When Haverfordwest Ladies run out onto the pitch at The Principality Stadium, the home of Welsh Rugby, someone who will give her heart and soul for The Blues Ladies, alongside other committed players and coaches, is Jana Neumann – and it will make a dream come true for her because just a few short years ago she had never touched a rugby ball but has made giant strides ever since.

Jana, who hails from a sporting family, is rightly regarded as a powerhouse pack member with her ability to carry the ball well in attack and be equally strong with her defensive tackling but she has also worked hard to develop her awareness of what is going on around her and enjoys helping others during play.
 

No knowledge of rugby when she started

Her early interests were school netball and hockey but all that changed when her sister Lisa, who plays for Wales and is a professional player (but more of that later) took her along to a training session at Haverfordwest, where Lisa used to play in her early playing days.

“To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially as I knew so little about the game, but coaches Chris Beggan and Gareth Charles were hugely encouraging, as were the players already training there.

“Both gave me the confidence not to feel bad when I inevitably made mistakes and also be ready to test myself with new ideas. I soon made my debut in a home match and since then I have played at No 8 and second row – and am now learning the skills of being a hooker if we are ever short during a match.

“I can remember that I was incredibly nervous in this new sporting environment but I soon got over that phase and have never looked back since.”




 

Amazing recovery from a team which almost folded

Incredibly for a club that is soon playing at The Principality Stadium, the team almost folded this time last year because of a shortage of players after a large number of very good players were no longer available but then Steve Barnett, Morgan Layton, Tony George, plus Johnny Summons as a great stand-in helper, took them on as coaches.

After a social media plea, they were joined by a number of players coming from other sports or who just wanted to try the game and see what it was like but had never touched a rugby ball before, but the enthusiasm was there and pretty soon came a commitment to improvement that has been startling, to say the least.

“Our coaches have been excellent in the way they were patient from the start,” Jana told us, “but always setting us new targets and never accepting we couldn’t do things.



 

Blackwood (Away) – what a performance!

“Their self-belief soon spread to us players and we began to do quite well – and this was in evidence recently when we played in the Welsh Ladies’ Bowl competition semi-final against a very strong Blackwood team which started out as favourites in front of their own vociferous crowd.

“But we played out of our skins to hold them to 15-all at half time and were still level midway through the second half - but we managed to raise the tempo and score another 26 points to win 48-22.

“I have never felt so battered and bruised in all my life and I had been so involved that I didn’t realise we were so far ahead - but our exhilaration had to be seen to be believed and we really celebrated together because we have gelled so well as a squad and coaches.

“Prior to that success we had started out our Welsh Bowl Competition with a good 26-17 away win against a tough Tumble Ladies team - and then made the long journey to Wrexham, where our media expert Leah kept everyone back home totally up to date with what was going on with a superb live feed - and then it was a case of Blackwood here we come!”







 

Family matters . . .

That Jana should become so committed to rugby should come as no surprise because some of her family have played, as well as Lisa, who represented Wales last weekend in a splendid win in Ireland - and Jana really enjoyed going up to Cardiff Arms Park to cheer her on.

“Lisa is my role model and inspiration but my parents Andrea and Kai have to take the credit, because growing up they have encouraged all five of us to try any sport we wanted and I really think that sporting exposure has been key for being able to try new sports. As well as Lisa, my brother Moritz has been a very good player with Haverfordwest and Tenby United and although he is not currently playing is keeping fit as the co-owner of CrossFit Pembrokeshire in Carew.

“Lisa is a triplet alongside our brothers Finn and Johannes, who dabbled in rugby and other sports in school, where Mrs. Rachel Thomas, the current head of Ysgol Dewi Sant, has also been a great mentor and still encourages me to be involved.

“During my time there I tried all activities and played regular sports like netball and hockey – and go to cross-fit now thanks to Moritz. CrossFit, for me has been huge and I have seen a big difference in my all-round rugby fitness, strength and conditioning. It’s been a game changer!

“In school I played as goal shooter or goal attack in netball and played to county and West Wales levels, and since then I have played for University during my time at UWIC in Cardiff and for Carmarthen Netball Club at senior level.”




 

From a headless chicken to a powerhouse forward

But in 2019, rugby entered Jana’s life when Lisa, who had played for Haverfordwest, RGC in North Wales whilst in University and then Waterloo, Sale Sharks (and now playing for Gloucester Hartpury in the Premier 15’s) persuaded her to give it a try.

“I had played in sevens with Lisa just once before that and didn’t really have any understanding of the rules so it was a bit of an ordeal because I was running around like a headless chicken.

“But then I went to Haverfordwest and had the warmest-possible welcome from our coaches, and in Emma Summons we have a captain who is a great all-round sports woman who certainly leads us by example against opponents who are always bigger than she is.

“I resolved from the outset that I needed to improve my knowledge of the technical aspects of the game by watching loads of rugby live and on television and by asking lots of questions and getting feedback from coaches.”

Huge occasion but not on a Sunday, as games are normally played

So now it’s on to The Principality, where there are three finals on the day to cater for the varying levels of ability, with the cup, plate and bowl allowing six teams the chance to play there.

“We start things off at 1pm against CRCC, Cardiff, who beat Abergele in their semi-final and were winners of the south-eastern area so they must have a very strong squad.

“It’s going to be such a great occasion and its fantastic to have such a huge amount of support, a lot of the men’s team are coming to support us and as well as the bus for our players, coaches and club officials we will also have two busloads of supporters, beside others who are travelling up by car to share in our big day.

“On a personal note it is also a pity because the Welsh Ladies’ team is playing Scotland in Cardiff on the same day and I would have loved to be there for Lisa, but my thoughts will still be with her before and after our game.”



 

And finally . . .

The days have been slowly passing as they have trained hard and continued their growth under Steve Barnett and the other coaches but now Jana and Co are ready for their biggest challenge yet.

Head coach Steve Barnett told us,
“Jana is a tremendous player for us with her determination to work hard on all we do and is a great example to others because she is so powerful as a ball carrier and adept at winning the ball on the ground.

“She is a pleasure to have in our squad, on and off the field, and we can only say that we are lucky to have her with us as a leading player on Saturday.”

That is high praise indeed from someone who really knows his rugby and we can pay Jana Neumann no higher compliment - and we wish her and all involved at Haverfordwest Rugby Club a great day out at The Principality Stadium because they have flown the Pembrokeshire Rugby Flag with real distinction this season!