THERE was great excitement at The Moors Rugby Ground as Fishguard and Goodwick RFC celebrated the official opening of their new specially-made sand pitch which they hope will not only be of great benefit for the club but which the Seagulls hope will have a wider community use.

The new complex was officially opened by Josh Lewsey, Head of Welsh Rugby, in conjunction with Max Jones, one of the host of junior players in attendance who was the lucky one picked out of the hat by Josh's partner Caroline half an hour before the unveiling of the special brass plaque which commemorates the official opening.

Also in attendance as special guests were Gareth Jenkins, Head of Player Development with the Scarlets, Nicola Smith, involved with Club Operations at the WRU, and Gordon Eynon, WRU District H representative. Also making welcome appearances were Jonathan Llewhellin, Player Development Officer for Pembrokeshire and Josh Helps, who was captain of the Welsh Under 18s before damaging a shoulder, who is now having rehab as a member of the Scarlets' academy.

James Morgans, chairman of Fishguard and Goodwick RFC, introduced Josh Lewsey and Max Jones before the official cutting of the pink ribbon, with Josh Lewsey responding and telling the massed young players, parents, club officials and others how honoured he was to be invited to attend and how he saw every club as a key part of the Welsh Rugby set-up.

"We are delighted to have the Head of Welsh Rugby and other guests with us for the official opening," said James Morgans, "and it was great to see so many of the junior players at our sand pitch here with their families.

"It was also smashing to see so many coaches, youth and senior players, committee and community representatives here, plus great support from the 14th Signals Regiment from Brawdy, who we hope will maintain a link with us because they have so much expertise to offer.

"We hope the new facility will also be used by our community for things like fun days, beach parties in a safe environment, even archery or sand football competitions - its use is limitless.

"We are all delighted to see the completion of what has been a huge task, with so much help from a lot of people, especially from Jonathan Phillips, one of the parents, and Dilwyn Williams, the youth chairman, who have helped us steer a straight path through all the grant applications and legislation.

"It will certainly help all the teams at the club, especially in very wet conditions, because it will enable us to train when it wouldn’t be practicable to use the main pitch."