Pontycymer Rugby Club is buzzing following the recent appointment of top South African coach Marius Walters.
The Specsavers National League Three West club, who finished 10th in the Central C Division last term ahead of fixtures being suspended owing to Coronavirus, are hoping the talented 44-year-old coach can get the club moving in the right direction and up the league.
As a player, Walters figured on the wing for Worcester, Libertas, Victorians & Maties, Maesteg and Staines, making a similar impact down the touchlines to the renown burly Pontycymer wing Dai Upton.
During his stay at Llynfi Road from 2000-02, he headed the Old Parish sides try-scoring chart from the wing or full-back positions ahead of his playing career ending at Staines in 2003.
He also has coaching experience in Bridgend County with Kenfig Hill, Nantyffyllon and Bridgend Districts along with Neath & Port Talbot College.
A Post Graduate in Education led to him teaching at Llandarcy Academy of Sport where he observed many sessions under the coaching reign of Griff Rhys at the Ospreys.
He has recently completed a Level Three WRU coaching badge and has frequently worked with acclaimed coach Jake White, who headed SouthAfrica when they won the Rugby World Cup in 2007.
Former Pontycymer captain and centre Andrew Jones, in his role as team manager, has been a leading light in tying up loose ends and bringing Marius to Lawrence Park.
Initially, it was the power of social media that brought Walters and the Lawrence Park club together.
"I'm hoping to bring a vast knowledge of the game in the southern hemisphere to the club, and make a real impact,” explained Walters, a cover supervisor at Cardiff West Community High.
And club press officer D G Lloyd, a former star prop with Maesteg and home club Pontycymer, summed up the capture of Walters as head coach.
He said: “Marius Walters comes to Pontycymer with a glowing CV and an even more impressive reference off former South African WorldCup-winning coach Jake White.
"It's a massive coup for a club like Pontycymer, as he's an outstanding coach, who is set to lift the morale of everyone at Lawrence Park."
“Hopefully, it won't be long before Coronavirus restrictions are lifted, allowing the rugby season to get underway, and things can get more or less back to normal at the grass-roots level of the game.''
Written by Deri Lloyd (Press Officer)
There doesn't appear to be any tagged photos.
Please wait as the server processes your request. Do not attempt to refresh the page.
Processing
Processing