DAVID Sweeny is 29 years of age and it seems as if he has been around as one of the unsung heroes at The Observatory Ground as a livewire forward for far longer than his 11 years of first team involvement would suggest, which is probably because after playing junior and youth rugby he made his first-team debut for Milford Haven RFC when he was just 18!

He made his first senior start against Cardigan as hooker between relatively young props in Jamie Parr and Jonathan Madden and readily admits that the match was far more fast and physical than he realised.

“Cardigan had a big and very experienced front row,” said Dai.

“But we were lucky that at that time we had giant forwards like Dean Hadley, Carl ‘Wolfie’ Allen and Matthew ‘Lanky’ Reynolds in the second row, big Scott Walters, plus the slightly smaller Mark Wonnacott and Dean Aldred to complete the pack - and with Dean and Scott as great ‘minders’ for me!”

But Dai’s playing career at The Obs goes right back to his junior days where he played full back for the under 10’s team and then switched to the wing a season later, but he found it hard going in both positions because, as he readily admits, he was prone to wander wherever the ball was, although he was good at support play as he could well pop up anywhere!

At this time he was coached at junior level by Ian Picton and a very strong Young Mariners’ team that included quality players like Aaron Sprowell, David Round, Anthony Picton, Craig Smith and Nigel Phillips won the county championship for their age group six years on the trot and twice played at Stradey Park in the West Wales Finals.

Then he played for Larry Spillane and the late Brian Rees as youth team coaches and he scored 16 tries in one season - but scrum half Aaron Sprowell crossed the whitewash 34 times to eclipse him as top try scorer before it was on to senior rugby at the tender age of 18.

During the intervening 11 years Dai has been in teams coached by the likes of Larry Spillane, Alan McClelland, Bruce Evans, Craig Moir, Emori Katalau, Mark Wonnacott and most recently Steve Barnett and as Dai says, all of them had their plusses in a whole range of approaches!

“I learned something from all of them but if pushed I would have to say I have really enjoyed the last two because ‘Wonners’ also led us by example on the pitch and I think ‘Barney’ was a brilliant man manager who has played at a higher level and still can do the business in training - and has the ability to talk to everyone on an individual basis as well as a group.”

Outside of his rugby, Dai also enjoys playing pool for The Obs and Milford Haven Rugby Club, where he has also played darts alongside spells at The Bridge and The British Legion.

“But it’s not quite like playing rugby,” admitted Dai,.

“Although both are great ways of relaxing after a hard day’s work!”

During his teenage years Dai also played outdoor bowls for Milford Haven Bowls Club, following his grandparents Michael and Brenda Collins into the game.

“I played in the club’s first team for four years and reached the final of the under 35 competition as I played at lead in the rinks for league matches most Saturdays and Sundays.

“Then rugby took over almost completely - but I could well return to the bowling greens when my old bones tell me it is time to pack up rugby,” Dai told us with a typical chuckle!

That he should enjoy most sports should come as no surprise because his parents Jimmy and Patricia (one of table-tennis playing triplets!) have always been supportive, as has wife Sabrina - and the pair have Nia (8), who plays rugby for Milford Minis, and Damien (2), who already has his own rugby kit and ball. 

Throw in brother Robert (who used to play for Pembroke) and sister Rachel McGuire, who played for Haverfordwest Ladies, and it is easy to see David’s sporting background.

So what of Dai Sweeny’s future in rugby?

“At the moment I still love playing the game and have no intention of packing up because at 29 years old I might be one of the ‘old-timers’ in the first team squad but I really enjoy training and pride myself on my fitness levels.

“I’ll know when it is time to pack in when I can’t run around as I do now, and pop up anywhere in attack or defence, but until then I intend carrying on at The Obs.

“I am a Mariner through and through and have never even thought about playing elsewhere because it is such a great club to be involved with - on and off the field!”

What Dai omits to mention amongst all the characters is the fact that he is held in high regard amongst the players and coaches at his club.

As Steve Barnett told us: “In the time I spent at the club I was really impressed by Dai Sweeny’s total commitment to the squad and his willingness to play anywhere he is needed if it benefits The Mariners.

“He really sets the tone in training with his work rate and willingness to listen to good advice – and if everyone I’ve ever coached had Dai’s mentality to the game things might have been a little easier over the years.

“He is a credit to his club and his family.”

We could pay Dai Sweeny no higher praise and we wish him many more years of running rugby at The Obs because visits to the ground to watch Milford Haven RFC play wouldn’t be quite the same without a chat to such a modest and likeable player!