by Angharad Evans, Welsh Language Communications Officer
It’s always a pleasure to take pride in the achievements of our young people, and Cornel Clecs has a very special story for you this month, one that also has a very special connection with FUW. I'll explain more about this later.
Let's get to know one of the rugby pitch's newest stars. But it's not just the rugby field that interests a hill farm girl from Snowdonia, and the story starts on the farm yard.
Having experienced sheepdog trials international success, Gwenllian Pyrs is one of the first women to be selected to play rugby full-time professionally for Wales.
Gwenllian is one of 12 women recently awarded a full-time contract by the Welsh Rugby Union. It's a huge change for the girl from Padog near Ysbyty Ifan in the upper Conwy Valley who has now moved to Cardiff to be able to train daily with the Welsh squad.
One of ten children, Gwenllian grew up on Ty Mawr Eidda farm and has rugby in her blood. All five of her brothers and four sisters have played for, or still play for Nant Conwy RFC. Two of her sisters, Elin and Non have played for the 'North Wales' team and Alaw, Ifan, Maredudd and Rhodri have played for 'Eryri'. They follow in the footsteps of their father Eryl, one of the founders and former captain of Nant Conwy RFC.
"'Nant Conwy' is much more than a rugby club," said Eryl. "It is an important social club, with the Welsh language being a natural medium for activities and training and a way for the area’s youth to have a completely natural social life through the medium of Welsh. A very high percentage - around 80% of the members come from an agricultural background and is an important medium for the country and town to come together.
"The local police were reportedly very pleased to see the club develop - as there were fewer incidents in Llanrwst at weekends due to the closer relationship between the country lads and the town lads!"
He believes his daughter's success is a tribute to the education she received at Ysbyty Ifan primary school and Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy.
"Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan is a small country school and although education experts claim that small schools are a hindrance to development and opportunities in sport, the motives of those who hold this view appear to be in doubt,” he said. He added that another past pupil from the school has won a Welsh cap. Dyddgu Hywel, a relative of Gwenllian, now a rugby commentator, has won several caps for Wales as a strong fullback player during the last decade.
Gwenllian was 16 when she started playing for Nant Conwy, however she had been playing rygby in primary school and with her brothers, sisters and father on the farm since a very young age. She was invited to play for the Scarlets U18s and then the senior team. She had been considered a captain but there was doubt as to whether she could communicate well enough in English to be able to motivate the squad.
Caernarfon was the local club for girls over 18 and when playing against Swansea she was selected as the 'player of the game'. On the way home on the bus, she received a phone call from then-Welsh coach Rowland Phillips inviting her to train with Wales. She now has 16 caps for Wales and the rest is history.
Despite all the success on the rugby pitch, Gwenllian still loves helping on the farm and has completed a shearing course with the Wool Marketing Board and farm business courses with 'Simply the Best', through the Farming Connect training scheme. One of her main interests on the farm is teaching and handling sheep dogs, and she has previously represented Wales in the International Sheepdog Trials and on the television programme 'One Man and His Dog'.
The richness and continuity of Welsh rural life is of paramount importance to the Ty Mawr Eidda family.
"Rural life and an agricultural background have contributed greatly to Gwenllian's development," said Eryl.
“And small rural schools too - where children develop a personality and the opportunity to develop into committed citizens of the future.
"The continuation of the agricultural industry is vitally important to the future of rural societies and activities, and great opportunities stem from being a part of a vibrant society like this."
Although life is very busy for Gwenllian, we are grateful for a quick chat with her, she said: "It is an honour and a privilege to be selected as one of the first women players to be offered a full time contract with the Welsh Rugby Union and shows that hard work and perseverance pay off.
"When I got a phone call from coach Ioan Cunningham offering me a full time contract, I was out on the farm with the dogs. When Ioan offered me the contract, I didn't believe it and I still pinch myself to this day. After the call ended, I went straight to the house to tell my dad. It's something that the women's team has been waiting for for years and we are hoping for crowds to come and watch us across the six nation championship.”
So, what is the special connection between Gwenllian and FUW I hear you ask? She is the niece of president Glyn Roberts, and I’m sure that Glyn and all of us are proud of Gwenllian's achievements on the rugby pitch. Best of luck to you Gwenllian.