Around the Touchline Feature:

 
 
It is now over 20 years since Tony Mason moved home to Cardigan and since then he has been actively involved in Cardigan Rugby Club, using the sporting experience he gained in the Army where he started out as a boy soldier from his home in Cardiff and eventually achieved the rank of major in the Royal Regiment of Wales, but more about that later.
 
He started out as The Teifisiders’ forwards’ coach at a time when the team was struggling and he answered an advert to help - and joined Keith Leighton in steadying the club’s playing side.
 
Now he is an eager supporter who rarely misses a match home or away, travelling on the team bus, and is doing a great job as unofficial press officer, where he helps grateful rugby reporters like yours truly - but who has become a good friend who is impressive with his rugby knowledge gained over many years.
 

Early start in Her Majesty’s Forces – and top quality rugby there

 
Tony had left his home in Chesterton Road, on the newly-opened council housing estate in Llanrumney to enlist when he was 16, having already played hooker for his team at the local high school.
“Once I had finished my basic training, rugby became an important part of my life,” Tony told us, “because as well as playing regularly for my regiment I also represented The Army at youth, under 19s, under 21s (where he was captain) and senior level.
 
“My first Army cap came when I played against the Royal Navy at Twickenham and I was also very proud to represent the Combined Services on several occasions.
 
“Our regiment prided itself on sport and I played wherever we were stationed on visits to Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo and Belize. Hong Kong, which was brilliant.
 
“In our first year out there we had a useful side which played against all the main clubs on very hard grounds and we found it hard coming to terms with the pace of the game - but in our second season we did really well, winning the Hong Kong League outright.
 
“During this period our regiment played a major role in HK rugby with seven players representing Hong Kong in the HK 7s, winning the Plate Competition, I believe for the first time in history.
 

Amazing move through the ranks to Major

 
Outside of his sport Tony was kept very busy in his work as a quarter master who eventually had responsibility for the regiment’s budget on vehicles, ammunition clothing and rations which was worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
 
To reach that level he had started out as a regular soldier and then gained promotion to lance corporal, corporal, sergeant and then colour sergeant, a time when he spent two years at Sandhurst helping to train new officers for their roles.
 
From there it was back to the regiment and the honour of being the regimental sergeant major, (RSM) a role regarded as a key one in any area of the army, the highest ranking non-commissioned officer.
 
It says much for Tony’s commitment that he didn’t settle there and was selected himself to become an officer, completing his commissioning course and came out as a second lieutenant.
 
“During my journey through the ranks I believe my humble beginnings kept me grounded. I continued to move up the ranks, up to lieutenant, captain and finally, major. I held many demanding roles but enjoyed the responsibility and experience of them all. What I enjoyed most was working with great people from all areas of Wales who have remained life-long friends.
 

A return to ‘Civvie Street’ – and Cardigan beckoned

 
“But eventually I reached the stage where I decided I didn’t want any more long stays abroad and decided with my wife Janice that it was time for me to join ‘Civvie Street’ and we should look around Wales for a place to retire to.
 
Gary Roebuck, who hailed from Aberporth was working for me while we were overseas, serving in Bosnia. Gary used to receive his local Cardigan newspaper the ‘Tivy Side’ and I used to read the rugby page in it.
 
“I happened to glance at the houses on sale in it and saw a house that was used as a bed and breakfast in Maes y Dre, in Cardigan and Gary’s wife went along to have a look at it - and eventually we bought it and Janice ran it until I came home - and for a short while I used to travel back and fore to the work in the training camp in Crickhowell until I retired.
 

Family matters

 
The couple had three children: Samantha is a police Officer with Dyfed Powys Police and is stationed at the headquarters in Carmarthen, Joanne who is a teacher learning assistant in Barry near Cardiff and Gareth, who played rugby for Cardigan but sadly died in an accident whilst at Aberystwyth University. Since arriving in Cardigan they have had two more welcome additions to their family in daughters Shanay (16) and Cerianne (11).
 

Cardigan RFC beckoned

 
“When we had settled in our new home I saw in the local paper that Cardigan RFC was looking for new players and coaches since so many had left the club so I wrote to the late Ian Gollop, who was the president and did such wonderful work for the club. Later during my time with Cardigan RFC it quickly became evident how important and respected Ian was to the Club.
 
“I was invited to his house and met him, Keith Leighton and about four committee members and after a good chat Keith became head coach and a great friend ever since, and I was invited to be forwards’ coach.
 
“In our first season we hardly picked up a point and almost weekly had to borrow players from the opposition; and were inevitably demoted – but the boys stayed with us and after consolidating the next campaign we bounced back with promotion in our third campaign! During my time in the Army I met some top blokes but I must say the friendship I now have with Keith Leighton is special and I learned so much from him.
 
“The club was then back on a strong footing player-wise so Keith and I stepped down from being the coaches but stayed on the committee – and I’m still involved as Cardigan’s unofficial press officer and usual travel on the bus to away matches.
 

And finally . . .

 
“I’m Cardiff born and bred but very proud to be a part of the Cardigan community for two decades now and really enjoy supporting a club where there is great camaraderie and high aspirations.”
 
PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can only finish by saying how much we enjoy meeting Tony Mason around the touchline and having attended Cardigan dinners it is easy to see the respect in which he is held by players and other members alike – and long may he continue helping us with the rugby news from The Teifisiders because he does a great job!