This week Bill Carne bumped into Alun Harries and chatted to him about his rugby involvement – and the frustration of missing so much recent rugby because of a freak knee injury at a time when he was playing really well for Haverfordwest RFC...

THERE can be no more frustrated rugby player in the county than Alun Harries because the all-action back-row man from Haverfordwest has had to endure almost two years of inactivity after a freak accident on the first day of the 2014/15 season.

In the Blues' opening match against Llanelli Wanderers he damaged his right knee and had to have reconstruction work with the assistance of a graft from his calf muscle but had to wait until June for the operation and is still not confident enough to get into full-scale rehabilitation.

It was doubly frustrating for Alun because he had just been made vice-captain for the campaign and looking to build on the form that had seen him represent Pembrokeshire from every age group from under 11, right through to several matches for the county at senior level.

He did try playing a few games of cricket for Camrose but was unable to occupy his normal position at wicketkeeper, although he did manage to belt a few runs in his usual buccaneering manner.

His accident came without a tackle or any contact as he tried to step off his right foot but it remained planted in the turf and it stuck as his body weight caused a twist that had him lying helpless on the turf. To be fair to Alun he had it strapped up by the physio and tried to carry on for a while but knew it was no good and was forced to limp off.

Alun was a regular with the Blues' first team but started out with Milford Haven at junior level after Andy Grey had seen him taking part in schools’ cross country and invited him to go to county rugby trials so that he could use his pace on the wing.

Andy was a good talent spotter because Alun soon settled into his new-found sport and played against North Wales, as well as turning out for the Young Mariners from his home in Robeston West.

He stayed at the Observatory Field right throughout his junior and youth days, and as well as playing for a good county side he also played alongside the likes of Terry Lovell and Chris Martin in a Tasker Milward School that swept all before them.

"In the Pembrokeshire Schools' team I played alongside class players like Steve Martin (Narberth), Luke Hansford (Tenby) and Gary Pickering (Quins), with Ian Ace as a helpful coach,” Gary told us.

"It was also nice to play for The Scarlets at under 18 and under 20 levels where other local players included Steve Martin, Martin Davies, Alex Jenkins and Sam Smith. It was a real challenge, especially with regard to travelling for training but I learned a lot there."

When Alun started out in sport he was lucky to have terrific support from his parents, Ann and Geoff, who ferried him everywhere with regard to his athletics and his travels to Llanelli to play at youth level. His brothers Phil (30) and Meurig (27) have also played some sport in their younger days but Alun has always been the busy one in that area of their lives.

Alun made his senior debut for the Mariners' team coached by Bruce Evans, who was a big influence on Alun during his time there, as well as switching him to the back row at county schools' level.

"I came on to play in the second half at The Obs alongside current player/coach Mark Wonnacott, and was really chuffed when I was chosen as man of the match - and played there all season.

But he decided to switch to Haverfordwest for his second season of senior rugby because a lot of his old school pals were there.

"It was a team full of characters like Gareth Green, Richard Brazell, Gareth Phillips, Darren Salmon and Steve Williams, to name but a few, and I was made very welcome by the players, coaching staff and supporters, who have always teased my off the pitch about my style of play.

"One of the highlights was finally winning promotion in the National League set-up with players of the calibre of Ollie Reyland, Gareth Phillips, Craig Barnett, Richard Jones, Adam and Matthew Clark, plus the giant twins Carwyn and Llewelyn Jones as second row ball winners.

"It was a hugely exciting season but the opposite emotions came to the fore when we were relegated because we lost quite a few games by narrow margins and it was awful watching the boys from the touchline because of my injury."

"Equally brilliant was winning the Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup by beating Tenby at Whitland the following season. I only had ten minutes at the end because I had damaged ankle ligaments three weeks before and had to have it heavily strapped up - but at least I took part and was part of the winning team at the end of a hard-fought tussle.

“I regarded it as a real honour to play for a Pembrokeshire County team coached by Andy Morgan and we played Llangwm as part of their 125th-year celebrations, against Whitland as they celebrated 100 years, and against the police a couple of times.

His current rugby friends might be surprised to learn that Alun was a more than useful athlete in his younger days and was junior schools' cross country champion when he was nine, ten and 11.

He competed for Preseli Harriers (before they merged to become Pembrokeshire Harriers) and at under 12 level was ranked second in Wales for the shot putt, with only Wales and Scarlets' hooker Ken Owens ahead of him!

He also threw the javelin at club meetings and can recall the great support provided by the late Gerald Codd, Peter Freeman and Mike McCaffrey.

On the cricket front, Alun has become known for his big-hitting exploits for Camrose, with a top score of 59 not out alongside a few other half centuries.

"We gained promotion three times and reached the Alan Brown Cup Final twice, where I enjoyed keeping wicket in a team that included quality players like Martin Tweedie, Marc Jones, Dan Wilkes and Matthew Davies, plus sloggers like Joe John and veterans of the calibre of Dai Isaac, Robert John, Gelly James, Phil Rees and Matthew Williams.

"Sadly, the club folded last season but if it ever restarts I will look to play as long as my leg is OK, otherwise I might have a game at Johnston because some of the rugby boys are involved there!"

But before that Alun knows that he has to go through physio and increased exercise as part of his rehab in rugby and at 29 years of age still has some good rugby in him for Haverfordwest - and we wish him every success in getting back to full fitness because he is a larger than life character and all sports need such competitors!