,Christianity in touch on and off the field

Thoughts from a Welsh parish
TWO weeks ago I was present at Arms Park, Cardiff, for the climax of the Welsh rugby club season — the Schweppes Cup final — between Llanelli and Pontypool.
This splendid match did much to renew confidence in Welsh rugby after the recent wretched performances of the Welsh national XV. Watching the game filled my mind with memories of one of the greatest Welshmen of modern times, someone I was privileged to meet on a number of occasions, the late Carwyn James.
Carwyn James was not only the epitome of Welsh speaking Wales, a Welsh scholar, a chapel deacon and nationalist parliamentary candidate. He was also an ex-Welsh international fly-half, the triumphant coach of the 1971 British Lions in New Zealand and a brilliant journalist.
From his youth, Carwyn had been an active supporter of the "Urdd", the Welsh youth movement. Members of the "Urdd" declared that they will "be faithful to Wales, to fellow man, and to Christ".
These words encapsulated Carwyn James, who was at heart, in the true sense, a simple man accepting simple declarations. In rugby his coaching philosophy was contained in four words: "get the basics right".
Carwyn James spent one year in Italy, coaching the Rovigo rugby club and he took them to the Italian rugby championship. After winning the title the team was presented to Pope John Paul 11. The Pope said to Carwyn "they tell me rugby is a very rough game" to which Carwyn replied, "not if it's played properly".
This simple but at the same time profound philosophy of Carwyn James, is the key to Christian faith. In the words of Our lord himself "few things are required, indeed only one". We must always be able to understand and to give witness to the basic truths of our faith. Without a clear presentation, all programmes and courses will come to nothing.
Fr John Owen