The flanker, who came off the bench to help the Lions clinch the series with a 41-16 third Test victory over Australia in July, recently took time to visit his old school, Cwmtawe Community School, to present them with their WRU School of Rugby award.
The school has produced numerous Wales internationals including former Wales centre Bleddyn Bowen, Wales and Lions scrum half Robert Jones, Tipuric and more recently, Dan Baker who was capped on the summer tour to Japan, and is one of 22 schools throughout Wales to be recognised for their commitment to developing and promoting rugby union within the school. They run rugby teams throughout the year groups with teachers from the PE and other departments giving of their time and energy to ensure good quality rugby coaching.
Tipuric and fellow Ospreys back row Baker took part in a question and answer session with school rugby players during which the Lions flanker revealed that Francois Louw, the South African flanker, was one of the best players he has directly come up against, and that former England World Cup winner Richard Hill was the player he most admired as a youngster. He also revealed that some of the knock backs he received growing up are what spurred him on to become the player he is today. “I was told I was too small and too slow, which just made me work 10 times as hard to prove people wrong,” said Tipuric, who came through the ranks at Trebanos RFC and now helps coach the first team at the club.
Wales’ autumn series against South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia is just around the corner but first, Tipuric is fully focussed on the Ospreys’ Heineken Cup campaign.
“There was a good feeling in the camp when the Lions players came back to training, but we’ve all had to work hard to get back in the Ospreys squad. Nothing is guaranteed and I honestly haven’t looked beyond the Heineken Cup at the moment,” he said.
The Ospreys travel to Northampton this weekend and then take on the Dragons at home in the RaboDirect Pro12 before attentions turn sharply to Wales and opening autumn opponents South Africa.
“South Africa showed in the last game of the Rugby Championship against New Zealand that they are able to spread the ball, along with providing an enormous physical threat,” said Tipuric. “In terms of the back row, Francois Louw is right up there as one of the best players I’ve come up against. Wales have the potential to beat South Africa but we will have to be clinical in everything we do.
“After South Africa, we certainly won’t be underestimating Tonga who have improved so much over the last few years. Whoever plays against them will have to be spot on to come out on top.
“Argentina will be bruised after the Rugby Championship, particularly after their heavy defeat to Australia in the final game, but they will bounce back and are always extremely competitive.
“We had a poor autumn last year so we want to put that right this year and Australia to finish will be huge. After the Lions’ series win, they will have most at stake, but they have a new coaching team and showed in beating Argentina 54-17 in the last round of the Rugby Championship what they are capable of.”
Tickets to see Wales in action at the Millennium Stadium in the 2013 Dove Men Series – against South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia – on consecutive weekends from 9th November are available online at www.wru.co.uk/tickets, prices from £25, £10 concession.
Wales Dove Men Series 2013 fixtures:
Wales v South Africa – Saturday, 9 November, Kick-Off 5.30pm – £70 / £60 / £40 / £25
Wales v Argentina – Saturday, 16 November, Kick-Off 2.30pm – £40 / £30 / £10 concession (U16) /£70 Family ticket 2 adults + 2 concession
Wales v Tonga – Friday, 22 November, Kick-Off 7.30pm – £25 / £10 concession/ £60 Family ticket 2 adult + 2 concession/ Minis/Juniors/Schools offer, with every 8 concessions purchased 2 adult tickets free
Wales v Australia – Saturday, 30 November, Kick-Off 5.00pm – £70 / £60 / £40 / £25
