Anybody who’s watched the World Rugby Sevens Series will instantly recognise Gruffydd’s pleasing lilt. Originally from Crymych, he jokes that he’s “finally been accepted” in Carmarthen after 30 years of living there.
Rugby aside, he lends his voice to a wide variety of sports – most recently cycling’s famous Paris-Roubaix race – but there’s no denying his love for sevens, especially when he says: “Every time Wales run out onto the field my heart is in my throat.”
This weekend, he’ll have a keen eye on the Commonwealth Games sevens – not least Gareth Williams’s Wales team, which he knows better than most. Wales’ form in the series may have been somewhat patchy this season, but Gruffydd believes they have what it takes to come good. “At the 2009 World Cup in Dubai, Wales lost to Argentina on the Friday night and went on to win the whole competition,” he recalls. “If they get their A-game together, it’s certainly within their capabilities to do well on the Gold Coast.”
Team Wales have the added benefit of two ‘known unknowns’ in Justin Tipuric and Hallam Amos. “You’d hope those two could bring something extra, otherwise Gareth wouldn’t have picked them,” says Gruffydd. “This Welsh side is a settled one, though, and he will likely fall back on experience. You need to win your opening match because it’s essentially sudden death from the start in this competition.”
On that front, the odds could be said to stacked in Wales’ favour since they have Uganda (01:59 BST) and Sri Lanka (08:31) first up tomorrow, but Gruffydd sounds a note of caution. “I like Uganda, I have to say. They remind me of Kenya several years ago,” he says, alluding to latter’s shock victory against Australia in 2003 that acted as a springboard to their current lofty position. “They’ve got the basis of a very good team with the Wokorach brothers – Phillip in particular – and they will target Wales, there’s no question of that.”
And Sri Lanka? “Over the years they’ve been fast and loose, unable to compete on physicality, but that’s something they’ve paid attention to,” he explains. “They’re third in the Asian Series, but they’re there to be beaten at the Games and it’s a stepping stone for Wales to progress. It’s not going to be easy, that’s for sure.”
Wales are treating their last game tomorrow against Fiji (12:33) as a quarter-final, with only the pool winner progressing at the Games. “How the heck do you cope with Fiji? They were imperious in Hong Kong,” Gruffydd says – the islanders having won three of the past four legs of the World Series. “They have big boys everywhere – except for Jerry Tuwai, who boasts exhilarating pace off the mark – and that’s something Wales need to look for. They’re the complete team.”
His impartial commentator’s hat firmly on for a brief moment, he predicts a Fiji-South Africa final at the Robina Stadium on Sunday. Still, he says Wales have plenty of eye-catching talent for newcomers to the game to look out for.
Luke Morgan will be one of the keys to any Welsh success on the Gold Coast, as he has been on so many occasions on the World Series. “Luke would have been devastated not to have made the Olympics in 2016. I was in the competition in Exeter when he pulled up with the injury and I really felt for him,” says Gruffydd. “Luke Treharne at his best is as good as any player in the tournament and he was disappointed to not get to Rio, having made the extended squad.
“I’ve been impressed by any number of these youngsters, to be honest, and I really hope Wales can keep this young squad together. They’re a great, close-knit bunch of boys and they’ve got a terrific opportunity playing on this huge stage.”
The Commonwealth Games are being covered by BBC One and Two, BBC Radio 5 live and on the BBC Sport website. The Games section of the BBC Sport homepage will stream events that aren’t being aired on television.
