Rhys Llewellyn what is the story?

How did a Welsh born center like young Rhys end up aiding putting the largest defeat on Wales in an International tournament?

Will he come home to represent the country of his birth? He is not the only player to represent a junior Kiwi team to then return to the country of birth later on.

This could work well for Wales.


"In September 2007 Rhys emigrated to New Zealand with his family and gained a scholarship to St Beales College, Christchurch, where he soon made the college first team.

From there he was picked up by the Canterbury Crusaders for a trial of between 300 and 400 boys, and then spent a month in Auckland.

Rhys was named among the 22 players to make the New Zealand Under-18 development squad and played three times on a tour of Samoa and Fiji before winning his full Under-18 cap against Australia in New Zealand last November.

Ospreys’ elite performance director Andrew Hore handed out the jerseys for his first full game with the national side."
Feb 5 2009 by Ron Chalmers, Glamorgan Gazette

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/grassroots/bridgend-maesteg-sport/2009/02/05/future-is-bright-for-bridgend-born-rhys-after-all-blacks-call-91466-22853866/

Feb 5 2009 by Ron Chalmers, Glamorgan Gazette

BRIDGEND could have its first ever All Black in 17-year-old Rhys Llewellyn.

Bridgend born and bred Rhys, formerly of Morfa Street, is making his mark in rugby down under after learning his trade at Brynteg Comprehensive and the Bridgend Athletic club.

Rhys played for the Bridgend & District Under-16s and then the Ospreys Under-16s, where he came under the guidance of Lynn Jones and Filo Tiatia.


In September 2007 Rhys emigrated to New Zealand with his family and gained a scholarship to St Beales College, Christchurch, where he soon made the college first team.

From there he was picked up by the Canterbury Crusaders for a trial of between 300 and 400 boys, and then spent a month in Auckland.

Rhys was named among the 22 players to make the New Zealand Under-18 development squad and played three times on a tour of Samoa and Fiji before winning his full Under-18 cap against Australia in New Zealand last November.

Ospreys’ elite performance director Andrew Hore handed out the jerseys for his first full game with the national side.

Keep and eye on the Gazette for updates on Rhys’ progress.

AlynDavies wrote:http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/grassroots/bridgend-maesteg-sport/2009/02/05/future-is-bright-for-bridgend-born-rhys-after-all-blacks-call-91466-22853866/

Feb 5 2009 by Ron Chalmers, Glamorgan Gazette

BRIDGEND could have its first ever All Black in 17-year-old Rhys Llewellyn.

Bridgend born and bred Rhys, formerly of Morfa Street, is making his mark in rugby down under after learning his trade at Brynteg Comprehensive and the Bridgend Athletic club.

Rhys played for the Bridgend & District Under-16s and then the Ospreys Under-16s, where he came under the guidance of Lynn Jones and Filo Tiatia.


In September 2007 Rhys emigrated to New Zealand with his family and gained a scholarship to St Beales College, Christchurch, where he soon made the college first team.

From there he was picked up by the Canterbury Crusaders for a trial of between 300 and 400 boys, and then spent a month in Auckland.

Rhys was named among the 22 players to make the New Zealand Under-18 development squad and played three times on a tour of Samoa and Fiji before winning his full Under-18 cap against Australia in New Zealand last November.

Ospreys’ elite performance director Andrew Hore handed out the jerseys for his first full game with the national side.

Keep and eye on the Gazette for updates on Rhys’ progress.

as quoted above...!

maestegmafia wrote:as quoted above...!

I'm sorry mate, I simply read the topic name and knew id read an article on it when I googled him after watching the U20's game and decided to give you the link


I think New Zealand wanted a player back after they gave us Hemi Taylor and Dale Mcintosh, besides we can spare a centre. As long as it's not a forward

Clearly an Ospreys player is as good as a Canterbury player at age 17, if Rhys is good enough to play for them, the question is what is happening between 17 and 20 to make such a gulf in class?

Other than the report in the Gazette there seems to be little information about him.

maestegmafia wrote:Other than the report in the Gazette there seems to be little information about him.

Give him a chance he;s only just got a Academy place and got into the All Black U20 side, he will be scoring against us soon enough!
Still at least Wales might get one World Cup winner one day!

AlynDavies wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Other than the report in the Gazette there seems to be little information about him.

Give him a chance he;s only just got a Academy place and got into the All Black U20 side, he will be scoring against us soon enough!
Still at least Wales might get one World Cup winner one day!

