugby!
 

Early start with Tenby Swifts

 
He started playing as a nine-year-old for Tenby Swifts - and was a regular in the county age-group teams until he was 15 as a second or back rower - and then he took part in the very first year of the newly-formed Scarlets (West) where he was coached by Jonathan Evans, Kevin Phillips and Neil Machin.
 
“I decided to give youth rugby a go at Narberth when I was in Coleg Sir Gar for a B.Tec Extended Diploma in Fitness and Sports Coaching and from there I went to the University of Trinity/St Davids, where I gained a 2.1 (Hons) Degree in Sports Coaching and Performance - but sadly I was injured for much of the time but I did play in the BUCS League for the college when I could.”




 

A wide-spread traveler - and eager coach

 
From there, Aled decided it was time to travel and I stated out in Canada, California, Fiji, Australia and finally in New Zealand - and it was during this time that he decided to get back into coaching, like he had in this country.
 
“I coached the under 16 team at Mahurangi and was very fortunate to be part of the North Harbour under16 coaching team.  In my time there, I coached a very talented young fly half named Hone Matheston, who is now close to playing for top sides in New Zealand.
 
“I took my WRU Level Three coaching award a year after covid, which was far more concentrated, where we met at St Clears RFC for monthly sessions. Even though we were regionalised, I took many learnings which I have implemented into my coaching.




 

Pembs Schools’ coaching led to his current role

 
“From there I started to help coach the Pembrokeshire Schools with Chris Shousha and Gethin Vobe, two excellent coaches from whom I learned a lot - until I applied for, and was chosen, some six years ago, for my role as WRU Rugby Hub Officer at Pembrokeshire College, a post I am delighted to still hold today.
 
“I am in college five days a week and my work includes looking after the boys’ and girls’ rugby academies, helping to provide courses that young prospective student coaches can deliver in local primary schools, alongside work with community hubs, at Narberth as an officer link where people can go for advice and help.




 

Learned so much from Seasiders’ characters

 
“I also help Jonathan Evans as part of his coaching team at Tenby United RFC, where my main focus is as on attack, defence and set-piece work alongside two other ‘veteran’ assistant coaches in Ossis Boswell and Andy Barlow, from whom I have learned so much in a relatively short time, with Craig Hamilton as an excellent team manager.
 
“I have been made immensely welcome from the first time I went to Heywood Lane  for training on Tuesday and Thursday nights - and so far this season we have had a terrific start to our league and cup campaigns.”




 

Now a national coach – for Austria!

 
Not content with his local coaching, however he also works as the forwards’ coach with the AUSTRIAN NATIONAL TEAM!
“I went out to Germany with them for last season’s RBW squad as they trained there and I was one of only two Welsh men involved in any county’s coaching, the other being Jack Benger.
 
“To be honest, I thought at first it was a leg-pull when the invite came from Curtis Bradford (ex-Newcastle Emlyn), who is living out there and gave me the details. He suggested I apply; I did - and got the job!
 
“This is my second season now and I fly across about ten times a year to enjoy weekends or even longer with them. We finished third last year in our group after beating Bosnia and Slovenia - but lost to Luxemburg.
 
“This season they have already beaten Hungary and are due to play Ukraine and Slovakia as he jets in an out - and he is also kept busy a little nearer home because he coaches groups of Welsh ex-pats in Nottingham, London and Bristol from time to time.





 

Having a great time with the Dewar Shield players

 
But for Aled it’s now back to his work at the college, promoting a game he loves so much, and having a whale of a time with the players and coaches at Tenby United - and with the Dewar Shield last-eight game in the pipe-line.
 
Sadly, that match against Swansea (West) led to a narrow defeat which saw them bow out of a chance of a place in the semi-finals – but they then beat Newport (away) and this Friday (13^th December) sees them facing Rhymney Valley Schools at Haverfordwest RFC, where they will do battle for the consolation prize of fifth place in the Dewar Shield.
 
“We have a very talented squad led by Ollie Tucker and Josh James as captain and vice-captain plus Madoc Evans and Niall Smith as talented backs - but it is a whole-squad effort and as well as the regulars it is the other squad players, who turn up and train so hard, that they fit in brilliantly when called upon, that make our squad what it is.
 
“We also have a great group of parents, some of whom have played the game themselves, and support from the schools and clubs the boys represent, so I am very lucky to be involved.
 

Aled told us he also wanted to especially thank the following:

 
I’d like to thank everyone who has been apart of my journey so far.
From WRU Staff such as Dai Arthur, Joe Davies, Mike King, Aled Parry and more, to my coaching team in Pembrokeshire Schools of Tom Meredith, Mike Jones, Dan Field, Dan Allen, Bowen Clark & Rio Phillips. To my Tenby coaches of Jonathan Evans, Ossie Boswell, Andrew Barlow, Craig Hamilton & Rob Garland.
Pembrokeshire College Staff of Adrian Bateman, Lee Gibbons, Matt Jess.
But also to my family and friends who have been a part of the journey.
 

And finally . . .

 
It seems the feeling of respect is reciprocated because Mikey Jones told us,
“Aled Waters does a great job as head coach because not only does he know his role as coach inside out but he is a great communicator so every player knows what is going on in the set-up and so do parents, who really appreciate being kept involved.
 
Tom Meredith added:
“His enthusiasm rubs off and the players have a high respect for him so that when he speaks at important moments, like half times, they are all listening. We as coaches feel that we can make an input at any time and we are already working towards the next big match, which was against Swansea (West) at Heywood Lane, where we missed out by a whisker. But as always, Aled said exactly the right things afterwards, which was a real help to the players.
 
We at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk could not pay Aled any higher compliment than that careful analysis supplied by Mikey and so we can only echo his sentiments and wish Aled and his squad further success in their rugby playing.