Out of surgery,now the healing begins thanks to my family, friends,work colleagues and everyone at the WRU for the love & support you've all shown.
#Trulyblessed
Thats a wrap, 10 yrs in the coach ed dept & I've been attending courses since 1994, today was my last day @ Level 1
Ive met some great coaches and even greater people.Thank you all its been a privilage!!
Colleagues in Rugby development for over 15yrs Worked on L1&2 coaching courses &RAG with him.A very decent guy,not a bad word for anyone! Most of all an outstanding family man & friend.
Devastated at the news!
#GodblessGL
So tonight saw my last coach education course a Level 3
@RiscaRFC
.Met some fantastic people in the 22+ yrs I've had the privilege to serve the rugby community of South East Wales. My story now continues with the club development dept. Thank you to every coach I've worked with.
Still very proud of how close these guys got to glory 22 years ago today. Remains one of my best achievements as a coach. Remembering a great day with some fantastic mates.
Hope everyone is safe & well & God bless Banksy!!
When you see a picture like this Martyn you realise the sacrifice our fathers made and the lack of work ethic in some people these days. No wonder my Dad died at just 56 he was up to his neck in dust & sxxt everyday!!
God bless dad! thanks Martyn!
Had to let this exceptionally brave little man go today,cancer finally got him 2yrs after diagnosis. A fantastic little dog brave & relentless.Loved kids and a fantastic part of our family for 14yrs. There's good people waiting to take care of you pal!
Sara Elgan is head a shoulders above others in her field! her knowledge of the game & the way she constructs her questions even when she addresses spikey issues is a great example to others in her sphere of the player/coach interview scene.
Big thanks to the motorcyclist who vandalised our pitch today putting future mini & junior games in doubt. Remember if you ever reproduce it could be your son or daughter tripping over those ruts.
Merry Xmas. Just checking the CCTV.
We have lost a true warrior of Gwent rugby today. A man who epitomised everything thats good about life, caring&friendly and with an amazing wit, the world is a sadder place without Richie Donovan.
youre going straight to heaven pal.
#werewolvesoflondon
Humbled to be part of a line including over 70 male & female players coaches,referees and team management who held a period of silence & clapping at Urdd v Crawshays youth game yesterday in Colwyn Bay for my former WRU colleague GL who sadly died last weekend.
#GodblessGL
.
Thought long and hard about a tribute to this guy,went for a series of words
Funny,resilient,witty,strong,
humorous,giant,friendly,teammate. I felt safe when he was in my team.
#godblessbrandon
Another fallen Green&White.
Some days make you realise how lucky you were choosing rugby as your hobby.
These 5 guys played over 2k games between them in the Green & White of Abertillery. Happy 2 say I played with all 4 of them.
Great game today v Usk hard fought win
Sad news 2day former Abertillery RFC legend Gary Cooper was burried following prolonged illness, denied the hero's funeral he deserved due 2 Covid 19 regs.
Gary formed a formidable lock partnership with George Gladwyn much feared throughout Wales in 60s/70's. God Bless Gary.
Very flattered by the kind comments from friends& colleagues 2day, lucky 2 work in 2 great coach dev teams & with a group of top class tutors.
I cant thank all those guys enough. Coaching is privillage tried by many perfected by few!
super excited about the next challenge!
Daf James never forget that you are a legend! Your achievements in the game are outstanding don't forget you are held in high regard by your peers.coaches & supporters. You are so brave mate! Keep smiling always a welcome for you in Gwent.
Youve got to love Steve Tandy's news today, he didnt winge or moan, just rolled his sleeves up,went away did alot of hard work! Reinvented himself. Hey presto lands a key coaching role through pure deadication to the craft!
Happy birthday yesterday to this absolute legend of Gwent rugby. You go thru life meeting people and you have to decide am I investing in this person or is he wasting my time? Meeting Gatchy has always and remains an absolute pleasure.
#topmate
Sad to hear of the death of my former WRU colleague John Prince,John formed an excellent coach dev group in Gwent with Mostyn Richards & Chris Padfield that sent many of us on our first coaching journey.Thank you John!
#godblessprinceyitwasablast
Not a result we wanted tonight but this kid becomes the first person in our large family to play regional rugby fantastic achievement
#keepworkingonthedartsJW
Fantastic result for a special group of resilient young men and a particularly hardworking group of management,coaches and medical & analysis back up.Gwent, District A & Dragons Rugby should be very proud of these young people & their achievement! RAG Champions!
Very proud of Joshy today been in his bro's shadow all season with the Dragons games, but played up a year in school cup semi Islwyn Hs Yr 9 vs
@Cwmrhymni
and won 38-31
Big thank you to everyone who has messaged me today I'm truly blessed to have so many friends, best news of the day was my new hip is coming end of the month!! Sweety making a big fuss of my BD card earlier.
