Watkin: “Bryncethin means everything to me”

Like many clubs, Bryncethin has always relied on council-run and managed playing and changing facilities, using a local pub to host post-match catering and events.

But with councils looking to offset the costs and resource needed to manage and maintain sports facilities, Bryncethin took it upon themselves to not only take on the running of the facilities, but transform them for the benefit of the whole community.

At the end of three years of hard work, Bryncethin, has become the first sporting organisation in Bridgend County Borough Council to complete a Community Asset Transfer and ensure its future sustainability.

Owen’s dad Paul, along with great uncle Phil Jones are two of a core group of club volunteers who took it upon themselves to effectively save the club in order that the children and grandchildren of current and future generations of players, supporters and other members of the community can get some of the enjoyment and friendship their family has gained from being part of Bryncethin.

Paul takes up the story: “Basically as a family we’ve been linked with the club for as long as I can remember. My uncle, Phil Jones, played for the club and has been chair, I’ve coached and played for Bryncethin, my father played, my grandfather was chairman.

“I wanted to pass on that sense of friendship and the memories you gain to Owen and his two brothers Geraint and Emyr. They all played junior rugby here, Geraint and Emyr played youth rugby, Geraint has gone on to play for Newport and Emyr is starting his first senior season at Bryncethin this season.

“I believe being part of a good rugby club engrains good values in young people and we wanted our children to inherit those.”

“We know we had to do something drastic to ensure the club’s survival given the changing economic climate.

“While Phil, a retired chartered surveyor, acted as project manager and sourced the required funding through working with the Local Authority, who dedicated a pot of funding towards helping clubs and organisations to transfer their community assets, the Welsh Rugby Union and other funding streams, I offered my services as an architect and to liaise with the community to see what they needed from the facility.

“We conducted surveys and research and initially we serviced the needs of the rugby club and a local nursery but already since the completion of the project, a broad spectrum of groups are using the centre – we have a judo class, the Tenovus Choir, birthday parties and weddings to name but a few.

“Rugby clubs can’t survive on their own, you have to work with the whole community.

“We feel we now have a sustainable business model that can stand the test of time. It wasn’t easy and we know we are learning all the time, there are still things that need to be done, but we are happy to show that it is possible to take control of your own future.

“Perhaps in a way, although the process wasn’t without knock-backs, we can be a blueprint for others in our situation and we are happy to offer advice to other clubs going through Community Asset Transfer.”

Watkin junior is full of praise and respect for what his father, uncle and other key members of the club have done for the club he insists he owes everything to, along with his parents, not only for his rugby career and the way they have supported him, but for his close, lifelong friendships made through the club.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere without Bryncethin and my parents,” said the 16-times capped centre. “I’ve got a lot of respect for the amount of hard work and effort my father, Phil and others have done to turn the club around but I know it’s worth it to enable future generations to gain some of what I’ve gained from the club.

“Bryncethin means everything to me and not just on the field,” added Watkin, who started for Wales on Saturday for the first  time since the victory over Italy in February.

“I’ve grown up with a group of friends since the age of three or four. I played with them throughout our junior rugby days and now that they are playing for the senior side, I still watch them train on Tuesdays and Thursdays and go to matches whenever I can. They are friends for life, I don’t think you get that anywhere else.

“The club has always been so supportive of me and I definitely want to get more involved in coaching as soon as I get a bit more experience. I hope I can help inspire the next generation of club players by being present at the club and showing what can be achieved.”

I’ve got a lot of respect for the amount of hard work and effort my father, Phil and others have done to turn the club around but I know it’s worth it to enable future generations to gain some of what I’ve gained from the club

Chris Munro, WRU Club Development Manager said, “We want to shine a light on examples of clubs such as Bryncethin to help other clubs going through this process. Community Asset Transfer is certainly not an easy task but one that can help clubs become sustainable and thriving hubs of their communities in the long-term if underpinned by robust business models, which includes working with partners and vitally, driven by a core of passionate and hard-working volunteers.

“We have seen that the process is most successful when local authorities are proactive in helping to manage this difficult process. As a Club Development team, we are on hand to help clubs in all off field matters including Community Asset Transfer”.

In preparation for the 2019/20 Season, a new Club Development Team has been established within the WRU Community Department.

The main areas of responsibility for the Team include:-

• Club Management & Leadership
• Business & Commercial opportunities
• People Development
• Facilities
• Funding

WRU Community Director Geraint John added, “The Team are keen to fully engage and consult all members of the rugby community to provide appropriate resources so that we can collectively develop our clubs in Wales.

“As was the case with the Asset Transfer with Bryncethin, we are available to provide advice and guidance to ensure clubs continue to be a key focal point within their communities”.

Further information and advice is available by contacting the team via clubdevelopment@wru.wales