Chasing the Dream: Sam Bryan’s Rugby Journey
Discover Sam Bryan’s rugby journey, from Cardiff Met and Welsh rugby to playing in New Zealand, as he reflects on development, ambition and his love for the game.
Photo credit: Carl Roberston/ @CardiffMetSport
“Rugby means everything to me. It’s how I’ve built my life. I’ve travelled the world through rugby and met many of my best mates through the sport. It also brought me closer to my family, as my dad was my coach when I was younger. It’s a huge focal point of my life.”
Rugby has provided a platform for Sam Bryan to grow and develop not just as a player, but also as a human being.
Lessons
“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt throughout my career so far is that there’s always someone who knows more than you. I try to treat every session, every game and every team I play in as a learning opportunity. I’ve always tried to be a sponge and learn as much as I can from people who are older than me or have played at a higher level.”
To develop, a person must be willing to learn at every chance they get. From the quotes above, you can tell that rugby is, for Bryan, the pursuit of improvement. The game has provided Bryan with a lot of experiences, including a trip to New Zealand.
New Zealand
Rugby gives players a chance to experience so much through the game. Bryan got to travel across the world, playing in the rugby-loving country of New Zealand.
“Playing in New Zealand was phenomenal. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I’ll always keep close to my heart. I met some great people out there and played for a very special club, so I felt privileged to be part of that team. It’s such a beautiful country, and I made a lot of great connections there. I definitely want to go back and see everyone again.”
Even though Bryan has travelled the world playing rugby, important chapters of his career have been spent at Cyncoed Campus.
Cardiff Met
“Cardiff has been great for my development. When I first came here, I didn’t really know what level I’d be playing at, but being part of the performance programme has taught me so much. I’ve learnt a lot from coaches such as Dai Young, Geraint Lewis, Justin Thomas, Rhys Roberts, Ian Gardner and Tom Cole, and I’m excited to see what happens this year under the new coaching staff.”
Cardiff Met has allowed Bryan to sharpen his craft, playing in competitions such as Super BUCS and the Welsh Premiership. He talks about the opportunity to play in Wales.
“I’m loving playing in Wales. Part of my family is Welsh, so it’s been really special to play at clubs where members of my family used to play or went to watch rugby. Welsh rugby was an even bigger part of life back then, so it means a lot to me. I’ve also had the chance to play at some really cool grounds, including Neath, Pontypridd, Merthyr and Ebbw Vale.”
He is always working to improve, and it will be exciting to see what the future holds for Bryan.
“My ambition is to reach as high a level as I can in rugby and hopefully travel the world along the way. I want to keep chasing the dream and always strive to be the best version of myself. No matter where rugby takes me or what level I’m playing at, I’ll always try to be the best I can be.”
Dreams are only the beginning. For Bryan, it is the work, sacrifice and determination that will shape what comes next. He knows where he wants to go, and he will keep chasing it until the dream becomes reality.
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