That’s where Leigh’s love of rugby was first developed and he rose through the ranks with a certain Dan Biggar. Just behind them in the age groups was Ross Moriarty.
Leigh and Dan played together for Wales at U16, U18, U19, U20 and senior level, as well as touring together with the British & Irish Lions. Between them, they amassed 1,463 points for Wales and 72 more for the Lions.
They won 213 caps between them for Wales and seven more for the Lions. Take a bow, Gorseinon and one of their junior coaches Rob Steele, who steered them both through their junior ranks. Who says the club system in Wales is broken? If ever a village helped to raise two great players, then Gorseinon is that place.
They have been among the pin-up boys of Welsh rugby for almost 15 years and were part of an amazing crop of talent that came through together – Sam Warburton, Jonathan Davies, Rhys Webb and Justin Tipuric. Many others who played in the IRB Junior World Championships at U19 level in Belfast in 2007 and in the inaugural U20 tournament in Wales a year later also went on to play for Wales and become high-level professional players.
What we need now is for more clubs like Gorseinon who can mine the rich seam of talent that undoubtedly still exists in Wales. After all, Cwmtwrch nurtured Jac Morgan, Bridgend Sports set Dewi Lake on his way to senior honours and Pencoed recently added Sam Costelow and Tommy Reffell to a list of international players who started in their junior section – Gareth Thomas, Scott Gibbs, Gareth Cooper and Gavin Henson.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin October 29, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin October 29, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Perenara tops try list as 'Canes march on
TJ PERENARA became the all-time top Super Rugby try scorer as his table topping Hurricanes demolished the Waratahs.
You lived on the edge with Scotland
WHENEVER I cross paths with Paul Ackford, he always shouts across the room, “he taught me everything I knew!” Both of us were called into the England squad on the back of the London division’s famous win over Australia in 1988 but he got into the Test team later that year, and I didn’t.
Appleyard unhappy with date clashes
STAFFORDSHIRE head coach Andy Appleyard believes the RFU are ‘stealing opportunities away from quality players’ due to the opening round of the County Championship being played on the same day as the Papa John’s final.
Delighted to see Titans stand tall
THERE are some teams you grow particularly attached to over the decades and I make no apologies in numbering Rotherham Titans among those.
At 61, Daran calls it a day
DARAN Poppy was one of the oldest players in the RFU pyramid this season, reaching double-digit appearances for Old Gravesendians at the tender age of 61 but has decided to call time on his rugby career.
Louis has sights set on Kansas gold rush
THE latest phase of his footballing reincarnation took Louis Rees-Zammit to a school run by an American superstar whose contract runs from seven figures into nine.
Nayalo steers Army to thrilling fightback
THE British Army’s men pulled off a thrilling comeback that will live long in the memory to keep their hopes of regaining the Inter Service Championship alive, and dash the Royal Navy’s dream of a first back-to-back title in 50 years.
Eadie has the last laugh for Hartpury
MITCH Eadie went from sinner to saint in a double try-scoring display as Hartpury won in style to keep their hopes alive of finishing the season in the tophalf of the Championship table.
Roebuck out to impress England
SALE’s Tom Roebuck is a man on a mission as he looks to use the final weeks of the Premiership season to give England’s selectors a push to select him for the summer Tests against Japan and New Zealand.
Masuku hits the target for Sharks
THE Sharks turned Twickenham ‘Stoep’ into a mini South Africa as a partisan crowd roared their side to a dramatic victory over three-time winners Clermont to reach their first European final courtesy of deadeye goal kicking by Siya Masuku.
