The youngster dubbed ‘the best fly-half in Wales’ last season has joined a club in the English Championship.
Playing for Swansea University, Gwyn Parks was named player of the year in the prestigious BUCS Super Rugby competition.
The Wales-qualified 23-year-old, who was coached by James Hook while in college, will play for Ampthill under Paul Turner in the new campaign.
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“Hopefully, it will go well,” said Parks.
“I spoke with their head coach Paul Turner and I think he something in me as a player, while there’s also his Welsh connection.
“It helped, too, that there are also some other Welsh boys up here who, like me, also want to push on with their rugby.
“It just seemed a good move.”
Parks is hoping to build on a fine season in Swansea.
He first made headlines in the 2021-22 campaign when launching a 52-metre drop-goal through the posts for Swansea Uni when they faced Cardiff Met. He was helped by Storm Dudley, which was blowing through south Wales at the time, but it was still a prodigious effort, one that the master of the drop-goal art, Naas Botha, might have been tempted to sign off. You can read more about it here.
After winning his fans-driven best-player accolade, he was hailed on social media, with former Maesteg scrum-half Alun Davies tweeting of him: “Awesome and so well-deserved @gwynparks9 — not only best in BUCS but best fly-half in Wales this season.”
Parks, whose dad David hails from Gwent, is currently carrying a bump but is looking forward to returning and showing what he can do.
He is also ambitious and keen to improve as a player, saying: “I want to do as well as I can for Ampthill and enjoy it as much as I can.
“Paul is a former international fly-half who has a lot of knowledge and experience.
“I suppose every Championship player wants to play professionally and I guess I’m no different.
“Ampthill are outside the Gallagher Premiership but they are an excellent club and I’m going to try to be as professional as I can. I have a bit of part-time work but I’m going to put time and effort into my rugby. For this year and next, rugby will be first on my agenda. I want to improve my skills and get better as a player.”
He continued: “The Welsh boys include Morgan Strong, Ben Cambriani and Cai Devine, who played for Wales Sevens.
“All of them are good players.
“Ben was in a Championship team of the year last term, and I think there are quite a few clubs looking at him, though not in Wales. Anything can happen if you have a good season or two in the Champ. Loads of players are coming through in the Champ who are getting picked up by Prem teams.
“Morgan is a strong boy who did really well for Wales U20s and has been with the Ospreys.
“There’s some good competition for me, with Tom Hardwick up here, a player who has played in the English Premiership. Hopefully, having Tom to compete with will help me improve as a player.”
Parks feels indebted to Hook, who is now helping to coach Swansea RFC’s backs.
“I owe him,” he said.
“He helped me a lot and is a top bloke. Before I left college, he said if I ever needed anything, he’d see if he could help me. I’m really grateful for everything he’s done.”
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