Wil Nicholas is a very talented young sportsman who loves playing rugby for Narberth throughout the long season from September to April and in the summer months finds it relaxing, but still competitive, as a wicketkeeper/batsmen on the adjoining pitch at the Lewis Lloyd Ground in the town.
 
Wil has played as a flanker for The Otters’ Youth team until this season and only just missed out on an appearance at The Millennium Stadium as The Young Otters narrowly lost in the semi-final.
 

Fresh start this year after cup successes last season

 
This campaign sees Wil moving into senior rugby and now playing for the seconds and learning his trade as a ball-winning back rower with the Athletic side which plays at a good level but also represents the club in the Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup and has already beaten St Davids in the first round of this year’s competition after reaching the final last campaign.
 
Of course Wil wasn’t playing there but has represented the Young Otters in cup finals as they won the Mike Fry Cup for under 17s in Tenby and The Griffiths Cup for under 18s at Neyland.
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere at both finals in front of large crowds and we certainly celebrated in style afterwards,” admitted Wil with a typical chuckle!
 

‘Headless chicken’ to start – but soon improved

 
Wil started out in rugby at under 7s level after tagging along with his cousin Charlie Phillips and it wasn’t evident that he would be a very good player at that time.
“I didn’t have a clue what I was doing as I ran around like a headless chicken and at first wasn’t even sure which direction we were playing but coaches Mark Read, Charlie Harries and my father Rob Nicholas were very patient.
 
“Gradually I began to adapt so that by the time we stopped playing tag rugby I had started enjoying my games as a centre who enjoyed the physical aspects of the game like tackling and ball winning - and my switch to flanker came about almost by accident.
 

Change of position – by accident

 
“One day we were short in the second row and I said I would have a bash at that but our coach, Shane Higgon, told me there was no chance but compromised by saying I could play at flanker and to his astonishment I won the man of the match award and have been there ever since!”
 
The part of the game that Wil enjoys the most isn’t scoring tries (although that’s pretty good)  but winning possession on the floor using the ‘jackling’ technique where he has to be first to the break-down and stay on his feet as he beats the opposition to their retaining the ball.
 
“I do get penalised sometimes but it’s nice to hear my coaches Shane and Richard ‘Stag’ Jones saying that sometimes I’m just too quick for the referees!”
 
Strangely, Wil has never been involved at county level but he’s very philosophical about it as he says it might be because he’s not the biggest flanker around but is working hard to ensure he is beginning to ‘bulk up’ a little in readiness for senior rugby.



 

Family matters . . .

 
Ask Wil about family and he would be quick to say how supportive they are, especially his parents Rob and Helen.
“Dad has been involved since I started rugby and cricket, and still watches very game he can after setting me off on the right road early on - and mum used to give me and my twin brother Tal a bit of practice in the garden if dad was away. Tal also played regularly until Covid came along but has stopped now - and my grandmother, Pat Phillips, has always been involved in looking after us.”
 
Wil took up cricket after that garden practice with his parents and he has played for the county from under 12 level.





 

Enjoys his cricket

 
One of the undoubted highlights came last year when he was chosen for the newly-formed ‘Pembrokeshire Vikings’ youth XI organised so well by Jonathan Willington and which won its first match, against the Welsh Over 50s team, and he top scored with 83 not out.
“I did hit one six but what pleased me was the fact that all my 11 boundaries were stroked along the carpet so there were no catching chances until I got out late on,” Wil told us.
 
Prior to that Wil had played in two Ormond Youth Cup Finals which Narberth lost, and was captain in one of them.
“We lost to a strong Cresselly side but I was proud of our boys because they were just a group I got together from school and some of them weren’t regular cricketers.
“I scored 61 not out against Whitland in the semi-final and we enjoyed just taking part, which was nice”
 

First senior final in 2023 and Welsh Colleges selection

 
Wil also had a half century earlier in his cricketing career but the undoubted top performance came as part of the Narberth first XI in the season just finished when Narberth reached the final of the Duggie Morris Cup at Burton.
“We played Neyland and things looked good for us because we were 25 runs ahead at tea, although it could have been more - but they showed what a classy side they are by fighting back and beating us comfortably in the end.
 
“But I was chuffed that I only conceded one bye in each innings and claimed one stumping and three catches, but didn’t have any time to feature with the bat because I didn’t get in during our first innings and then very late in the second when we were in real trouble.”
 
Last season was also good for Wil because he was selected for the Welsh Colleges during the time he was studying Sport at Cardiff & The Vale College.
“I had to go for four trials at Sophia Gardens and was selected as first-choice wicketkeeper for games against the MCC and Wales Over 40s at venues like Neath, Brecon and panted, where I had my top score of 34 and also took a stumping. We have been promised our Welsh Colleges’ Caps but there’s been no talk about them since,” says Wil with a grimace!




 

And finally . . .

 
Talk to Wil Nicholas for even a short time and it would be hard not to be impressed by the fact that he just wants to play his cricket and especially rugby at Narberth, without wanting to chase success by any means.
 
It is an impressive approach because it shows his loyalty and it is the same with his future work prospects. He would love to have his own farm in time but would be happy to work on one now, or learn the skills needed for a career in carpentry, brickwork, plumbing or some other ‘hands on’ job.
 
Several Narberth coaches or youth pundits have already told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk that Will is one to watch for the future - and we wish him every success in all he does because he is a down-to-earth and modest young man who is a credit to his family and club!