As part of Thursday’s media session myself and Ken Owens did a podcast for Spotify that was presented by Dylan Pugh, who used to play for Neath and London Welsh, so I was able to tie in two of my passions: rugby and music.
I enjoy DJing and I’ve got the full works, turntables and a controller, so I’m pretty much set up. I’ve done a few gigs but nothing too major yet. It’s funny, because I never feel nervous before a rugby match, but the first time I did a three-hour DJ set in a club in Cardiff, it was the most nervous I’ve ever been.
When Swedish House Mafia made their comeback in July for a single show after seven years away, I made sure I was at Ushuaia in Ibiza to see them. It was only a two-day trip during a week off from our World Cup camp, but it was worth it to see a landmark event in house music.
Usually, when you’re playing in pre-season matches with your region it’s in front of fans who are itching for a bit of rugby in nice weather after a long break. It’s different this year: we’re playing in a sold-out stadium against England. It’ll be nice to experience the atmosphere and the buzz from the bench, but most of all I’m just looking forward to getting back on the pitch again and getting some game time under my belt.
Last Sunday was a tough result, but there’s no need to panic. It was only our first game. After the run of games we had been on, everyone expected that to continue, but we’re in a preparation stage now. Anything we’re not happy about we can put right before the World Cup begins. England played well and we didn’t hold onto the ball long enough, but now they’re coming down to play us and we’ve got a chance to put it right.
People often ask me about my heritage. My dad’s Iranian and my mum’s a Welsh-speaker from North Wales. I take great pride in both sides. The other day I even got asked about Iranian politics! Dad came over to London during the 1979 Revolution when he was only 18. He ended up going to Bangor University – which is where he met my mum – then came down to study civil engineering in the polytechnic in Pontypridd. He was meant to go back to Iran but his dad passed away and, having met my mother, he stayed in Wales.
It’s been a surreal couple of months for my social circle with our friend Callum being a contestant on Love Island. We went to the local designer outlet in Bridgend the other day for some food, and it was absolute carnage with people recognising him. The amount of followers he has now is unbelievable. It is a life-changing thing going on that show and everybody loves him. He’ll be at the game on Saturday. He keeps asking me to get him in the changing room afterwards, but I don’t think that’ll be happening!
