The fruits of development are ripe, as these young Aberdare Boys have reaped the rewards of some sterling performances throughout the Regional Wales Under 16 identification matches.
Representing the Blues North, Rhys Williams, Ryan James, Johnathan Williams and Owen Lewis have all been included in the Wales Under 16 squad of 42 preparing for international matches against England and Italy.
The Blues North Under 16 Squad are made up of players from Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr / South Powys so we are purely a Valleys team and we thrive on this privilege. Rugby in our community is vital to the Valleys. We have and always will have a glut of talent in the Cynon area, but this must first be identified and then nurtured. No stone must go unturned and Crownford's support allows Duane Goodfield and myself as Crownford Rugby Development Officers to do just that.
The last time players in this proportion made the Welsh squad was in 1982 when a young and up and coming David Young (Aberdare Boys) was capped along with N Davies (A. Bc), H Jones (A. Bc), S Edmonds (Mountain Ash Comp) and D O'Sullivan (Blaengwawr).
There are however different measures of achievement and we do set our sights quite high. Pontypridd Rugby Club is based on Valleys prie and camaraderie. Over the years players from Cynon Valley have played and achieved high honours in the black and white jersey. In the past, Dai and Mike Shellard, Neil Eynon and Johnahan Mason and of late Jon Bryant and Rhy Shelard, are just a few examples. However, achieving realistic goals such as premier rugby usually dangles the international carrot as players are then wthin arms length of achieving their dream.
Development is across the board and thanks to the support of Crownford, schools, clubs and parents, no one losses out. If for whatever reason kids do not achieve the goals we require they will then disperse into their respective clubs a much improved article.
If these four boys play premiership rugby, we've done our job. If one or more achieve International Honours the system has done its job.