“I Genuinely Wouldn’t Want to Be Anywhere Else”: Henry Palmer and Newport RFC
Photo Credit: Simon Latham
“I think I’ve been a rugby player since I was about eight or nine years old, so it’s been part of who I am for a long time. Obviously, that shifts and changes over time, and now rugby means something a bit different to me.
“I know it sounds cliché, but I’m part of the family at Newport RFC, and I feel like I’ll be part of that family for life. Rugby is still a sport that I love for the competition, the physicality, the skill and the execution involved, but it’s become much more than that. It’s where I’ve made friends for life.
“When I eventually finish playing for Newport, I’ll still be a supporter. If I’m honest, I don’t watch a huge amount of rugby outside of Newport these days. I tend to follow the NRL in Australia because it’s something different. After playing for 21 or 22 years, you can become a little saturated with the game, and I’ve found the NRL to be a breath of fresh air. The differences between league and union, and the game’s little intricacies, have really interested me.
“But to summarise, rugby to me is all about Newport. It’s about the friendships I’ve made and the brotherhood among the players who put the work in week after week and turn up on a Saturday ready to mix it up.”
Henry Palmer’s relationship with rugby has taken many forms over the years. Ever-changing though it may be, one constant remains: his love for Newport RFC. A true steward of the club, Palmer’s story is one defined by passion and loyalty.
Foundations
Even though he would become synonymous with running out in the jersey of Newport RFC, that is not where his story began. Palmer built the foundations of his game on the pitches of Monmouth RFC. A player’s first club is vital, as it provides a platform to learn the game, not just from a skills perspective but also the values rugby holds. After building his foundation at Monmouth, he would make the move to Cross Keys to kick off an exciting chapter of his senior rugby career.
“I really enjoyed my time at Cross Keys. We had a pretty decent side and were often second to a very strong Pontypridd team. It’s funny really, because neither Cross Keys nor Pontypridd are in the top flight anymore, but we had some absolute battles over the years.
“Most of my involvement came around 2013, and we played two finals against Pontypridd. Unfortunately, we had our backsides handed to us on both occasions, but I loved every minute of it.
“For the first half of the season, I was playing second or third fiddle to Gerwyn Price, who later became a professional darts player. He was a great talent, and it was a privilege to play alongside players like him.
“I actually had the opportunity to move to Newport a bit earlier than I eventually did and, looking back, I probably wish I’d gone sooner. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Cross Keys, but the enjoyment I’ve had playing for Newport really puts into perspective just how much I’ve loved my time there.”
Throughout that time, he also enjoyed working in a professional set-up with the Dragons. Palmer reflects on his time in the set-up and considers what he might do differently now.
“I had a couple of games for the Dragons Academy A team and represented the under-18s as well. I enjoyed those experiences, and they meant a lot at the time.
“Looking back, though, everything felt very serious. I wish I’d focused a little more on playing with a smile on my face and not taken things quite so seriously. I’ve seen players who have gone all the way, and one thing they all seem to have in common, alongside the professionalism, is that they genuinely enjoy what they do.
“I think I took things a bit too much to heart during that period. Maybe if I’d enjoyed myself more, I would have appreciated the moment and looked back on that time with even greater fondness.
“It was great to play for the Dragons, and it meant a lot to me, but when I compare those experiences with everything I’ve had at Newport, I know where my greatest enjoyment has come from over the years.”
The passion in Palmer’s words is unmistakable. His words reflect a deep connection to Newport and highlight just how much the club means to him.
Newport
“I’ve loved every minute of playing for Newport. There have been some low points over the years, but far more highs. Earlier, I spoke about my identity as a rugby player, but for me, being a Newport player is my identity.
“I’ve made friends for life. I’ve been best man at a teammate’s wedding and shared experiences that are far bigger than rugby itself. Newport has given me those opportunities.
“When I finish playing, I’ll still be a supporter of the club. I’ll always put my hand up and help in whatever way I can because of everything I’ve gained from representing such a historic and iconic club.
“It means a great deal to me personally, and it means a great deal to my family as well. I genuinely wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Palmer has enjoyed a great deal of success with Newport, from becoming the first Super Rygbi Cymru champions to establishing themselves as one of the most consistent sides in domestic Welsh rugby. Palmer is enjoying his rugby more than ever.
“I’ve been playing senior rugby since I was 17 or 18, and I honestly can’t remember enjoying a season more than the one we’ve just had.
“We came away with two out of three trophies, and we knew we’d missed an opportunity to complete the treble by winning the cup, the shield and the league. We knew we were capable of it and perhaps let ourselves down a little in that semi-final.
“But I absolutely love it. The rugby on a Saturday is brilliant, but I also love turning up for training on a Tuesday and Thursday. Especially after a social weekend, when everyone’s had a few beers, the atmosphere in the changing room is absolutely buzzing.
“Those nights out, bonding sessions and big games all bring the group closer together. The smiles on everyone’s faces, the camaraderie, the jokes, winding each other up and the constant banter are all a huge part of it.
“I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve been one of the top teams in the league over the last few years. We’ve got a very tight-knit group. A lot of us are getting on a bit now, but that core group of players who have been together for five, ten or even more years has been crucial to our success.
“If you asked any of those boys whether they enjoy it, they’d all say yes immediately. And if you asked whether they enjoy it as much as they used to, I think most of them would say they enjoy it even more now. That tells you everything you need to know.”
The future
“As long as I’m still playing, I want to keep contributing to the club.
“A couple of years ago, if you’d asked me about my ambitions, I probably would have said I’d love to play for Spain. I qualify through my mother and grandmother. My grandmother was born in Madrid and lived there until she was 20 before moving to the UK.
“I’ve got that Spanish blood, and I always thought it would have been a really special thing to do, not only from a rugby perspective but also as a way of connecting with that side of my family. My Spanish isn’t amazing, but it gets me by. Whether I would have been good enough or whether they would have wanted me, I don’t know, but I always thought it would have been a fantastic opportunity.
“I’ve spent my whole rugby career in Wales and never really had the chance to do anything on an international stage, so representing Spain would have been something very special.
“Now, though, my ambitions are simple. I just want to keep contributing to Newport. A few boys are approaching major milestones in their appearances, and we all want to help them reach them.
“Eventually, I think five or six of us will probably hang up our boots around the same time. When that happens, I know we’ll look back with enormous pride and affection. Like I’ve said before, we’ll all remain supporters of the club.
“For now, I just want to enjoy the next few years and keep contributing in whatever way I can.”
Loyalty, passion and pride have been the hallmarks of Palmer’s story. Years may pass, but his commitment to the club he loves remains as strong as ever.
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