Lauren Jenkins – living and breathing rugby

Lauren Jenkins – wrth ei bodd ar Rygbi Pawb

Mae Lauren Jenkins wedi teithio’r byd yn gohebu ar gemau rygbi, ond mae hi wrth ei bodd yn ymweld â rhai o feysydd enwog Cymru ers dechrau ei swydd fel cyflwynydd newydd Rygbi Pawb.

Bydd y gyfres yn parhau i ddangos gemau Cynghrair Colegau ac Ysgolion Cymru, yn ogystal â rygbi ieuenctid a rhanbarthol, yn fyw ar y wefan, s4c.cymru ac ar dudalen Facebook Live S4C Chwaraeon bob nos Fawrth. Dangosir uchafbwyntiau o’r gemau mewn rhaglen ar S4C, y noson ganlynol, bob nos Fercher. Ac mae safon y chwarae wedi dal llygaid Lauren hyd yma.

“Dwi wedi bod yn dilyn y timoedd ers rhai wythnosau bellach a ti’n dechrau gweld y rhai sydd â’r potensial i gamu’n uwch. Mae’r gystadleuaeth yn gyfle da iddyn nhw chwarae ar gaeau fel Parc yr Arfau a’r Gnoll, sydd â chymaint o hanes yn perthyn iddyn nhw.

Ar ôl byw yn agos at gartref Clwb Rygbi Llanelli yn ystod ei phlentyndod, does dim syndod bod rygbi yn chwarae rôl ganolog ym mywyd Lauren.

“Roedd tŷ fy nhad i gefn-wrth-gefn â Pharc y Strade felly roeddwn i’n mynd yna’n aml iawn ar benwythnosau,” meddai Lauren. “Roeddwn i’n mynd i Ysgol Gyfun y Strade ac roedd pobl fel Ray Gravell yn aml yn dod i’r ysgol, felly cefais fy magu ar rygbi.

“Uchafbwynt fy ngyrfa hyd yma yw gweithio i BBC Cymru yn Seland Newydd ar gyfer Taith y Llewod eleni. Nid yn unig oherwydd y rygbi; cefais hefyd flas ar ddiwylliant Seland Newydd a gweld faint mae rygbi’n ei olygu iddyn nhw. Mae Eden Park yn un o’r llefydd gorau yn y byd i wylio rygbi, felly roedd cael mynd yno i weld y Crysau Duon yn chwarae yn anrhydedd.

“Mae’r ffaith bod 16 o chwaraewyr Cymru a aeth ar daith yr haf i Ynysoedd y De eleni wedi dechrau eu gyrfaoedd yn chwarae rygbi’r colegau yn dangos cymaint o sbring-fwrdd yw e i bethau gwell. Mae ‘na lot o geisiau a lot o redeg ac mae’r chwaraewyr yn gallu bod yn fwy anturus na thimoedd rygbi proffesiynol.”

Nos Fawrth yma, 17 Hydref bydd gêm Ysgol Uwchradd yr Eglwys Newydd yn erbyn Coleg Gŵyr Abertawe i’w gweld yn fyw ar y we gydag uchafbwyntiau ar Rygbi Pawb, nos Fercher 18 Hydref ar S4C.

Rygbi Pawb
Nos Fercher 18 Hydref 10.00, S4C
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Ar gael ar alw ar s4c.cymru, iPlayer a llwyfannau eraill
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Lauren Jenkins – living and breathing rugby

She may have travelled to the other side of the world to cover rugby matches, but Lauren Jenkins is looking forward to visiting some of Wales’ hallowed rugby grounds as part of her new job as presenter of S4C’s Rygbi Pawb.

The series will show WRU Colleges and Schools League matches, as well as youth and regional rugby, live on the website, s4c.cymru and on the S4C Chwaraeon Facebook S4C Live page every Tuesday. Extended highlights of those matches will then be televised on S4C the following evening. And the standard of play during the first weeks of the season has certainly impressed Lauren.

“I’ve been following the teams for a few weeks now and you begin to see those who have the potential to make the step up. The competition is a good opportunity for youngsters to play at some great grounds, like the Arms Park and the Gnoll, which are so much a part of Welsh rugby history.”

Brought up so close to the home of Llanelli RFC, it’s no surprise that rugby remains a central part of Lauren’s life and career.

“When I was growing up, my dad’s house was back-to-back with Stradey Park, so I was always there at weekends,” said Lauren. “I went to Ysgol Gyfun y Strade and people like Ray Gravell often came to visit, so rugby was a big part of my upbringing.

“The highlight of my career so far has been working for BBC Wales in New Zealand for the Lions Tour this summer. And it wasn’t just about the rugby; I also got a taste of New Zealand culture and saw how much rugby means to them. Eden Park is one of the best places in the world to watch rugby, so going there to watch the All Blacks was an honour.

“The fact that 16 Welsh players on the summer trip to the Pacific Islands this year started their careers playing college level rugby, shows how much of a springboard this is for players. The players are more adventurous at this level than in professional rugby teams, so there’s a lot of running rugby and plenty of tries.”

On Tuesday, 17 October, Rygbi Pawb will show the match between Whitchurch High School in Cardiff and Gower College Swansea from 7.00pm, with highlights on S4C, on Wednesday, 18 October at 10.00pm.

Rygbi Pawb
Wednesday 18 October 10.00pm, S4C

English commentary available
Available to watch on-demand at s4c.cymru, iPlayer and other platforms
A Lens360 Media production for S4C