Pennod 3 Pobol y Rhondda

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-Shwmae!

-I'm Sion Tomos Owen, a Rhondda boy.

-I love it here. It's full of

-possibilities for artists like me.

-I always look for different ways

-of portraying the valley in my work.

-During the series, I'll speak

-to lots of interesting people.

-I'll paint pictures reflecting

-what the valley is really like.

-I'll put them together

-to create a big new map...

-..of the lives

-of the Rhondda people.

-Here's the Field of Dreams,

-the Oval in Treorchy.

-I've played and watched rugby here

-for years.

-This is the first time

-I've painted at pitchside.

-I'm drawing seven pictures

-about the Rhondda.

-The theme for this one is sport.

-It'll be quite a task to finish

-before the end of the game.

-By the way, it's freezing cold here!

-There's something magical

-about the place.

-It's like an amphitheatre

-with the valleys surrounding it.

-It looks amazing.

-I've been watching Treorchy since

-before I became interested in rugby!

-Dad used to play.

-I used to come here when there

-wasn't even a stand, just a bank.

-I rolled down it while Dad played

-on the pitch or was being sent off.

-I then started playing

-for the under 8s.

-I've played for every team

-through to the first team.

-The club was central to Treorchy.

-When I was growing up,

-it was central to the Rhondda...

-..because they were known

-as the Rhondda Zebras.

-I didn't think about it.

-It was part of my upbringing.

-On the pitch, Treorchy are having

-a very successful season...

-..coached by former internationals,

-Andrew Bishop and Ian Evans.

-Two stars of the current team

-are brothers Jacob and Jordan Lloyd.

-Which position do you play?

-Fullback.

-Fullback.

-

-Fly half.

-Have you always played

-for the same team?

-I've played for Treorchy

-since the under 11s.

-Good boy.

-I played for Ystrad

-up until last year.

-Right, but you've come over

-to the good side!

-Yes!

-Dad used to play for Treorchy.

-He played for Ystrad too.

-So both of you are following in

-your dad's footsteps to some extent!

-What are the lads like in Treorchy?

-They're a good crack.

-They're always messing about.

-They're not scared to tell you

-if you've had a bad game.

-They're quite blunt.

-They're quite blunt.

-

-Honest.

-Typical Rhondda team really.

-The lads

-always look out for each other.

-There's a strong camaraderie

-in the team.

-On and off the pitch

-it's the same.

-It's like a family really -

-15 brothers playing together.

-I've noticed a more professional

-element to the play this season.

-I haven't seen

-one punch being thrown!

-Maybe that's down

-to the new coaches.

-It's really professional

-with Ianto and Bish coming in.

-They bring a professional element

-to training and to games.

-It's really good.

-What's the main thing that's changed

-in terms of attitude?

-The will to win.

-Everyone wants to win.

-We finally think

-we're going to win too.

-For the fans, there are painted

-new stands. What are the fans like?

-Better this season

-because we're winning!

-You get the same ones

-watching and supporting every week.

-It's really good.

-Back in the club too.

-As brothers,

-what are you like on the pitch?

-Um... We bicker a little!

-I get into my moods.

-Do you?! At least you know.

-Yes.

-When we go back to the house,

-everyone knows.

-Keep out of your way!

-No, it's really good.

-As we're both players

-who like to have the ball...

-..we talk about where there's space,

-where we can kick to and run to.

-We do talk during the game

-about what we're going to do next.

-Both of you are kickers too.

-Do you take it in turns?

-I'm the main kicker.

-Because you're the eldest?

-Because you're the eldest?

-

-No, I'm better.

-So who's the star?

-This year, me!

-Yeah?!

-In terms of tries?

-I think we've got the same amount.

-No, you've scored four.

-One more.

-As sport, well, rugby,

-is the theme for this picture...

-..it's apt that it's in black

-and white - Treorchy's colours.

-Every person in the picture

-is based on a real person.

-Guess who's who.

-I'm freezing but I don't think

-I'm the coldest person at the Oval.

-There's one man on the roof

-who films every game.

-At least

-it keeps him out of the bar.

-I chatted to him before he went up.

-Rhoss, shwmae.

-Rhoss, shwmae.

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-Shwmae, Sion.

-Welcome down from the top!

-Welcome down from the top!

-

-Thanks!

-What's your role at the club?

-My role is an assistant

-to the manager of the first team.

-What does that entail?

-When we play at home,

-I come down early in the morning.

-I put out the post protectors...

-..the balls

-and the water for the lads.

-Then I film the match.

-What do you do with the video?

-After the game, I watch

-the game back and do the stats.

-I'll then show it to the players

-in the week.

-They take it into training

-and stuff.

