Our Dragons Community team are out and about across the region every day, aiming to unite and inspire through the delivery of a diverse and innovative range of initiatives. The ‘In the Community’ feature is all about the stories of the people they come into contact with. Today we hear from Sam Winstone about her sons Harri and Cameron...
Cameron and Harri came into this world eight weeks early, but boy I knew then rugby was in their blood.
After a few rough years of hospital in and outpatients visits, Dad (Nigel) took them to their first Dragons match at Rodney Parade with their big brother Connor.
Connor was at that time playing for Caldicot RFC and many a training session the twins would pass a ball about.
At a very young age they loved playing with a rugby ball with their big brother, so they went to their very first Allstars rugby session, where they came across and fell for a lovely lady named Janice Chappell.
Rugby was in their blood, so when they were old enough they joined Caldicot RFC where they still are to this day. As the whole family are involved with scouting, I managed to arranged a group of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts to attend regional rugby and the highlight was the boys got to see some of their favourite Welsh internationals play.
The boys have attended several Dragons Rugby Camps at Rodney Parade or Cwmbran Stadium as well as those in Monmouthshire. Every camp the boys have managed to catch up with Janice who really inspires them both.
Their education was at Ysgol y Ffin, and rugby was a big part of school life in Year 5 where they got to play for their school.
Mike Sage was a big help with training at the school alongside Headmaster, Mr Hallett. Training for Caldicot Under 12s is back – well, almost back to normal - plus the boys have started Year 7 at Ysgol Gwent Is Coed, where rugby, when it can, will be a big part of their lives for sure.
Even watching rugby gets them excited and with no chance of them going to a match in the near future in this current climate, the TV is a godsend.
As for favourite players, there is so many, as a few have moved on. But current ones include Joe Davies, Elliot Dee, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright and Jamie Roberts. The boys hope to play for a long time to come.
Their big brother is their inspiration, even though he has not played for a few years, as Connor decided to go for his level 1 referee course. With this under his belt, he has been able to referee the twins matches. He hopes to continue with this as well as getting back to playing the game as he starts his adventures at University in Swansea Bay this month.
A proud Mum - Sam Winstone
