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Quins and Rebels go Global as New York Comes to Carmarthen

At a time of festivities  just prior to Christmas a presentation was held at Carmarthen Quins training ground that saw two members from New York Welsh visit to officially present a set of shirts to Carmarthen Quins Girls Under 15s and the newly formed Carmarthen Rebels female rugby hub.

At a time when every penny counts Neil Evans of Carmarthen Quins Mini and Juniors happened to be in the right place at the right time and saw a tweet from New York Welsh asking if any sports clubs would be interested in some sponsorship. With an attitude of if you don’t ask you don’t get Neil followed this up and there began a conversation that has seen a number of former South West Wales residents club together and buy a set of shirts for the team.

At the presentation what those in attendance saw was that this more than just a group of people donating funding for a set of shirts it ran far deeper than that for the recipients and whilst John Lyle spoke of his hiraeth of his hometown of Carmarthen when he is in New York, two of the Quins players told the gathering what it meant for them. They said they were over the moon to have shirts that fitted them and gave them a unique identity but more importantly it brought them even closer together as a family. It is a saying that is banded about all too often but there is very rarely a comparison that can be made to a rugby family.

The rugby family of Carmarthen Quins has certainly extended across the Atlantic Ocean to New York.

With the Welsh Rugby Union changing all female rugby from the traditional seasons to now starting in March until August it is great that the new Carmarthen Rebels will be able to carry on where the Quins girls left off and wear the shirts with pride up and down the country.

Tonia Antoniazzi MP and Welsh Women’s Rugby player stated that Girl’s and Women’s rugby is one of the most popular and growing sports especially in Wales. The Welsh passion for rugby is evident across the globe and in strong Welsh ex-pat communities in New York. It’s fantastic for Carmarthen Quins to have their support and I’m thrilled to hear that the New York Welsh Society is looking to support other girls clubs in Wales.

The club would like to record its thanks to Ty Francis MBE, Alayna Francis, John Lyle, Gwilym Roberts-Harry, Bryn Roberts-Harry and Ieuan Roberts-Harry for making this possible. It should be recognised that Ty doesn’t plan on stopping with just New York Welsh, he made his way to the presentation having met with Eluned Morgan AM with a view to raising Wales’ profile worldwide by linking other organisations such as the Hong Kong Welsh Society, Beijing Welsh and St Davids Japan. We hope to be able to work with these groups going forward in any way possible.

Training information for the forthcoming Carmarthen Rebels season will be available on Social Media or from Jennie Davies on 07969617305.

Pictured are Ty Francis, John Lyle, Deb Ridley and Neil Evans along with players from Carmarthen Quins Girls Under 15s and Carmarthen Rebels.