Mike Phillips practices his service.

The Welsh rugby team was greeted by more than a thousand fanatical fans at their open training session held at Tenby Rugby Club last month.

Hundreds of children from more than ten different schools throughout Pembrokeshire cheered on their rugby heroes and captain Gethin Jenkins brought his squad to pitchside immediately after the session to spend an hour signing autographs.

Children from Saundersfoot, St Oswalds, Greenhill and Tenby infants schools mobbed their favourite players and Gavin Henson, James Hook and Colin Charvis meticulously signed every autograph presented to them.

Western Telegraph rugby writer and former school teacher Bill Carne was impressed by the scenes and says the memories of the day will be with some children forever, along with hundreds of older fans who turned up.

"The local comprehensive children formed a sea of blue uniforms in one corner of the ground and you couldn't get near the touchlines for screaming fans, " said Bill.

"Schools turned up from all over Pembrokeshire, having the Wales team at Tenby has been a real treat for the area.

"I've just stood next to Stephen Jones and when I get home and tell my daughter I've been within touching distance of him she'll be beside herself.

"There's a strong west Wales influence in the squad with Jonathan Thomas hailing from Pembrokeshire, Tom Shanklin's dad born and bred in Tenby itself and Mike Phillips from just around the corner in St Clears.

"Seeing them in person is a real treat for the children and some of us older fans too and it's the kind of thing that will stay with them for years to come."

All the schools attending had their pictures taken with the squad after their sneak preview of the team that sadly lost 12-34 to world champions South Africa at the Millennium Stadium.

"It's a pretty impressive turnout for a simple training session and right up there with the reception we got in France at the World Cup, which is amazing in itself," added team manager Alan Phillips, speaking from the team's West Wales base, the St Brides Spa Hotel in Saundersfoot.

"The boys will be boosted by this too, it really makes you realise the nation is right behind you and it can't be bad for the future of the game in Wales either - when you see so many youngsters turning up to watch their heroes."

12:47pm Friday 7th December 2007

Print

Email this