The Rugby League World Cup was held in the UK in 2000, and now it’s back again. Wales has quite a good team now, so coach Iestyn Harris is hoping that they’ll get through to the quarter finals and put in a good performance. In Wales, obviously, rugby union is the main sport, but more people are getting into rugby league. Up north in England, rugby league has always been a popular sport. It’s one thing I’ve noticed coming from the Welsh side, because I was brought up with rugby union.
My dad Phil Waters was a well-known rugby union player. He played for Newport 1968-72, then Pontypool 1972-75, Bristol 1975-79 and then back to Newport 1979-82, so that’s how I got into it. I was dragged round to all the matches. My mum was really into rugby as well, and I have two sisters, so we’d all get taken to the games. My dad told me he’s the answer to a pub quiz question – he’s the only player ever to play in the championship for three different clubs.
Rugby league was different at first, but now I’ve got into it, it’s really enjoyable. There are a few differences and rugby league isn’t as in demand, but they’re hoping that the Rugby League World Cup will change that. There are 14 teams competing – the three big ones are Australia, New Zealand and England. Then you’ve got Samoa, Fiji, the Papuans – any of those could cause an upset, so there’s bound to be some surprises. We’re hoping people who are into rugby union will come to rugby league matches and we’ll have a few converts.
Coming to Cardiff for today’s opening ceremony? Read our guide
When I was about 16 I went to the Welsh Schools Athletics Championships to compete and saw Roger Black. I went and asked if I could interview him for my school magazine, which I edited, and entered it into the Lloyds TSB Young Sports Writers’ competition, where I won first and second prize. I went to university and wanted to do journalism or acting. I gave the acting a go and had just finished Last of the Summer Wine and I was asked to cover the women’s rugby world cup for ESPN. It’s funny how it works.
I’ve covered a wide variety of sports After I did the women’s rugby world cup, I worked at Channel Four and on ESPN’s I Won Gold, which was an Olympic series. Then I worked on the cricket as a reporter and producer and I did Sky beach volleyball last year. This year I did the world bowls tour January to May, which was really interesting. Then in May I was the lead reporter and producer on ICC Cricket 360, which is seen by 95 million people in 110 countries. We finished that the day before my baby was due.
Beatrix is 12 weeks old now. I was working when she was five weeks, it is a bit manic, but it’s been brilliant. I thought it would be really easy to go back to work but it was really hard, it was tougher than you’d think.
I’m looking forward to covering the Rugby League World Cup for Premier.I have had a few people say, ‘Brilliant, it’ll be rugby union world cup next’ – that’s been the reaction from my southern and Welsh friends, but the northerners think it’s amazing that I’m going to all the matches.
There are a few people who’ve switched between the two games. Iestyn Harris played rugby league, then went to rugby union and went back to rugby league, and obviously Jonathan Davies is one of the rugby league greats as well as in rugby union. But rugby league is becoming more popular and I think if England and Wales put in a good performance, it should grab people’s imaginations and hopefully get bigger and bigger.
The Rugby League World Cup kicks off today, with Australia playing England at the Millennium Stadium. Visit www.rlwc2013.com for more. Subscribe to Premier Sports for £9.99 per month, find out more at www.premiersports.tv
Follow Kate on Twitter for updates @katebennett_tv
Article source: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/rugby-player-in-deportation-battle-is-freed-from-detention.22461234
Sports presenter Kate Bennett seeks conversions to the Rugby League World Cup
No comments:
Post a Comment