| “You should always work as hard at School as you do at your Rugby” Brynn Griffiths says earnestly during his interview, “No matter what level you play at, it’s good to have other skills”.
Brynn Griffiths is the very definition of the gentle giant. He always knocks on your door before entering, and always seems to take everything he does seriously and in his stride. His comment about education sums up Brynn and his early years in Rugby, “ I was never the best, never the most naturally gifted. What I did was listen, learn and work hard. That’s what helped me achieve my ambitions”.
Being from Ammanford his first language is Welsh. It wasn’t until he reached School that he learnt English and still speaks Welsh to his family. Around the age of 8 or Brynn took up School Rugby and later on for Ammanford RFC. His father has an interest in Sport , Boxing mainly, and won a Welsh Schoolboy Vest. With his friends playing at Ammanford a Young Brynn took to the game but it was mainly a chance to be with his friends. “Scott Quinell, what a legend. I just remember him being my hero as a kid and wanting to emulate him”.
Playing for the Scarlets was Brynn’s early ambition. Never being the most naturally talented he took the road of listen and work hard to get where he wanted to be. By the time he got to his late teens he was representing Welsh Youth (Under 18) and Wales (Under 19 and 21’s). He attributes this success to hard work “I got where I knew I could be by sticking at it every day”, and when he made it to Uni and got a deal with Scarlet’s he felt the attitude was starting to pay off.
“ It was a hard time, getting up at 7 to study and then training till 9.30pm” Brynn Remembers, “but I came away with a Degree in Sports Science and a Contract to play for Scarlets, so again the hard work paid off.”
“Scott Quinell, getting to play alongside Scott Quinell for Scarlets was my Childhood dream and I did it” Brynn told us with a smile “I did it by working hard and trying to pick up everything I was taught” he finished.
You have to class two years and 35 appearances at Scarlets as not a bad record for the young Welshman, but the frustration of International signings coming in front of him made him accept a move to the Dragons. A spell of bad luck where Brynn broke a bone in his foot and couldn’t play till October left him frustrated again, I had fitness trainers telling me I was hitting all the targets but there just didn’t seem to be any forward movement for me”. That was until the Knights came in for him.
Having had a good season so far, we asked Brynn
“The move to Doncaster just seemed like the best thing for me. Coming on loan first meant I was coming to a club I knew” Brynn told us,“The prospect of moving away from home for the first time was the only worry”.
Brynn liked the club and it’s ambition, and Sharing a house with Mark Woodrow and John Rawson has been a learning experience for him. “Woody has been trying to teach me to cook, I’m happy to say my signature dish is now Beans on Toast” Brynn Started “but when I tried to put some Chicken in to stir fry I didn’t know the difference between Vinegar and oil so it was a disaster”. Brynn has a killer recipe though, “Put some Steak in a pan, fry it and then eat it” he told us, “best recipe there is”.
As for personal tastes Brynn likes to listen to Johnny Cash, eat Steak and drink Strawberry milkshakes. “You can’t beat Braveheart or Zulu for a good film” Brynn told us, “ and my pet hate is people who write an autobiography at 17 and think people will read it seriously”.
What’s the message from Brynn?
“Work hard at whatever you do, my career has been all about hard work and learning, and I’m still learning new skills now”.
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