A comparitively new club in rugby terms is basking in the fact that two of its former players are taking a starring role in Wales’ current World Cup success.

Scrum-half Mike Phillips and centre Jonathan Davies, who both scored crucial tries in the quarter-final win over Ireland last Saturday, both played at junior levels for St Clears Rugby Club.

The club only started back in 1985, and as Chairman Jeff Davies explained, both Mike and Jonathan represented the club at all the junior levels from 7 up to the age of 11.

“Mike was very strong from an early age, and there was something about him that marked him out from the other youngsters,” said Jeff Davies, an ardent follower of the S4C Rugby World Cup coverage, Cwpan Rygbi’r Byd.

“Jonathan was also a very solid player from the very start, and at one stage I thought he would actually play as a forward”.

“Both of them have been outstanding in the tournament, and it’s a fantastic advert for our club and a real inspiration for all the youngsters we have got coming through at those ages right now. Our youngsters here really look up to the two of them.”

Mr Davies added that both players have supported the club’s development from the start, often coming down for the annual end-of-year ceremonies, with Jonathan also maintaining a close family link to the club.

“Our club is actually situated in the Black Lion in the village which is owned by Jonathan’s uncle and run by his niece, so there’s a real family connection here.”

“As you can imagine, everybody was delighted with how things turned out last Saturday, especially with the quality tries scored by two of the club’s former players.”

Mr Davies said it was a real boost for the village of St Clears to be able to boast that two of its own players were such an important part of the Welsh team, building upon a precedent set by another of the village’s famous sons.

“Delme Thomas who used to play for Llanelli and Wales came from the St as Clears area, and he is now a life member of the club, so maybe Mike and Jonathan are simply following in his footsteps!”

Mr Davies said he was really looking forward to watching the semi-final against France on S4C this coming Saturday.

“We are sure to get a huge crowd in the club again this Saturday for the game against France in the semi-finals, and I think that as long as we play in the same way as we did against Ireland we can reach the final.”