Rugby Career
Llewellyn started his playing career at Llanharan RFC and then moved on to play first class rugby at Neath, Harlequins, Ospreys and Narbonne, and signed for Bristol Shoguns at the beginning of the 2005–06 season.
After excelling in the line-out for Neath in their match against the touring New Zealand All Blacks on 25 October 1989, he made his debut for Wales ten days later against the same opposition and went on to win a total of 92 caps, breaking the record of 87 held by Neil Jenkins in the test against Argentina on 12 June 2004.
He captained Wales on 7 occasions and appeared in three Rugby World Cups – 1995, 1999 and 2003. Indeed, such was his longevity that he achieved the notable feat of playing international rugby in three different decades and under eight different coaches. Following Wales' Grand Slam in the 2004–05 season, he announced his retirement from international rugby.
Llewellyn's longevity, and in particular his continued presence as a top-tier player over a period of nearly twenty years has earned him the nickname "The Master" amongst supporters. This reflects his status as an elder statesman amongst Welsh second rows.
From the beginning of the 2008–09 season, Llewellyn combined playing with a coaching role at Welsh First Division club Tonmawr. Since the 2009–10 season he is head coach at South West One West side Thornbury RFC working alongside Bristol's Darren Crompton and Rob Higgitt formerly of Bristol Rugby, the Scarlets and Worcester RFC.
Read more about this topic: Gareth Llewellyn
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“A black boxer’s career is the perfect metaphor for the career of a black male. Every day is like being in the gym, sparring with impersonal opponents as one faces the rudeness and hostility that a black male must confront in the United States, where he is the object of both fear and fascination.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)