Oh, Mr Porter what did you do? You robbed Wales Netball of a potential super star and changed the course of sporting events that led to Seren Singleton winning her first cap for the Wales Women rugby team in the Six Nations against Scotland last weekend.
Not only that, Singleton had most of the village of Tumble supporting her at the home of Welsh rugby on a day that will never be forgotten at the local rugby club. Welsh rugby is still very much a family thing!
Formed in 1897, Tumble has been proud to boast about the exploits of Archie Skym, Ken Jones. Gareth Davies, Richard Rees and Dwayne Peel in a Wales jersey down the years, but now they have another home spun hero to champion.
The bus load of players from Y Piod Pinc, the Tumble Ladies team, included Singleton’s mum, Tina, who was able to see her second great rugby wish come true when her daughter ran onto the hallowed turf for her senior Wales debut.
In a special Facebook post on the Tumble Ladies page Tina, a former Piod Pinc captain, penned the following message: “I started playing rugby quite late in life, but once I got into it, the one thing that kept me going all those years was the dream of waiting for Seren to turn 18 so we could make club history – a mother and daughter playing together on the same field.
“Seren had been around the club since she was about 14, plaiting hair, helping with the water, always being part of it all. At that point, none of us really knew just how good she was going to be. But as she developed, every season I played was really just me holding on for that moment when she’d finally be old enough.
“When it finally happened, we had a couple of touch games together. Her first friendly was up in Merthyr, she absolutely smashed it and what was lush to see as the whole team had watched Seren grow up and they all had her back. Not that Seren minded the physicality at all!
“Then came the first official game in Parc y Mynydd Mawr in 2022 against Old Penarthians. I basically spent the whole day watching the back of her shirt as she ran in try after try! I managed to score one, but Seren topped the day with about six tries!
“The loveliest moment for me though, being captain is one thing, but being her mum on the pitch is something else entirely. Hearing “Mam! Mam! Mam!” as she came running on my shoulder calling for the ball was just lush.
“In the end, we only really had that one proper game together before she signed for Gloucester and couldn’t play for us again. It had been a long time coming, and it didn’t last long, and now she’s receiving her first cap. I couldn’t be prouder of her.”
But back to Mr Porter. It was a casual conversation between him and Seren that prompted her move into rugby. Up until then she had been a netball star in the making.
“I had played Netball since I was 10 and I went through the pathway, played for West Wales and Wales U17 and had Wales trials,” said Singleton.
“Then Mr Porter, one of my teachers, said there was a rugby tournament at the weekend and asked if we should take some of the girls. I said, ‘why not’. I’d never played before and I absolutely loved it. It was right up my street being able to tackle people and run with the ball.
“After that he put me forward for Scarlets trials. I wasn’t in a team, and I’d literally played one tournament for the school when I was 17, but I turned up for the trials feeling, super, super fit, yet with no idea what was going on.
“I could run for ages, and I got into the Scarlets set-up at 17. Then then Covid came, so we didn’t play for two years.
“I left school and went to Cardiff Met University and started playing there. Things just kind of went on from there – I played for Wales Sevens, Wales U20 and played in Bristol for a bit.
“Now I’m with Brython Thunder playing in the Celtic Challenge, which has been huge for my development. I always played a bit of wing, but also at scrum half, but the big decision was to move to the wing full time this year to give it all I’ve got.
“I had 10 games in the Celtic Challenge to prove myself – and to prove to the coaches that I’m good enough and I could do it. This time last year I was in the pathway and watching from the stands as some of my friends were playing, so to be in the Wales team now is amazing.
“I think the whole of Tumble came out to support me. That’s my local rugby team, the team I played for and loads of my friends came as well – it was great to have them all there to support me.
“It was a bit surreal, slightly overwhelming and very exciting playing in such a great stadium. I was very grateful for the opportunity, and I just hope I did enough to have another go this weekend.”
There doesn’t seem to be much doubt about the impact she made on her first senior appearance, and she looks destined to pick up many more caps. But whatever happens, she has a career to fall back in having picked up a first-class degree in teaching via the medium of Welsh at Cardiff Met.
But if it comes down to having to make a choice between teaching and playing rugby professionally, there looks like being only one winner.
“Winning a Welsh cap is something I’ve really worked hard for, and it didn’t come easily. Last year I was in university getting my teaching degree, but once I had that I knew I had to push towards playing for Wales,” said Singleton.
“Achieving that goal is amazing. If the opportunity does come to be a professional player, I’d love to do that because I can always go back to teaching.
“We didn’t get the win against the Scots, but the performance was better. We’re staying positive and looking to back it up again against the French.”
