Illtud Deiniol

Here’s a little about myself:

I was born and raised just outside the south Wales mining town of Pontypridd; where rugby was more than a sport… it was a religion. Leaving Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen aged 17, I then studied Communications and Media at the University of Bangor in Gwynedd.

Having played rugby for over 18 years for clubs up and down the country, and captaining a university team, I eventually went on to be employed by the Scarlets, one of Wales’ four professional rugby regions that compete in the newly restructured GUINNESS PRO14. It was with the Scarlets that I honed my rugby writing skills and watched (and as I like to claim, helped) the team win the PRO12 Championship in 2016-17.

Unfortunately, my playing career came to an abrupt and painful end when I tore essentially all of the ligaments in my knee during a match. Now, going through a long and intense rehabilitation programme, I turn my passion for writing and passion for rugby into my first ever rugby blog.

I currently work and live just outside Cardiff, and I watch and attend as many rugby games as I can while still being declared sane. A veteran of four Rugby World Cups, a British and Irish Lions tourist and experience working behind the scenes of a professional rugby club, I hope my insight and view on the game is unique enough to merit an approving nod of the head once you’ve done reading my articles. Diolch!

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