-Have you ever played?

-No, I haven't played for Treorchy.

-You prefer to do stuff

-behind the scenes.

-Yes.

-It's quite cold up there.

-It is, but I'm tough.

-Do you have any stories...

-Do you have any stories...

-

-And fat!

-Padding.

-Yes, plenty of padding.

-Do you have any stories

-from when you're up there?

-No, I don't.

-Not like when I saw the youth team

-lads nicking the ladder last week?

-Yes, they've nicked the ladder

-a couple of times.

-I just jump down then.

-I just jump down then.

-

-Like a parachute.

-Yes, like that.

-Padding when you land!

-I'll let you go back up

-to film the rest of the game.

-Thanks, Sion.

-Treorchy isn't the only rugby club

-in the Rhondda, of course.

-Though there are fewer clubs

-nowadays...

-..the rivalry is as fierce as ever.

-Or is it?

-How were things when Dad played?

-They're going for the try.

-The pack drives over

-and they're there.

-Who'll get up with the ball?

-It's the captain, Adrian Owen.

-It was much more violent

-when I played...

-..say Treorchy against Treherbert

-or against Ystrad.

-As regards in today's type of game,

-the game is much harder...

-..because the boys are fitter.

-Their skill level

-at tackle is much better...

-..but that is just grunt -

-it's just basically grunt.

-It was 15 psychopaths,

-not proper psychopaths...

-..but a lot of people had licence

-to go on the field just for a fight.

-Dad had a very successful

-and at times colourful career.

-Though he didn't win

-a full cap for Wales...

-..he was a key member of teams like

-Bridgend, Pontypridd and Aberavon.

-Half the time now

-I wish I'd never played...

-..because I am aching all over

-from all the injuries.

-I wake up stiff in the morning.

-I don't know

-whether that's general old age...

-..or is it

-that I played heavy-duty rugby.

-It comes to Phil Clarke.

-This is great rugby.

-The captain

-has given it to Adrian Owen.

-Adrian Owen has scored.

-What a try!

-You had to psych yourself up

-for certain games.

-Pontypool or someone like that.

-It was intimidation

-that was the rule of the jungle.

-Most of it's bravado and bull.

-Then you realize as you get older

-that it isn't what life's about.

-That's why I find it ridiculous...

-..that people hate other teams.

-Adrian Owen

-trying to find Billy James.

-I think it's a massive part of

-our heritage and continues today.

-It's an outlet

-for the tribalism in Wales.

-It is going to continue.

-After the break, one of

-the biggest games of the season...

-..as Treorchy take on their rivals.

-Whose hands are these?

-The Ystrad boys know.

-And one of the stars

-of Cardiff Blues comes back home.

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-You have to shift now

-because we'll miss the game.

-If there is a rivalry between two

-of the valley's rugby clubs...

-..it's between Treorchy and Ystrad.

-Today, Dad and I

-are off to the lion's den...

-..to see both teams

-facing each other.

-Get with him! Get with him!

-Off his feet. He's off his feet!

-Flippin' 'eck!

-That's the first scuffle!

-What's he having a chat so long for?

-He wants to calm it down

-before the waters break.

-Nothing happened.

-There wasn't even a punch thrown!

-You can't go abusing the ref.

-If it wasn't for the ref,

-we wouldn't have a game.

-You can abuse them as much

-as you want - they get paid!

-I went on a refs' course once.

-Just to know

-which rules you could break!

-Go on!

-This looks good.

-Oh!

-Nice hands.

-Crackin'!

-Come on!

-Crackin'.

-Crackin'.

-

-In flight, all onside!

-That's it, keep him up! Hold him up!

-He's taken some time

-to figure that out.

-Has he got it?

-Oh.

-Oh.

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-Draw.

-There we are. Good game, though,

-and I'm soaking wet.

-In comparison to the actual match,

-it was exactly fair.

-No-one likes a draw

-but there we are.

-It's good to see that any rivalry

-stays on the pitch.

-I went back the next week

-to see Ystrad training.

-Not to offer tips...

-..but to meet an important

-and popular member of the club.

-You're part of the Ystrad team

-but what do you do?

-I usually do the physio.

-I do first aid

-and give sports massages.

-Every Saturday before the game,

-they need to warm up...

-..especially if the weather

-is like this.

-I warm up their muscles.

-They're usually queuing up.

-They're all characters.

-They're lovely.

-How long have you been doing it?

-About eight years.

-Oh, so quite long.

-Yes. Before then,

-I was with Tylorstown.

-Seven years with them

-and eight with Ystrad.

-I went to college in Bridgend

-and learnt what to do.

-It's come in very handy

-with the lads.

-Lads like massages as you know.

