Growing up in Wales in the 80s and 90s, rugby wasn't just a sport. It was, and still is, woven into the fabric of our communities.
As I prepare to attend Jonathan "Foxy" Davies' retirement celebration at Celtic Manor, I find myself reflecting on my own peculiar journey with rugby, from the sloped pitch at St John's School to my current role architecting storage solutions for the WRU.
Early Days on the Slope
Picture the grounds of St John's School in Newton, Nottage, near Porthcawl, a historic independent school set around what was once the rectory of St John's Church. As one of approximately 300 pupils, including day students and boarders like myself who would spend three weeks at a time at the school, I experienced rugby as both a sporting requirement and a cultural education.
During Mr Gatt's two-hour Games lessons (distinct from our regular P.E.), I was invariably one of the smallest players on the field, having barely made the year group cut-off with my July birthday. What I lacked in size, I eventually made up for in sheer courage, or perhaps foolishness. My most memorable tackles came from simply launching myself shoulder-first at oncoming players, wrapping my arms around their torso and slipping down to their legs until I could topple them with all the force I could muster. It wasn't pretty, and it certainly wasn't technically perfect, but in that era of rugby, it was effective.
I recall one particular tackle near the pavilion end that earned me unexpected praise. A behemoth (of course) from the opposing team was charging downhill with what seemed like unstoppable momentum. Without hesitation, and certainly without thought, I drove my shoulder into him, wrapped my arms around, and somehow managed to bring him down. It was a terrible tackle really. I ended up dazed, face pressed into the icy cold mud by his buttocks and thigh, but it was a tackle nonetheless. The congratulations afterwards made the muddy discomfort worth it, though rugby's aggressive nature never quite sat right with me. I did however gain the greatest respect, through my own failures, for the players that would go on to county and further!
The Pub Years
Later, with my significantly older brothers, rugby took on a different meaning at Horatios in Barry. These felt like proper community gatherings, complete with strategic halftime refreshments to manage the crowd's enthusiasm. Simple, unlimited and free fayre, such as hot dogs or chilli con carne from slow cookers became part of the ritual. I'm certain this was simply Horatio's way to ensure the celebrations remained jovial rather than rowdy.
Technology Meets Tradition
Now, decades later, I find myself in an interesting position. As a Solutions Architect at Perifery, I work with the Welsh Rugby Union, providing the technical media storage infrastructure that supports their marketing and other operations. It's a peculiar full circle from being the reluctant player to helping preserve and manage the digital assets of Welsh rugby's future, and I feel rather proud to be a part of it in some small way.
Honouring Foxy
I've been invited to Jonathan Davies' retirement celebration, and this brings these threads together in unexpected ways. His career is immense: 96 Wales caps, 2 Grand Slams, 12 Lions appearances. These sorts of stats represent the pinnacle of what Welsh rugby can achieve. While I may have stepped away from the physical game after school, I've gained a deeper appreciation for how rugby's values of respect, teamwork, and adaptability mirror the principles we employ in technical architecture.
Looking Forward
As I prepare to join the celebration at Celtic Manor, I'm reminded that sometimes our most valuable professional insights come from unexpected sources. My journey from that sloped school pitch to architecting enterprise storage solutions might seem disconnected, but both domains require the same core principles: understanding your position, adapting to the terrain, and knowing when to hold firm or pivot.
Davies' retirement marks not just the end of a remarkable career but reminds us how sport, technology, and community interweave in modern Wales. While I may not have become a rugby star, I've found my own way to contribute to the sport's legacy, ensuring its digital future is as secure as Foxy's place in Welsh rugby history.