Being from Bridgend I guess there isn't much to lure him back...!

He could well end up playing for Wales. Many of the U20 sides won't ever make the AB's. Due to his heritage, he can play in both super rugby and European competition and he'll be marketable. The good thing for him is he has a choice. Part of me hopes he'll play for wales (I'm an Ab's supporter) because I believe that's where he grew up and developed.

blackcanelion wrote:He could well end up playing for Wales. Many of the U20 sides won't ever make the AB's. Due to his heritage, he can play in both super rugby and European competition and he'll be marketable. The good thing for him is he has a choice. Part of me hopes he'll play for wales (I'm an Ab's supporter) because I believe that's where he grew up and developed.

Trust me Blackcanelion, we are all hoping he has ambitions for Wales as well.

There's probably a small typo in the original article, I presume he went to St Bedes College not "St Beales" which has a pretty good rugby team (it's a Catholic school in north Chch). I got offered a partial scholarship (academic not rugby admittedly) there way back in the day, but my folks decided they couldn't afford the boarding fees, which weren't covered by the scholarship (plus Dad hated boarding school when he was a lad).

(sorry, I'll switch off pedant mode now)

Is St Bedes is a hotbed of New Zealand rugby?

I have heard the name before. I presume it was linked to a players profile.

It's probably in the top 3 or 4 rugby schools in Christchurch along with Christchurch Boys (Dan Carter, Andrew Merhtens, etc, etc), St Andrews and Christ College*. And they've won the last 3 Press Cup South Island secondary schools comp.http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,565,0,0,html/Trophies.

I see Marlborough Boys, my alma mater, are at least dominating mid-table - it's a few years since we had Anton Oliver at #8 and Leon Macdonald at 10.

*Games between the rest of the big 3 in Chch usually have a heavy police presence due to crowd violence in the past between groups of old boys . In Christchurch the school you went to matters (which is why I'm really glad I came from an out-of town school, it means you get treated on merit)

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/rugby/gwent/5422252.Teen_follows_in_Lomu_s_footsteps/

It seems there are a number of Welsh boys in NZ learning their trade.

KRD - was reading the NZ Herald yesterday and came across an article on the 197th (!) game between King's and AG....it drew a crowd of 7,000! For a schoolboy match!

Mind you these figures were like club attendance figures back in the 50's, 60's and 70's I believe....

To be fair to this young Dan Kidd, his situation is the same as what my son's will be in a few years time:

Kiwi guys comes over to experience European life and Rugby, meets native girl, clubs her over the head, claims her, breeds with her (very important) and instills in child (more important) that when it comes to rugby NZ is first, Kiwi guy takes family back to NZ in a few years time for high school

I'm extremely lucky in that I've managed not only to get my son to play/enjoy/love rugby over football that he only supports NZ teams and players!

Nice work Mintie

I'm still doing research at stage 2 on your list

Important that Stage 3 comes before Stage 5.

If you don't have a club, I found alcohol and the kiwi accent/wit works a treat!

It can only be positive to have the experience of playing in new Zealand. The coaching is remarkable and the level of school boy rugby is sensational.

Let's hope these lads do wish to benefit the land of their fathers/mothers (depending on example)

My only worry is that if he does decide to play for Wales, is that he will be over-hyped by the press, and probably played out of position at Wing or FB by the coaches.

I think if he plays center as well as he is at the moment there would be no need to move him.

Jon Davies, Scot Williams and Andrew Bishop graduated from the youth ranks as centers and have played their regional and international rugby there.

Why would anyone change that?

Why would anyone change that?
2 names come to mind, Gavin Henson and James Hook, overhyped and often played out of position.

JackC wrote:Why would anyone change that?
2 names come to mind, Gavin Henson and James Hook, overhyped and often played out of position.

THey have done very well in those alternate positions though, so maybe there isnt a problem with it?

henson WAS a good utility back, but hook didnt play that well anywhere else apart from at 10, full back is a big no

welshy824 wrote:henson WAS a good utility back, but hook didnt play that well anywhere else apart from at 10, full back is a big no

I disagree I though both Hook and Henson were outstandingly good utility players. And it is a massive benefit to have their skills available to us, should we have a series of injuries during a match they can move to another position allowing another specialist player to substitute. Much better than having a specialist forced to adapt to playing out of position for the first time in a critical international match.

Versatility is good.

maestegmafia wrote:Versatility is good.

Yes I agree it helps talented players slot in places when we have injuries and it helps them pick up caps from the bench.