Wales stars treat rugby juniors to a day at their Centre of Excellence

The Wales Rugby Union National Centre of Excellence is the technical training home of the best in Welsh rugby. It’s here, in the Vale of Glamorgan, that Steve Tandy brings together the very best men and Sean Lynn, the very best women, to reach peak performance.

It’s also here, on a rainy day in June, that we find 87-year-old Arfon Henderson visiting with Penygraig RFC under-12s for a day of training alongside their heroes. Arfon was invited to the Welsh training centre by Go.Compare after winning the Making a Difference Award, in partnership with Telegraph Media Group. The competition celebrated the heroes of grassroots rugby and, from 117 nominations across Wales, the Penygraig stalwart was chosen as not only the winner of this unique experience, but a £5,000 prize for his rugby club.

Arfon and the boys had a busy schedule ahead of them that included a behind-the-scenes tour of the centre by Welsh legend Dan Biggar, and a training session with Tandy, together with four Welsh internationals, Jac Morgan, Joe Hawkins, Ryan Elias and Ben Carter.

“As a team, we always talk about connecting to the nation,” explains Tandy. “Our boys remember what they aspired to as kids and want to give back, so these days are super important.”

Tandy, who’s still a regular at his grassroots club Tonmawr, is genuinely passionate about campaigns such as Making a Difference. “I love going back to Tonmawr, because it doesn’t change. It’s awesome – always the same people and the same stories,” he says.

“These partnerships are great because they reach a wider audience and give grassroots clubs a chance to see what the players and the professional environment are really like.

“When their bus arrived earlier I could imagine what they were feeling, because it’s what I used to feel as a kid going to the Arms Park.

“For them to come into this training and have a day like this is huge, and they’ll always remember it, just as I did when my father first took me to the Gnoll [Neath’s home ground] when Wales were training there. I met Gareth Llewellyn and Scott Gibbs, one of my heroes, and I remember that day vividly.”

After Biggar gave the Penygraig players a tour of the facilities, they put their skills to the test on the state-of-the-art pitch, with internationals Elias, Hawkins, Morgan and Carter all getting hands-on with the coaching.

All four players have fond memories of club days. “My grandfather was chairman of Carmarthen Athletic,” explains hooker Elias. “So, there was only one club you were allowed to play for! The rivalry between them, particularly as youngsters, was brilliant. It was a huge part of Carmarthen town.”

“My old man coached Pontardawe,” adds centre Hawkins, “so I used to go down, train with the juniors, and then stay for the senior session – that’s how it all started for me.”

For others, it wasn’t just the rugby that comes to mind when they first think of their grassroots clubs. “I remember the hot dogs,” says Morgan. “The boys’ mothers used to take turns after a game on a Sunday to cook them. You’d be filthy from the game, but then you’d pop around the corner, and you’d have the hot dog station.”

“It was always about cheeseburgers at my club,” adds Hawkins, echoing the food-first memories of mini rugby.

At the heart of it all were the volunteers. “You’ve got someone running the tuck shop, people cooking the food, regulars putting the post protectors out – it’s all volunteers doing it for the love of the game,” says Hawkins.

“Bertie Roberts,” says Morgan, naming one of the volunteers from his club. “He first coached me when I was six, helped me massively and did a lot for the club. Even now, when I go back, you still see the same volunteers helping out on a Saturday. They’ve followed the boys up from juniors to the first team.”

“Anthony Maynard,” says Elias, offering a volunteer from his club. “He was my best mate’s father, but he always went above and beyond. If boys needed picking up, he’d be taking them to games. If they were playing regional rugby, he’d drive them up and down the country, just for the love of the game.”

The players all agree the values that have them in good stead at international level were first instilled at grassroots level. Discipline, respect and commitment are three words repeated often. “It teaches you things like responsibility and respect – values that are common in the rugby community,” says lock Carter. “And I think they are drilled into you from a young age by the people at your first rugby club.”

When the training session comes to an end, there’s a stampede as the Penygraig players rush to get autographs. The players are happy to sign everything and answer any question put to them. “There are so many people who’ve done so much work at so many clubs, and they mean so much to all of us, so it’s great to be able to thank them,” says Morgan. “They’re the ones who gave us the opportunity to start our journey as rugby players.”

Arfon, who has volunteered at Penygraig for 50 years with an endless list of duties, watched the day unfold with a huge sense of pride. “It’s a big achievement for me personally,” he says. “To think these kids have got this chance because of something I do – it’s no hassle to me, I enjoy doing it.

“The players were absolutely brilliant,” adds Arfon, who almost forgot about his date with the Wales internationals because he had been so busy cleaning the barbecue at the clubhouse in the morning.

“The staff of Go.Compare have been so helpful, informative and caring. Everything has been top notch.

“And Dan [Biggar] is immense,” he continues. “Dan is a jewel. He’s played at the highest level, achieved everything anybody could hope to achieve in rugby. And here he is, helping 12-year-olds.”

Dan, for his part, has loved the day too. “It’s been inspirational,” he says. “With grassroots, you probably feel like you’re a million miles away from elite level, so having an opportunity like this, through Making a Difference with Go.Compare, has been a brilliant initiative.

The kids have been brilliant, and it’s just been a brilliant day.”

It’s one the kids aren’t likely to forget. “Clubs like us don’t often get chances like this,” says Penygraig coach Ricky Toomey. “What they’ve seen today inside Welsh rugby, the facilities available, is going to push them more than they’ve ever been pushed. This has been a big opportunity for them, so thank you very much. They’ll remember this for the rest of their lives.”

Go.Compare – official partner of the Welsh Rugby Union – partnered with Telegraph Media Group for a second year with its Making a Difference campaign, rewarding individuals who have made a major contribution to grassroots rugby. Go.Compare helps you compare the cost and features of insurance policies, financial products, energy tariffs and more.

Go.Compare is a trading name of Gocompare.com Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 465053)