Pembrokeshire is currently turning out some very talented young rugby players and there is no doubt that included in the latest batch would be 15 year old Patrick Pearce, who plays for STP School and Pembrokeshire – and is currently a member of the Scarlets’ West Development Squad for his age group.
 
Patrick plays in the centre and has dedication aplenty for the oval ball game because to make the  squad he had to show his skills in trials before getting picked.
 

Travel galore – and real family commitment

 
He has to travel on a regular basis to attend training sessions, which include work on fitness levels, ball skills, working at the breakdown and lots of other technical stuff.
 
So much mileage also means a real commitment from his family which Patrick fully recognises.

“My mum and dad (Emma and Jamie) have been brilliant,” said Patrick, “and so has my older sister Naomi, who plays netball for school and West Wales. Both my parents have played sport, with mum as a former netball player with Milford Haven and the county, as well as being in the Welsh Development squad, whilst dad was a rugby player with Haverfordwest and the Welsh Fire Brigade, playing in the centre or on the wing. My granddad, Larry Henderson, has also given me every encouragement to play sport.”
 

Other sports

 
Outside of his rugby, Patrick is also a useful footballer who started out playing for Michael ‘Glenys’ Davies in a very good Prendergast Villa team and was also heavily involved in the Cardiff City Centre of Excellence before he had to choose where his priorities were, and picked rugby.

Athletics also took up some of his time as he won the 800 metres in school and Pembrokeshire before running in the Welsh Schools Championships and winning a bronze medal, as well as playing tennis for the county squad with John Deason for a while.
 

Started with Junior Blues

 
But it is rugby that now occupies much of Patrick’s time after joining the Haverfordwest junior squad run by Jeff Clout and Mackie Davies for tag rugby and then the full contact game at under 10 and under 12 teams. He always plays in the centre (although he has tried flanker at school with Med Richards and Jonathan Dodd), and was part of the Haverfordwest team which beat the Quins 25-5 to win the Pembrokeshire Cup for their age group. Included in that team were Jonathan Clout as captain, Kyle Williams, Jake Evans, Callum Morris and George Hart – and Patrick really enjoys the training sessions organised by Mr Clout!
 

County selection

 
He started playing for Pembrokeshire last season, with Jonathan Llewhellin, Jonathan Evans and Martin Edwards as coaches, and the county under 15s team reached the quarter finals of the Dewar Shield, the competition organised for district teams all over Wales. They beat Neath and Mynydd Mawr in their pool matches, as well as losing a hard-fought game against Cardiff at Narberth. It lead them into the last eight against North Wales, where they encountered a hostile team and set of home supporters, but they learned a great deal in defeat that will hold them in good stead for games in the future!
 

And finally . . .

 
So what of the future? Patrick would love to become a professional rugby player and is ready to work hard to achieve success. He is a keen trainer, runs several times a week and works on the weights as part of his training regime, plus cross-fit sessions in the gym.

“I’ll give it my best shot,” said Patrick, “which means hard work and listening to good advice.”

He is clearly a focussed young man and if being level-headed and willing to do his best are the keys to success then Patrick Pearce is on the way – and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wish him every success!

 
PHOTOS:
Patrick Pearce as part of his team
Patrick Pearce
Patrick in action