Sports enthusiast Gwion Jones has been employed as a WRU development apprentice for the Ospreys region following his extended diploma course in sports coaching and development at Coleg Sir Gâr.
With a family history steeped in sport, the subject was a natural progression for the 19 year-old who says that his time at Coleg Sir Gâr was ‘the best three years of his life.’
As well as his energetic personality and background in sport, the extended diploma course was a key influence in paving Gwion’s future. During his first week of college and following a standard screening procedure, he was remarkably diagnosed with dyslexia. “That diagnosis actually encouraged me and I decided I didn’t want extra help as I found the confidence to work harder with the help of my sports lecturers,” said Gwion.
More keen to throw a ball than to sit in front of a computer screen, Gwion is perfectly suited to his new role where he works with community clubs and schools to encourage participation in rugby and to assist organisations in their rugby development. His apprenticeship is for 12 months where he will gain experience and progress his career within the sports industry.
Gwion began his sports studies with a level two qualification and progressed to a level three bilingual, extended diploma course, which is the equivalent of three A-levels. “In my final year I wasn’t really sure where to go or what to do,” he said. “My lecturers worked hard giving me a focus and motivating me and recommended that I apply for the apprenticeship which I’m pleased I did as I’m really enjoying it and gaining extra qualifications such as gym instruction and refereeing.”
Gwion Jones has nothing but praise for his college experience: “Just do it, it’s amazing, it was the best three years of my life, I made lots of friends, got treated like an adult with lots of support and by the end we all felt like family.”
Rhian Davies, sport lecturer at Coleg Sir Gâr added: “Gwion, was a student in the Welsh BTEC sport level three group and as part of his work experience module it was great to see him utilise his spare time and volunteer with a local school and girls’ rugby clubs in Carmarthen where he coached rugby sessions on a weekly basis throughout the academic year.”