Todays lifetime landmark event saw me taking a 4th opportunity of the tour to watch the mighty All blacks. School trip to Ebbw vale thanks to my teacher Brian Davies. Sad that touring teams dont make the visits that saw them play club and county matches at some obscure venues.
Darren Thomas should be congratulated for bringing male suicide to the publics attention and for repeating the message on a daily basis to emphasise the problem.
your campaign has gone viral & has involved some funny and commited people who share your desire to b informative.
Seems a very unassuming guy club should be congratulated for sticking by him and letting him coach for 10yrs. All too easy to swap & change coaches but that doesnt always work.
well done Exeter.
In view of the desperately sad news tonight can we all step back, put our foot on the ball. & try and be kind to each other the blame culture of politicians & keyboard warriors isnt helping anyone. nobody wanted covid but its here!
#STFU
!
This is Darren Thomas an ex millitary dad of 4 who has been campaigning & working all through the pandemic 2 increase awareness regarding mental health issues. Contact him
@DarrenT87369147
to find out more about his plans for the future & how you can get involved.
Great weekend ahead for these kids. Dragons Cup finals, Let's hope everyone allows them all to express themselves in a great historic venue at Pontypool Park. Please remember our players are kids!let them enjoy their big day!
What an immense person Kasper Scmichael is, first he dealt with the Leicester tragedy with great dignity and again today he was there helping everyone in a compassionate nature.Fantastic role model.
Great catching up with this crew in Ebbw Vale yesterday.
So lucky to have ended up coaching such a fantastic group of players and boy did Glyn Ebwy have a pop at the big teams!! It was a blast!
Said goodbye 2 this warrior today fantastic tributes from
@philsteele1
& former
@newbridgerfc
skipper Jim Stokes, thank you everyone who attended & sung especially Paul Turner 4 travelling from Eastern England & former Wales great Kevin Moseley.
#godblessbrandon
Today's Lifetime landmark event one of the greatest comebacks in European cup group stage history.We lost the first leg by over 100pts. Turned that into a win at EXP in the 2nd leg. Becoming the first Welsh side to beat Toulouse in an ERC fixture.
If your having a beer tonight take 5 mins to remember Richie and play the tour song he discovered in Atlanta in 1989.
#werewolvesoflondon
Richie was a brilliant DJ and reserched the song while the Keys were on tour.
RIP Richie. we love you mate! your teamates!
Marks friends and ex team mates turn out tonight to help him defy Motor neurones!
so proud of our family tonight!
Big thanks to everyone who played touch
@Abertillery_BG
So it's week 2 of the new hip, sore but healing nice,still non weight bearing but to all my ex playing colleagues & opponents be brave to be pain free!
I'm sharing my story with small updates so hopefully it will help others.
#arthritiswewillwinthebattle
!
Just said goodbye 2 "The Don" in an emotional service @ the keys.
Proud 2 have called you a teamate, Proud 2 have called you a friend, the gap youve left is unfillable.
So honoured you picked me to assist you with your on tour tomfoolery's.
God bless Ritchie!
Classy from Usk RFC today clearing the CRs. we have youngsters using these facilities in the morning. Thank you and thanks for stopping for the sing song!!
@Abertillery_BG
This hulabaloo in London is nothing to do with politics its just an excuse for a bunch of yobs to feel brave in numbers and act hard. video them. arrest them tomorrow get them to do the clean up!!
Well we finally got out for that curry last night! Great evening with a fantastic group of people who have & will continue to provide a high standard of coach education for our region.
#notjustgr8ttutorsgr8tpeople
#greatteam
#GLJonnyhughes
Big thank you to Kevin Sinfield for the photo with Mark & Ed.
Such a tragedy surrounding the reason how these 3 guys met each other,unbounded bravery by all 3.
Come on Rishi there must be a knighthood for super Kev the guys a machine!
So sad to hear the news about Doddie Weir, my brother in law was diagnosed in July and Doddie & Ed Slater have been a massive inspiration to him in his fight.
#GodblessDoddie
Your fight has been inspirational
#Restnow
Hugely proud of Jordan(on the right) tonight.The first member of our family to represent the Region (on the field) Not the result anyone wanted but
Welcome to regional rugby butt!!
#Youworkedhardbutt
So many jokers making spiteful remarks about tomorrow. If your not interested in the monarchy go to work and don't watch what for many will be a sad & respectful occasion.
#noneedforspitefulcomments
.
Congratulations to MND Association patron, Kevin Sinfield, who was given a Special Award at this evening's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
It acknowledges Kev's epic fundraising in the fight against
#MND
, raising £7 million in honour of his friend,
@Rob7Burrow
.
