Max Boyce once wrote of a mythical place beneath the mountains where outside halves were made who’d play for Wales one day.
At Coleg Sir Gar, the production line doesn’t just involve No. 10s.
The college’s renowned rugby academy helps to produce 15-a-side players, full stop. From Adam Jones to Gareth Davies and Josh Adams, the Llanelli-based operation has nurtured some of the finest Welsh players over the years. It’s probably no exaggeration to call the place a talent factory.
It’s a special year for the college, too, as it is celebrating 20 years since its rugby dimension came into being and started feeding players into the Scarlets academy. (Adam Jones, of course, eventually headed to Neath and then onto the Ospreys, but that’s another story.)
Whatever, in the two decades since, the college has proven a critical link in the rugby chain out west.
“We like to think we have proven our worth,” said Euros Evans, director of rugby at the college.
“Our aim is to produce professional players and give them opportunities to play at the top end of the game.
“We punch way above our weight in what we produce.
“One Scarlets A team last term contained something like 13 Coleg Sir Gar players.
“Our academy over the years has brought through youngsters who have gone on to achieve great things in the game — internationals such as Adam Jones, Gareth Davies, Scott Williams, Josh Adams, Samson Lee, Aled Davies, Lou Reed, Luke Hamilton, Ryan Elias, Gavin Evans, Rob McCusker and Adam Warren.
“There are not that many chimney pots in our area compared to others, so to produce that number of internationals means a huge amount.
“Not everyone can go on and play Test rugby, though.
“There are many boys who have gone on to enjoy successful pro careers without becoming internationals and others who have had very solid semi-professional careers.
“In the three semi-pro clubs in our area, probably 70 percent of the players have come through Coleg Sir Gar.
“And, hopefully, we develop all our students as people.
“The idea is that everyone who comes through the system leaves as a better person, equipped for whatever career they pursue.”
The key influence behind the college establishing a link with the premier rugby operation in west Wales was Gareth Jenkins, with the then Llanelli RFC coach identifying the importance of a core of talent being nurtured close to home.
Such foresight has seen a steady stream of players, imbued with the culture of the area and its rugby and presumably having pride in all things local, filtering into the region’s academy.
“Gareth drove the partnership between the college and Llanelli RFC which grew into one with the Scarlets,” said Evans, the former Swansea, Dunvant and Carmarthen Quins hooker.
“He saw the need to forge a link with the college and develop an academy. It was forward thinking that has paid dividends.
“The economic climate means it’s more important than ever that we produce our own players.
“The Scarlets’ model is based on that.
“I guess every region’s model would be.
“Of course, at regional level there could be a need to bring in players from outside the area at times.
“But, from a budgetary perspective, the more you produce yourself the better it is.”
Sean Holley and Jon Daniels, now the region’s general manager of rugby, oversaw the college’s academy in the early days, when Adam Jones was among those passing through. “Sean’s told me about the skill-set Adam had at the time,” said Evans.
“He could send drop-kicks through the posts and pass off both hands, skills you don’t often see in a prop. Also, the fact that he travelled as far as he did every day, from Abercrave I think, showed how much he wanted it.
“Adam was probably waking up at 6am to get to college on time. You can’t understimate that kind of commitment from an 18-year-old. That drive to get up and get things done is essential for players to achieve at the top end of the game.”
Spotting who’s going to come through and make it in the professional game isn’t an easy task, especially when a new cohort assembles.
But sometimes even the most myopic would sense from the off that certain individuals are going places.
“With some players, there’s no doubt they’ll come through,” said Evans.
“Gareth Davies and Scott Williams were two such individuals.
“They stood out in college rugby and really grew, Gareth in particular.
“In his second year of rugby with us, he was outstanding.
“He and Scott were always destined for big things.
“Jac Morgan was another you could tell early on was going to be good.
“He was with us on a part-time basis as he also worked, but he was excellent, a late developer who was a natural rugby player with a great skill-set.
“Generally, though, it’s hard to predict how people will do when they join.
“But when they’ve done the two years and matured and are ready to leave, you have a good idea what the future will hold.
“At that point you’ve begun to know them as people and see how coachable they are and how committed they are to the programme. Are they willing to put the work in?
“It’s key.”
Evans gave a nod to the formidable Coleg y Cymoedd rugby operation at Ystrad Mynach: “They are very good — in fairness.
“Gareth Wyatt, the former Wales and Pontypridd wing, coaches there and we've met in seven Welsh Schools and Colleges League finals over the past decade, with both of us getting our share of wins.
“They are great rivals and do a fine job all round.”
Evans added: “Our set-up and others like it fill a critical need in the system.
“We are not a big nation and we can’t afford to lose players, so we have to make sure we provide what certain youngsters want and need and give them a clear pathway to professional rugby.
“There will be occasions when people slip through the net.
“But the key is to keep striving for excellence and making your college as attractive as possible to potential students.
“We have a conditioning coach and a physiotherapist, so the environment we have is of a high standard with the college investing a lot of money in our programme.
“If we weren’t providing a service players and their parents would find someone else who was. We also provide an academic structure so they get the best of both worlds. They get the classroom support that they need but they also receive a rugby education that gives them a good opportunity.
“It is then up to the Scarlets to take over after the boys’ two years with us.
“I’d like to think over 20 years we’ve shown the system works.”
