The first rugby game since the lockdown has taken place, and it's fair to say it was an absolute classic as Baa-Baa RFC took on The Lambs at Brecon rugby club.
Club chairman Paul Amphlett has found a novel way to tend to his flock, raise some money for the NHS and get back to work as a paramedic thanks to the green, green grass at Parc de Pugh.
The home ground of Brecon RFC, one of the founding members of the Welsh Rugby Union back in 1881, is now home to 73 sheep, allowing Amphlett to go back into service as a paramedic with the Welsh Ambulance Service.
Sean the Sheep makes a break down the wing
The solution is benefitting all parties and Amphlett has even found a way to raise money for the NHS through his cunning plan.
“I didn’t want to let my training as a Paramedic go to waste in these difficult times and the club needed to find a way to make and save some money during lockdown,” said Amphlett.
“I said I’d pay rent if they let me graze my sheep on the pitch. This in turn allowed us to keep our 73-year-old groundsman safely tucked away and also saved us some money on fertiliser.
Forwards take a break between collapsed scrums
“Then I had the idea to try to raise some money for the NHS by inviting people to name one of the ewes for a £30 minimum sponsorship. So far we’ve raised more than £3,000 and 35 have been named.
“We’re going to give away two of the sheep at the end – one to the highest bidder and one in a raffle of everyone who has taken out sponsorship.
If you would like to sponsor one of the sheep, go to BreconRFC.co.uk for more details and to download a sponsor form. All monies raised will be donated directly to the NHS.
Rugby Partners | Who are stars quarantining with?
The partners of rugby players in the UK are having to spend a lot more time with their other halfs due to the current lockdown.
Here we get to know the people behind the England, Scotland and Wales stars.
1. ANNABEL FIELD (HUW JONES)
Scotland centre Huw Jones is unafraid to show his love for girlfriend Annabel Field, describing the diminutive beauty as 'his everything' in an Instagram post. The couple are thought to have met in Glasgow but spend their time criss-crossing the globe - racking up visits to Monaco, Barcelona and the Bahamas in 2019 alone.
2. BECKY NORTH (GEORGE NORTH)
Former Olympic cyclist Becky is well and truly a match for her rugby player husband George in the sporting stakes, having won two silver medals in Rio in 2016. The pair are expecting their first child together in the next few weeks.
3. GILL HOGG (STUART HOGG)
The couple married in 2016 and welcomed son Archie, now four, later that year. They have since had daughter Olivia, two, and one-year-old George. Gill prefers to stay out of the spotlight but her proud husband can't help but gush over her on Instagram, calling her the 'best wife he could have asked for'. The family now live in Exeter, where Hogg plays for the Chiefs.
4. DR ANWEN JONES (ALUN WYN JONES)
Dr Anwen Jones, wife of Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones, 34, is a Welsh medium physiology and health lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Like her husband she's incredibly sporty - she's a former 400m hurdler and was Welsh champion from 2000-2007. The couple have two daughters.
5. ELLIE GRAY (RICHIE GRAY)
Huge 28-year-old Richie Gray towers above all at 6ft 10in but he doesn't leave his wife Ellie n the shade. She is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty queen who represented Scotland in Miss World 2014.
6. GEORGIE LYON (OWEN FARRELL)
The England star, 27, wed Georgina 'Georgie' Lyon, also 27, in 2018 and their first son, a rugby player in the making, Tommy, arrived in March 2019. The couple also have a dog, Ron, but you're unlikely to find either baby or pet on social media, Georgie is happy to let her husband do the talking via his rugby.
7. BAZ JONES-DAVIES (NIGEL OWENS)
The popular Welsh referee began dating the Primary School Teacher. After attending the World Cup with Owens, they took their relationship to the next level, and now run a farm together.
8. ALYSE MILLER (ANTHONY WATSON)
Bath player Anthony Watson's American girlfriend Miller has a successful career as an events planner and regularly shows off snaps from her jet-setting life on her Instagram account.
9. SOPHIER HARRIES (LIAM WILLIAMS)
She's the model fiancee of Scarlets star Liam Williams and has just been signed up to London model agency Models 1. Harries describes herself as a small town Welsh girl living in London. We think we'll add totally gorgeous to the list.
10. SOPHIE MAY (JONNY MAY)
The Personal Trainer in Market Harborough married the England speedster two years ago.
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