Meet Aron, 23, a rugby coach apprentice for the Welsh Rugby Union in West Wales. Find out more about how he uses Welsh in his role. Part of Bitesize world of work series.
Having been taught Welsh as his first language and working in part of the country where the vast majority speak it too, Aron rarely uses English day to day. The Welsh language is integral to his role, in which he coaches young children how to play rugby and tries to increase participation in the sport across the country.
My Welsh is especially useful with some older people I've worked with who don’t speak English, as then I can translate back and forth, which I enjoy.
Please be aware that Aron talks about the loss of his parents in the film, and how getting this job has helped him through it.
Aron:
Helô, enw fi ‘di Aron a dwi’n Brentis Datblygu Rygbi i Undeb Rygbi Cymru. - Hi, I’m Aron and I’m a Welsh Rugby Union rugby development apprentice.
Hi, I'm Aron and I'm a Welsh Rugby Union rugby development apprentice.
Naid seren arall! Paid rhoi lan, paid rhoi lan! Wafwch! - Another star jump! Don’t give up, don’t give up! Wave!
I'm a rugby development apprentice for the Welsh Rugby Union, based in West Wales and my role is to make sure the participation levels of rugby are increasing across Wales.
Rhowch bach o le iddi. - Give her some space.
Day to day, I head to different schools, providing rugby coaching sessions, making sure every child is enjoying rugby and encouraged to participate.
Gweithiwch gyda’ch gilydd nawr! Sbredwch mas! - Work together! Spread out!
Most of the children around here, their first language is Welsh, so it's a connection instantly that I can converse with them in their first language.
Fi arno? Na, fi ffili. Ie? Na! Fi moyn y person talaf arno. - Shall I play? No, I can’t. Shall I? No! I want the tallest person.
I love coaching in general, but especially coaching the younger children where rugby is meant to be a fun game for everybody to enjoy. We build the essential skills of teamwork, leadership, skills that will help them develop into their adult life.
One of the biggest challenges about my job is definitely travel, where it can be very time consuming, especially being here in rural West Wales and doing events down in Cardiff. However, the travel's all worth it because I love my job and I love the areas I get to visit. Originally, I went to university to do Mathematics. However, I decided after a year that university wasn't for me. Then I saw this application come out for the Welsh Rugby Union apprenticeship and I thought I could combine my love of coaching, teaching and rugby to become a rugby coach. The application process for this job was quite simple. It involved a written application where I had plenty to talk about as I'd set up a local touch rugby league. After being invited for practical interviews in Brecon, I got the job. Before applying for this job, I lost both my mum and dad, a month apart. I was devastated. Seeing this job come out, I knew I had to apply for it. Getting this job has helped me through it and really boosted my spirits.
Carl:
I'm Carl Scales, I'm the rugby development apprenticeship manager for the Welsh Rugby Union. We're looking for young people that have given back to their communities already in a volunteering capacity. They may never have played rugby in their lives, but we give them the ability, the confidence to connect with young people and really give back to the community and then take the next step in their lives.
Aron:
Pwy sydd ar ôl? Rhowch eich dwylo lan! - Who’s left? Put your hands up!
Carl:
Key skills as a coach is to be able to connect with young people. It's about energy, bringing a sense of fun and the children will really look up to you.
University isn't always the answer. What's great about this apprenticeship is that it's only a year long. It could be the right thing to show you what you really want to do.
If you have an end goal, you can reach that goal in many different ways. It could be formal education, it could be an apprenticeship, but you won't know who you're going to meet during your apprenticeship that you make a connection with, that could be your future employer. When writing your application, give it one hundred percent and if you've given your all, you should be really proud of yourself, and believe you me, other doors will open and that may be the route to your passion.
Jymp a twtshiwch â’r sêr! - Jump up and touch the stars!
Aron:
You have to be fully committed to whatever job you want to do, and you have to be passionate about it.
Go on back yourself!
Cer amdani! - Go for it!
Rugby is my life. I can't get enough of it. The same goes in any job. You have to be passionate about it and give it one hundred and ten percent.
- The main skills Aron uses in his role include leadership and communication skills
- Aron went to university to study Mathematics but after a year, he decided it wasn’t for him and so did the rugby coach apprenticeship instead, as it combined his love of sports coaching, teaching and rugby
- His ability to speak Welsh enabled him to build an immediate rapport with the children he coaches, as he’s able to talk to them in their first language
- He travels to different schools and rugby events across Wales, so his ability to speak both English and Welsh ensures effective communication with people of all ages and backgrounds. This has helped him to establish himself in the rugby community
- He really enjoys teaching kids important values such as teamwork during the rugby sessions. The job really boosted his confidence and spirits knowing that he’s making a real difference to young people
- His job allows him to give back to the community and enrich young people’s lives, by instilling a sense of fun that young people look for in the world of sport.
Top tips
- Don’t give up! You might not get an apprenticeship the first-time you apply for one, but employers know if you try again that you’re determined, which shows great character
- Enjoy every moment and take every opportunity you can. Say 'Yes' to every thing that comes your way during your apprenticeship, because you might never get that opportunity again
- Make sure you’re fully committed and passionate about whatever job it is you want to do. This will keep you motivated and happy.
A rugby coach apprentice can also be known as a sports coach. Sports coaches teach sports skills to individuals and teams of all abilities.
What to expect if you want to be a sports coach
- Sports coach average salary: £18,000 to £28,000 per year
- Sports coach typical working hours: 36 to 38 hours per week
What qualifications do you need to be a sports coach?
You could get into this role via a college course, an apprenticeship, a university course, volunteering or working towards this role.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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