Wales can feed off grassroots energy

GRASSROOTS rugby is back up and running in Wales and it’s just brilliant to see those who love the game involved at their local clubs again. I’ve been added to the Amman United second team WhatsApp group for the new season – they’re trying to tempt be back to play once again and I’m resisting… for now!

- SHANE WILLIAMS

My brother Dean went down to watch Amman last Friday night. They won the game, but there was such a huge excitement in the village before kick-off that it was almost palpable. It felt like there was a big event going on and there was a huge crowd at the club with people jamming into the clubhouse for a pint afterwards.

That is proper Welsh grassroots rugby and what we’ve been used to seeing for decades and decades up and down the country before Covid19 struck.

It’s a huge boost to not only Welsh rugby, but the country as a whole that we seem to be getting back to some kind of normality. There has been so much negativity for so long that now is the time to look forward and I really hope the feel-good factor of rugby returning at grassroots level can permeate up through the pyramid all the way up to Wayne Pivac’s national squad.

There has been a concern that the pandemic might mean people wouldn’t return to rugby and that’s not just players, but supporters, volunteers and those who perform vital roles at our clubs.