I started playing Rugby at School at the age of 7.
Rugby has always been a passion in my family and I have enjoyed many hours wrestling with my elder brother in the back garden. This is probably how I started to develop my competitive side! In those early days we both played for Cricc RFC – but unfortunately David quit Rugby at the age of 11 after he broke his collarbone.
I continued my Rugby journey through High School playing for both Glantaf High School and Rumney RFC as either a full back or inside centre. From a development perspective the sport was always ‘fun’ and my social circle was and still remains built on good friends that I have met whilst playing Rugby.
One of my first honours was to captain the Cardiff Schools team at the aged of 15. I then went on to play for Welsh Schools, under 16′s and 18′s. I was certainly influenced by watching some of the great Welsh players, Neil Jenkins, Scott Quinnell and Scott Gibbs to name but a few. Looking back, this must have also been around the time when I started to look at which players that had successfully negotiated the journey from Club Rugby through to international honours – and I had always dreamt of becoming a full Welsh international.
I represented Wales at the Under 19′s and Under 21′s Rugby World Cup in 2005 and progressed my development with the Cardiff Blues Academy.
I have always had fantastic support from my family and they have kept my feet firmly on the ground. It has been a challenging balance of furthering my education whilst developing my rugby game. But it must have worked! I have since gone onto Cardiff University where I am currently studying to be a Doctor alongside a full Rugby playing schedule for Cardiff Blues and Wales. I was also honoured to represent the British and Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa in the summer of 2009.
My first senior Welsh cap came in 2008 when I played in the 6 nations competition against Scotland, which was a very proud day for both me family and my family.
My current Honours include;
- 2007/08 Cardiff Blues Most Promising Player
- 2009 British & Irish Lions Player of The Series
- 2009 BBC Wales Sports Personality Award Third Place
I’m delighted to have joined the RuckingBall.com team where we have put together some of the best brains in World Rugby – both young and old! I hope you enjoy the site and that we can help you on your Rubgy journey.
