Lewis has a whale of a time with the Welsh Academicals in an international under 16s festival in North Wales!

Lewis Davies has recently enjoyed a wonderful rugby experience as he spent a week in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, playing for the Welsh Academicals under 16 team in on three occasions in the Conwy International Rugby Festival at Parc Eirias and doing really well as blind-side flanker in wins over both Scottish teams in the festival and in a defeat against a very physically strong Italian team.

The aim of the Welsh Academicals is to promote, foster and develop the playing of rugby by current and former Welsh students, to play in a sporting spirit and maintain an association of former players of the club. Welsh Academicals is the WRU affiliated team where students have represented Wales in tournaments such as the Hong Kong 7's, and toured countries as distant as South Africa.

Top players helped over many years – and youngsters too!

The international and overseas experience has assisted students to stay on the elite player pathway, despite their education commitments, with 172 players developing into senior internationals, 60 of whom have also progressed to become British Lions.
The origin of the Welsh Academicals was established during 1927 in the mining community of Mountain Ash, deep in the Cynon Valley of South Wales. 

For the subsequent 80 seasons the 'Accies', as they have become known, have continued this ethos of providing experiences to Wales' top student rugby players which has assisted their development towards greater honours, so Lewis was understandably delighted to be the only Pembrokeshire player involved – although there was another local involvement because team manager Gareth Davies, who is the National Exiles Officer with the WRU, originally hails from St Davids!. 

Learned a lot from other things than rugby

16 year old Lewis is the son of well-known former Fishguard Sports footballer Nigel Davies and his wife Julie and there is a further sporting connection because his older brother Ryan is also a very good footballer with Fishguard Sports. 

Lewis currently attends Ysgol Bro Gwaun and is hoping to go to Pembrokeshire College as the next stage in his academic and sporting career - and enjoyed the study skills and revision sessions that formed part of the whole week in Colwyn Bay, where he joined 25 other students staying together in a hostel, plus the training sessions where he caught the eye with his work rate, commitment and ball-winning skills.

High praise from coach Ian

These were all observed by coach Ian Lloyd, who contacted the family afterwards to compliment Lewis on these features, as well as outlining areas where Lewis might look to develop his playing skills - something he appreciated because he is always looking to improve.

Coach Lloyd added that had there been a 'most improved player' award over the week then Lewis would have been in contention, something that pleased the whole family because he was in a strong squad that contained players from across the principality, plus others from Kent, Cumbria, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cheshire who have a Welsh parent or grandparent.

From disappointment to delight in quick time

His selection for the Welsh Accies, as they are known, came after the disappointment of just missing out on the full Welsh squad alongside other locals in Gethin Davies and Dom Booth.

“I was gutted not to be chosen after so much hard work,” admitted Lewis, “but my family helped pick me up and I was soon back in action.

“To be honest, I hadn’t really heard of the Welsh Academicals,” he told us, “but it was a terrific boost when I received an e-mail asking if I was interested in playing in the festival, which of course I was, and I e-mailed straight back to say I was delighted to accept a trial.

"There were 38 of us at the day-long trial, which was held at Parc y Scarlets, and I was really chuffed when I was told I had made it into the squad.

More training and two wins out of three

My parents took me up to North Wales on the Friday, two days before the match, for some more squad sessions before we played the first Scottish side - and beat them 25-12 in a tough tussle.

More training and some work in the classroom was organised, along with the chance to find out more about local places of interest, saw the time pass quickly until the game against Italy and although the Welsh team were disappointed by their defeat they did well to bounce back on the next Saturday to beat the other Scottish side by 28-19.

Sadly, there are no caps provided for the Welsh Accies but they do have some commemorative kit and the chance to play again as they move through the age groups right up to senior level, where the Welsh Accies are welcomed at any club celebrating a special event or anniversary - and Lewis's name will now be on a list somewhere in readiness for the future.

High praise indeed from his parents

His parents, who were in North Wales to cheer him on, were very proud indeed when Lewis ran onto the pitch and the singing of ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ inevitably left a lump in their throats.
“We had a wonderful time in the festival,” said dad Nigel, “and as a family we met a lot of the other players’ mums and dads who were there as well. The Welsh academicals’ set-up was superb and we feel that Lewis has gained so much from being involved – and he would jump at another chance to play for them.

“If any other young players from Pembrokeshire get the chance they should accept it with both hands, not only for the rugby but the other cultural and academic things they promote.

And finally . . .

In the meanwhile Lewis has started playing up a couple of years for Fishguard and Goodwick Youth although hopes of an appearance in the Griffiths Under 18 Cup Final were dashed as the Young Seagulls lost to Narberth, but he will continue to enjoy himself playing locally - and for the Welsh Academicals in the future whenever the opportunity arises!

We were delighted to see Lewis Davies representing the Welsh Academicals because we have friends who have regularly turned out for them at senior level and had a great time -  and we hope this pleasant young feller from Fishguard follows in their footsteps!!