💙
#BBCSPOTY
Great example of never judge a book by its cover! quite simply an outstanding hub officer who is a fantastic role model to all youngsters aspiring to work in the world of rugby development.
Gwent rugby should be suitably proud of the achievements of Abergavenny youth & Newport RFC this weekend and the efforts of Bedwas & Bargoed today.
All great games our rugby is in good shape following our horrendous last 2yrs.
#Look4ward2Sept
I'm positive knowing local rugby people & rugby clubs in North Gwent as I do that the 5 clubs immediately around to Nantyglo RFC will rally around and facilitate a fixure each to help the club out of this bizarre situation with their pitch.
#bandofbrothers
So sad to hear the news today of the passing of Neil Robinson a world class teacher.parent.explayer/captain and friend. A man who always had time for people my thoughts are with Josh & the family.
God bless Robbo
#agiantofebbwvalerugby
Still trying to get to grips with this terrible news! Played youth at Cwmcarn with Prang for a short time. One of rugby's good people who always said yes, a workhorse of a bloke who will be iraplaceable.
My thoughts are with Angie and the family.
#GodblessPrang
Very touching moment when Ryan got on the field last night to convert the final try surrounded by his mates. Well done to everyone
@ebbwyouth
who organised&helped showcase the many good things u see regularly in Welsh rugby that people don't comment about!!
#godblessuRyan
.
Devastating news of the loss of John Boulter a man who gave up a huge amount of time 2 running youth rugby in Gwent. Thank u for the opportunities you provided for my youngest son and the many others who have worn the Gwent youth badge with honour.
U have left a huge void!
RIP JB
#brewwithjohn
so sad not being able to say goodbye today to a man who in my 8 years at MTCBC sports dev dept was an absolute gentleman. kind. helpful and thoughtful. I'm sure for everyone who knew him there is now a hole.
Goodnight mate.
#brewwithjohn
Heartbroken with the news of Dai's passing. Had the honour of coaching Dai at Ebbw Vale, he would run thru fire for u.
Lovely guy with an infectious attitude.
Rest well mate
#godblessdaiharristruewarrior
Back to the village where my Parents & Grandparents were brought up tonight for District A AGM.
#happychildhood
#specialdays
Home of boyhood hero & Lion Arthur Lewis.
You couldn't write this 38 years ago I was picked to mark Lion Roger Baird in the Kelso v Abertillery fixture,the game was postponed, I finally got to meet Roger tonight
@Abertillery_BG
on the
@doddie_aid
bike ride visit!
#truegentleman
Desperately sad news about Tony Faulkner (Charlie) what an honour 2 coach against him over the years when he spoke it was either detailed tactical analysis on the scrum or dry wit & humour.
People shouldn't under estimate his contribution to modern day scrum coaching.
#godbless
Got to be some mileage from banning chewing gum when playing rugby. Theres a death waiting to happen! saw a womens international chewing tonight . the last thing you need in your mouth when youre gasping for breath is gum.
On a day when nothing went right for Wales. I'm proud to say my grandson passed his driving test first time with no minors.
Well done Jordan
#drivesafebutty
My last Level 3 cohort going thru Planning & Skill Acq tonight great people who will become great coaches.
Big thank you to my tutors for support tonight & good luck to Johnny who is taking coach Ed forward.
We said goodbye to this warrior yesterday,great to look back with fondness on some of the great victories and games with fellow teammates,
@Abertillery_BG
,Abertillery orpheous choir singing Calon lan in the church wow!
#Goosebumps
.
# GoodnightClarkygodbless.
Sickened to hear about the bullying received by young Rahim at our local school, my grandson attends the same school.
Bullying has no place in modern life.
#Bulliesstopnow
Great catching up with my old team mate Dean Jones on friday at the
@Abertillery_BG
Mike Ruddock gentlemens night. Classic rugby chat with Mike & a brilliant comedy set from Dai Hayward.
I was 7 i remember my dad being sent from his pit in Crumlin to help with the rescue operation. On the TV news Men digging with their bare hands memories that never leave you. An event we should never forget!
#Godblessthevictims
Classy from
@LampeterTownRFC
today not only did they clean the changing rooms but stopped a full 2 hours + all dressed as baywatch lifeguards putting much needed revenue back into our club.
Thank you.
Very pleased for this special group of men who have put their lives on hold to sacrifice time, friends and family in pursuit of that red cap,
#gowellyoungdragonsWales18s
Special shout out to my apprentice Martyn Cooke who makes the trip with the management team
#Bepatient
!
So lucky to be blessed with friends and colleages at the Dragons,Wru. & regional age grade who have thought about me this week as my long road to recovery starts
#newhipop
#thankueveryone
Great picture of the lads today after the game with Mark Will ,Wife Steph & family. Everyone
@Abertillery_BG
is fully supportive of Marks Motor Nurone Defiance campaign.
@mnd