Full Interview given by Shaun Shea to Hamish Stuart for the upcoming SWALEC BOWL Final: Llantwit Major move to the heartbeat of Welsh rugby, from the former Wales international on the coaching team, through the youth products and the experienced old players that have combined to reach the biggest stage of all. Former Cardiff and Wales wing Simon Hill coaches the backs at the clubs where he first came through the ranks, which also produced players such as current Blues centre Dafydd Hewitt and former Pontypool and Wales Rugby League back Matthew Silva. Wales Under 18s coach Darren Joy has taken charge of the village side and they have targetted the SWALEC Bowl and appearing at the Milennium Stadium. Finally the pieces have fallen into place, the draw and performances have gone their way and Welsh rugbys home beckons. For forty-something captain Shaun Shea it rewards many years toiling away in the engine room of the pack for his home side, a prize for putting off hanging up his boots for one more year, then another, then another. “If I was any good at golf Id have retired years ago,” he jokes. “But the carrot of playing at the Millennium Stadium is unbelievable. “It is an occasion and a half for Llantwit, there is a real buzz. The semi-final against Old Illtydians was certainly the biggest game Ive ever played in, a few hundred people watching and the crowd made a difference. “Our final opponents Clwb Rygbi Caerdydd are in our league, it is a strong league as I think is shown by getting two teams to the final. We have lost to them twice this season unfortunately, but they were both close games so there is all to play for if we go for it.” The final at the Millennium Stadium is a great occasion for the whole Llantwit Major club, with long-serving Shea delighted to be getting the opportunity towards the end of his 22 year playing career. “We worked out that I started playing senior rugby before some of our players were born,” he admitted. “I played with the fathers of a few players who are playing with us now too, which is a bit different. “I cannot say enough about Simon, Darren and the coaching team of Graham Williams, Dean Bunting and team manager Neil Evans who have all worked so hard to get us where we are now. “Simon came through our youth system. His experience is phenomenal. He trains with us every now and then and he has still got the speed. Along with Darren, their experience of the big occasion and professionalism will help us without a doubt. “We are a small club, people have to work away at times and there are injuries, so we have used a squad of around 29 to get to this stage of the season. There will be some disappointed people because only 22 can be in the squad at the Millennium Stadium, but everyone deserves to be there and everyone has played a vital part.”
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 20:17:39 +0000
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