Ryan Davies: His Story

In a world where too many are left behind by the currents of exclusion and rejection, Ryan Davies emerges as a beacon of resilience and transformation. His journey through the trials of youth and the unforgiving landscape of societal barriers is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for growth and change. At the helm of initiatives like Dallaglio RugbyWorks , guided by the visionary leadership of Lawrence Dallaglio OBE and his team, Ryan Davies reshapes not only his own narrative but also the lives of countless others. Join us as we delve into his remarkable story, a narrative of perseverance, community, and the power of second chances.

THIS IS HIS STORY:

My name is Ryan Davies, I am 18-year-old who works for Dallaglio Rugbyworks and I am an alumni of the charity.?I’ve grown up in Rhondda Cynon Taff, South Wales. Growing up I wasn’t always?the best behaved. Although academically I excelled, I struggled with the social aspect of school, always getting in trouble fighting with my peers. This behaviour caused me to be expelled from my mainstream school at the age of 12. I then was out of school for 14 weeks whilst provisions were put in place for me. I then ended up in Ty Gwyn PRU where I was introduced to Dallaglio RugbyWorks. ?

I remember my first session with the coaches who led the sessions at Ty Gwyn when I attended. Everyone was looking forward to taking part in the session and letting off some steam by playing rugby. At the time I was struggling with my ADHD and being able to run around in a Dallaglio Rugbyworks session and burn off some steam helped me release my emotions. I looked forward to the sessions every week and seeing the coaches.

During my time as a participant, I worked with a coach who helped me on my weight loss journey. who?helped my reaslise the importance of my physical health and encouraged me to have more balance in my lifestyle. I lost over 4 stone in weight which helped me achieve my golfing goals, winning the South Wales Boys U16’s Championship. ?

The program not only helped me develop my understanding of the importance of physical activity and a healthy balanced lifestyle but also helped me develop personal skills. The sessions taught me the importance of building relationships, respect and trust others, where before I would lash out with anger instead of speaking to people.?

I won the 2021 Dallaglio RugbyWorks Champion Award and it helped my confidence a lot. In life I’ve never really excelled at anything apart from playing golf, so it made me realise that you have more qualities in life than you think, you’ve just got to believe in yourself!?

I was invited along to a charity fundraising event at Richmond Golf Club to play alongside the organisations founder Lawrence Dallaglio. It was an experience I will never forget! To be able to spend all day with such a big figure in the rugby industry, who is also an awesome guy that will answer any questions you have whether that is about rugby or just life in general. He will take the time and answer it, this is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life and never forget!?

It also made the day a lot better when I end up winning the event against some good players!?

Since leaving the program as an alumni, I have taken on a role as Employability Coordinator in the charity, which allows me to help our Young People excel in academics but also support our Young People get into Education, Employment or Training after leaving the education system!

I believe that the lived experiences I have from being?excluded from school and having been a part of the program when I was younger?makes me more relatable for the young people. Having played?sport at national level and now in employment with Dallaglio Rugbyworks shows the young people that if you work hard, you can achieve your goals and change the direction of your life even if you have been excluded from school.?

Starting from the 13th?of April I will be joining our founder Lawrence Dallaglio and many other cyclists cycling from Rome to Nice over 10 days raising funds (Support Ryan: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ryan-davies-1693409906201) for a charity that is extremely close to my heart and a cause I truly believe that is needed in our society. Having only starting cycling 4weeks ago, I thought I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but a special mention goes out to Dean N. and CIOVITA for their kind support in supplying me with much needed kit to help me conquer the Italian Mountains!

-Ryan Davies (Employability Coordinator and Events Officer at Dallaglio RugbyWorks)