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Our Youth XV are seeing fantastic playing numbers this season. There has been a big influx of players from last seasons under 16s to join a group of very talented eighteen and nineteen year olds that have been brought together by Leighton “Pongo” Williams and his coaching team.

Leighton, deserves huge plaudits for everything he has done for the Club not just with the Youth but as a playing member and supporter for almost fifty years.

When the Youth team were going through a tough period a couple of seasons ago he stepped in to help out and in a short period he has brought together an excellent group of coaches and managed to turn the group and the environment in to a fun and successful one.

It is not the first time that “Pongo” has coached the Youth team. He enjoyed a hugely successful period with the age grade team during the 1980 and 1990’s. Regularly his teams would win trophies but what he did perhaps more than anyone else is produce a huge amount of players for first team rugby. Beddau’s 1^st team had an incredible run from Division 4 all the way to the Championship or Division One in them days during the early 2000’s. That squad consisted almost entirely of home grown youth players, probably all coached by Leighton. The foundations for the Club being a Championship side was laid by Leighton way back then.

“Pongo” was a very good prop forward during his playing days. He represented the Mid District Rugby Union for whom he was capped for and played in many of the Clubs most successful sides. He is one of the characters of local rugby and is known far and wide for his wickedness and his fun loving personality.

He currently gives a huge amount of time to the Club. On Monday and Wednesday’s he can be seen at Mount Pleasant Park for several hours coaching the Youth and installing the discipline into these young men that will not just benefit them on the rugby field but for life in general. He will then be with the team on Saturday’s from the early morning preparation until well after the game. He will also be seen at junior rugby games on the weekend and when there is no games for the Youth he is always on hand to help out with any of the other teams in the Club.

We are lucky to have Leighton in the Club, we appreciate everything he has done and continues to do for us. He may have been born a Black Army boy but he is a true Green and Gold legend.

Leighton is pictured being re-presented his Mid District cap at last season’s Club dinner by another Club stalwart and favourite Martin Lawless.