A lesson to us all

Jan 27 2008 by Simon Roberts, Wales On Sunday

S4C screened one of the most inspirational, tear-inducing and humbling TV shows of the year, last week.

The programme Y Ddamwain Rybi – The Rugby Accident – may have been in Welsh but it could have been in any language and its impact still wouldn’t have been diminished.

This was the harrowing story of Bryan ‘Yogi’ Davies, who was paralysed when a scrum collapsed during his last game for Bala RFC.

This was a tale of love, family, friendship, community and the beauty and nobility of the human spirit. For those of us who wander around in a self-centred daze it was utterly compelling.

The dignity of Yogi and his wife Sue shone through and is a lesson to all of us.

Here was a man who is your archetypal community rugby man. He coached the youngsters and played for his local club. To hear a host of youngsters talk glowingly about the impact he had made on their lives was the biggest tribute paid to him.

When he announced in the dressing room, aged 49, that he would retire after his fateful last game, he was made captain for the day. His life changed forever after the first scrum of the game.

“My neck bent like a staple and I heard a crack,” said Yogi. “I knew that second that my neck had been broken.”

Now the couple need £120,000 to fit out their home with special equipment.

He has been in Southport Hospital, near Liverpool, since the injury towards the end of last season.

His friends, rugby club and local community have all joined forces to raise the money.

You would like to think the whole of Welsh rugby, from the community to international game, would do the same. Here was a man who represents all that is good about rugby. Unlike so many of us, he isn’t interested in the blame-game because life is too short.

“I can’t blame anyone else,” he said. “But when I go home to Bala, I’d like to coach the local children’s teams.”

You would put money on him doing exactly that.

SIMON ROBERTS