-I love having them, especially

-my legs on a night like this.

-Fair play to the club.

-They've supported me too.

-When they asked me,

-I thought it would be nice.

-The kids had flown the nest and I

-didn't have anything specific to do.

-It was a hobby to start with.

-So I'm happy now.

-I can't think of anything else to do

-on a Saturday so this is what I do.

-What's your day-to-day job?

-I work on Pobol y Cwm,

-in the production office.

-I've been there for 20 years now.

-So this is very different

-to your day-to-day job.

-That's why I decided to do it -

-to do something different.

-If you could give a sports massage

-to anyone in the world...

-..who would you give it to?

-Good question.

-Richie McCaw.

-Why him?

-Every time I've seen him,

-I've thought to myself...

-.."That's who I want to massage."

-He's quite strong.

-I've just always wanted to do it.

-You want to get your hands on him!

-You never know.

-You never know.

-

-I didn't say anything!

-He might sign for Ystrad one day

-as a mature player.

-I hope!

-You never know!

-I'm more than happy to do it!

-What about you? Do you play rugby?

-What about you? Do you play rugby?

-

-I used to.

-But I have more chance now

-of massaging someone than playing.

-If you want a massage, Sion...

-I know who to call.

-Brilliant!

-I said at the start

-that this is my Field of Dreams.

-The dream does come true

-for some lads.

-Superb offloads.

-Ellis Jenkins with an intelligent

-pass out to Macauley Cook.

-It's a try for the Blues.

-One of the latest to forge a career

-from playing is Macauley Cook.

-Macauley, welcome back to the club.

-Macauley, welcome back to the club.

-

-Thank you.

-This is the club

-where we both began.

-I started in the under 8s.

-What about you?

-I was about seven years old.

-I played with children

-a year above me.

-Dad was coach...

-..so I had to go!

-Did you go through

-every age group...

-..or were you tempted

-to go to another club?

-I started in the under 8s

-and went up to the under 15s.

-Then I moved...

-I don't know if I can talk

-about it here to be honest!

-I played for Ystrad for a season

-before moving to the academy.

-But Treorchy is my club.

-I played for the Rhondda...

-..then I had trials

-for the under 16 Blues team.

-I was lucky enough

-to get into the team...

-..and I stayed in the team

-all season.

-I was then lucky enough

-to get into the Wales under 16 team.

-The academy picked me up

-and the rest is history.

-Was it always

-something you wanted to do?

-Yeah. I loved playing rugby

-since I was in the minis.

-I was just really fond of the game.

-That's true of a lot of Welsh boys -

-it's a huge sport in Wales.

-It's almost in the blood!

-It's almost in the blood!

-

-Yeah, I know.

-It was something I wanted to do

-from a very young age.

-So I'm going to train hard

-and see how far I can go.

-When I started, I was a flanker.

-I played there for years.

-I liked to hurt people!

-I thought you were a winger!

-Yes, I do look like one!

-I started on the wing.

-Did you? Oh, right!

-I started on the wing.

-As I grew, the coaches

-saw I wouldn't be a winger.

-I was gangly and tall

-so I was moved into the forwards.

-I played No.8

-for a couple of seasons.

-I was moved to the second row

-in the under 15s.

-I've been there ever since.

-I've been there ever since.

-

-And your ears are still intact!

-Yeah, touch wood!

-Clubs like Treorchy

-train on Tuesdays and Thursdays...

-..and play on Saturdays.

-What's it like

-playing professionally?

-It's quite different.

-We train on Monday and Tuesday,

-have Wednesday off...

-..train on Thursday and Friday

-and then play on Saturday.

-We go in at eight o'clock.

-We focus on mobility -

-so we do our stretches and so on.

-Then we work on the units...

-..so line-outs and scrums

-for the forwards...

-..lift weights for an hour, eat...

-..then a rugby session

-around one o'clock.

-So it's quite short and sharp.

-You get the afternoon off. Easy!

-You get the afternoon off. Easy!

-

-It's not bad at all.

-Well, it sounds easy, but it's not.

-What are your personal targets

-for the future?

-Everyone who plays professional

-rugby wants to play for Wales.

-I just have to take it

-one game at a time...

-..try to play well for the Blues...

-..and try to help the team

-as best I can.

-Just take it one game at a time

-and see what happens.

-Good luck. Look after your ears.

-Thanks!

-Back at the Oval,

-things aren't looking good.

-I'm not sure what's worse -

-the score or the cold.

-I'm trying to keep warm by switching

-between painting and spectating.

-Go left!

-Instead of kicking the ball down

-there, get down their bloody half.

-Final whistle.

-Shucks. Another draw.

-At least

-the picture's finished in time.

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