Mark ‘Russell’ James – a reformed character?

 
It would be fair to say that at one stage an article on Mark James might not have appeared on PembrokeshireSport.co.uk because although we recognised the immense amount of commitment that he had shown to Neyland Rugby Club for almost 35 years, in our humble judgement that did not always reflect on the way he played as he allowed a fiery temperament to overcome good judgement and, as he agrees now, it led to more than his fair share of yellow and red cards from referees!
 
But over a recent period, we have seen him work at this aspect of his game, especially since he took up coaching in the club’s junior programme and has impressed upon his young charges the need for respect for officials and other teams - and now he is held in esteem by the players and their families for the positive impact he has on them.
 

Taken on new roles in the club

 
Indeed, in out chat with Mark, who is known as ‘Russell’ after his father, who played for Neyland and Pembrokeshire in both rugby and cricket, he was rightly proud of the fact that at almost 45 years of age he trains regularly, still helps out if needed in the difficult role of tight head prop, when he has played for all that time in the second row, and has become the club’s team manager and is working closely alongside coach Steve Hamer and Matt Hamer.
 
‘This season I have been on the bench more than I have ever done before and last season, where I was in the team far more often, I had no red cards and just one yellow card for a technical offence where I was punished for not rolling away quickly enough from a maul.”



 

Took up coaching when son Josh started out

 
He started out in coaching when his son Josh was only six and there was no under 7 team until talented youngsters like Evan Roberts, Corey Riley, Leo Power, Korey Arran and Ashley Watkins came on the scene and there was no-one to coach them so he stepped in.
 
When tackling came in at under 9 level, Josh was still a year younger so he stayed at under 8 alongside Cai Griffiths, Seth Walker and Ioan Campbell - and they eventually won the age-group  final.
 
“What they lacked in skill at the start they certainly made up for in enthusiasm,” Mark told us with a chuckle, “and they stuck together right through the junior ranks until they won the under 15 Plate Final by beating Crymych after losing to a very good Haverfordwest side in the previous rounds.
 
“We train every Thursday and attendance is great so it is a pleasure to be involved with them.”




 

Josh shows his all-round talents

 
Josh plays at outside half for Neyland and for Pembrokeshire as an outside centre coached by Aled Walters, Mikey Jones and Tom Meredith - and it is nice to report that this talented group of young players has won all its first four games in the Dewar Shield competition, the most important event in Welsh Rugby at under 16 level.
 
Outside of his rugby, Josh is also a more than useful cricketing all-rounder and for four games with Neyland Thirds in 2024 he was joined by dad Mark, who said it was a good bit slower than rugby but he might have a full season next year, to try and improve his batting and fielding!




 

Worked hard for Level Two coaching award

 
“I took my Level One coaching award years ago at Carmarthen Athletic and I recently took my Level Two award at Neyland under the guidance of Aled Parry - with the course held there over three Sundays from 9am to 4pm because other Neyland players in Jack Kinnersley, Steve Hamer, Andrew Slark, John Tennick and Alistair Griffiths also wanted to gain the award.
 
“It was demanding stuff where we had to regularly show what we had learnt by teaching it to the others in the course, which is never easy but I think that as well as having great tuition from Aled we also benefitted from each other’s experience.”



 

Started out in baseball in Saudi – but soon took to rugby

 
Mark’s own start in rugby came a lot later than most because until he was 11 the family lived in Saudi Arabia and as well as football the other main sport in the American school he attended was baseball.
 
“When we came back to Neyland I went straight into rugby, where I was coached by Robert Johns and Peter Davies, and I played throughout my junior days alongside some very good players like Mark Riley, Jamie Dalton, Simon Phillips, Steve Roberts and Jamie Kerr, who was captain.
 
“I went to Sir Thomas Picton School, where I played at hooker with good coaching from teachers Gelly and Ronnie James and back at Neyland, after I had left school, we won the Youth Cup by beating Tenby with that same group of boys.



 

Learned his trade with Neyland 2nds

 
“From there I moved into the seconds and really started to learn how tough senior rugby was at the same time as Andrew Slark, Tal Tamilia, Andrew Hansen and Mark Chamberlain - but always looked after by the old-timers there. I remember we won the Seconds’ League with Graham Richards coaching us and eventually I began to break into the first team squad, where there was immense competition for places.
 
“To be honest, it took a while before I could say I was a regular in the first team but I am proud to say I was eventually chosen as captain for five years on the trot, with Colin Picton and Chris Busby coaching us for the first season, followed by two years apiece by Mark Hamer and Steve Martin.
 

Name on the honours’ board – and a one-off game with a county squad

 
“Looking back, it is nice to see my name on the honours’ board and one of the highlights of my playing days came when we won a division in the National League and were promoted without losing a single game, with a huge number of points as we had the talents of Mathew and ‘Bob’ Williams, Ben Lloyd, Chris Busby, Adam Collins and Mark Smith and many others leading the way.
 
“I also had a little treat when I was invited to play for a ‘County XV’ organised by Gareth Scourfield against Valero in a charity match at Pembroke Dock. It was fast and furious but I enjoyed the game - and mixing with players from other clubs. I played it as a tribute to my mum Pat, who had sadly passed away  just before – but other players persuaded me to play.
 

Busy this season – off the field as well

 
“This is going to be my last season because I know training is getting harder and I’m not getting around the field as I was, but I have to admit that I have enjoyed my games in the front row after coach Steve Evans persuaded me to try a shift at tight head when we were short - and in my most recent game I played the full 80 minutes there so I haven’t done badly,
 
“I have also tried my hand as team manager now and I didn’t realise how much there is to do, like sorting out permits if we need a player to help from another club, organising physiotherapist for injured players and entering the team on the ‘My WRU’ app - and I’ve even been seen chatting to a couple of referees!”
 

So what of the future for Mark ‘Russell’ James?

 
“I am going to take over as youth team coach next season, helped by Chris Busby, so it will be my first time at that level. It also means I won’t be in the way of my wife Karen, who played hockey in school, and now does a great job of looking after Josh and me!
 
“I’ve had to hack around the Milford Haven Golf Club a few times with great club man Chris Busby in his charity golf days and I have threatened to take the game a bit more seriously because quite a few of my rugby pals like Chris play - but that’s a ‘wait and see’ thing!
 
“I know already that I am going to miss playing but I can’t ever see a time when I won’t be involved at Neyland RFC - and I hope that Josh will be really involved at senior level as he gets older because I would really enjoy watching him if he does!”