Ye, some fantastic players from our neck of the woods. Most had to leave to play their best though.From the outset, the social and economic base did not reach the levels of the South and the game did not ingrain into the culture. The North Wales Coast, strongly influenced by Liverpool and Manchester, became a Soccer stronghold. League did not catch on either.As a schoolboy it was tough to get through the trials system to last 30 or 60, first your county, then the North, then North and West then you were up against Swansea Valley, Cardiff Districts etc, lots of competition.In the senior game, Rob McBride aplied himself with a dogged determination, not a vastly talented player, but moved South and to all intentsand purposes became a Southie. Military or Student Rugby away used to be a way of raising your standard, Tony Gray, classic 60s example, Bangor Friars to Cardiff Coll to London.But the set up is there now, better youth development.Some great local talent up there, Bown boys etc.Mike Roberts made Wales in the 70s while his main club was Llandudno (guesting for London Welsh) but if you want to make it in the mens game at least you got to go to Sale Sharks or South

For all those from 'Y Gogledd' (you know that unknown, unchartered area of the country due North of Aberystwyth where apparently nobody is good enough to play Rugby for Wales)...here is OUR region!! www.gogleddcymru.blogspot.com We are two small countries within a nation, but if we unite we can become GREAT!!!!
updated by @dafydd-owain-hughes: 12/14/15 06:00:03AM