Waters, Darren

Beddau born and bred, Darren Michael Waters came up through his home town’s club junior and youth system, but constantly swapping positions between flanker and scrum half.

Having been capped for East Wales under 11s as a flanker, Waters then played a couple of seasons to youth level as scrum half, before maturing into a fully fledged back rower.

"I wasn’t physically the biggest of players as a teenager, and the scrum half role seemed to suit me better. I was aged twenty when I went on holiday abroad – I left Beddau measuring five foot something and came back having sprung up to six foot plus!"

Making an impact as an abrasive and industrious openside flanker, Darren was rewarded with selection for the Blues regional under 25's team.

As Pontypridd looked to bolster their back row strength during the summer of 2009, Darren came down to Sardis Road as a trialist, and impressed in the club's pre-season friendly matches.

With competition for a place in the Ponty senior squad being intense, Darren edged in front to claim his place.

After two superb seasons with Pontypridd scoring 11 tries, and earning the Principality Player of the Month award for January 2011, Darren's huge potential was rewarded with the offer of a professional contract from the Gwent Dragons regional outfit.

He departed Ponty in 2011 with a fondest of farewells from the Ponty faithful.