- Aaron Wainwright was lately topped the very best rugby participant in Wales
- However the 27-year-old remains to be teaching at his boyhood membership throughout his spare time
- Wainwright is now sporting an unrecognisable look as he goes underneath the radar
Because the floodlights flicker underneath the evening sky, the very best participant in Wales final season is nearly unrecognisable as he goes about his enterprise at his boyhood membership.
Aaron Wainwright’s capability to remain under the radar is probably helped by his new look – a bushy beard which he’s refusing to shave off till he returns from damage.
At Whiteheads RFC in Newport, Wainwright – the Dragons and Wales No 8 – is simply one other one of many boys. Wainwright coaches each the senior and junior sides on the membership within the few free hours he will get away from taking part in professionally.
‘I’ve at all times mentioned after I end taking part in, I need to come again and play right here,’ Wainwright mentioned. ‘That’s a aim of mine.
‘I noticed Gavin Henson performed for Pencoed lately! Among the guys I’ve coached during the last couple of years right here I’ve performed with too, so it is fairly a great affiliation.’
Aaron Wainwright was the very best participant in Wales final season however nonetheless coaches at his boyhood membership in his spare time
Wainwright coaches each the senior and junior sides at Whiteheads RFC in Newport
Wainwright is nearly unrecognisable along with his new look sporting a bushy beard and moustache
This week, Wainwright was topped the runaway winner of the Lloyd Lewis award for the very best Wales males’s participant for the 2023/24 season – an honour handed down by the media who cowl the sport within the nation.
It’s a prestigious gong, however Wainwright’s standing as a key worldwide determine for Warren Gatland’s facet doesn’t cease him from nonetheless working at grassroots degree.
Within the days of professionalism, it’s massively refreshing to see gamers resembling Wainwright give again to the neighborhood recreation which gave him the platform to make it to the very prime.
‘I performed youth rugby and 7 or eight video games of senior rugby at Whiteheads,’ Wainwright mentioned.
‘I’ve received my degree two teaching badge however I do not assume I might see myself doing something extra severe than this in the mean time. It is good simply to return down right here and have fun.
‘After the video games I play, I come again right here they usually’re completely happy sufficient to get caught into me as a lot as I’m to get caught into them at coaching and on Saturday.
‘It brings you straight again right down to earth, nevertheless it’s nice.’
Wainwright, 27, was a standout participant for Wales in 2023/24 in what was a troublesome marketing campaign for Gatland’s workforce. Wales have misplaced their final 9 Checks.
Away from teaching, Wainwright was topped the runaway winner of the Lloyd Lewis award for the very best Wales males’s participant for the 2023/24 season
Wainwright has plans to sooner or later return as a participant at his boyhood membership as soon as he has completed taking part in
Wainwright described it as ‘surreal’ to be topped the very best participant in his nation. He follows within the footsteps of among the nation’s true greats in profitable the award.
Sir Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Phil Bennett, Rob Howley, Neil Jenkins, Gethin Jenkins Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones and Leigh Halfpenny are among the many earlier males to have been given the honour. ‘It is a bit scary to be thrown in that blend,’ Wainwright mentioned.
Wainwright is ready to quickly return to home motion earlier than the November Checks within the United Rugby Championship
‘It is a bit surreal however hopefully, I’ve received a few years left in me but to maintain going. Hopefully, the very best remains to be to return.’ Wales and the Dragons will hope so.
Wainwright injured his hamstring on his fiftieth Check cap in Australia in July. He’s set to quickly return to home motion earlier than the November Checks within the United Rugby Championship.
It is going to be an opportunity for him to proceed the wonderful development he has proven all through his profession since his worldwide bow in Argentina in 2018.
Not that he’ll ever overlook about Whiteheads – the membership with whom he at all times has had, and at all times can have, an extremely tight bond.
