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Nigel Owens

Nigel Owens column: Alfie's story exposed the dark and the kind side of social media and rugby

One of the issues grabbing attention this week is how the rugby community has rallied around Alfie Pugsley, the 11-year-old told he was 'too big' to play under-12s for Oakdale RFC.

In other words, according to Alfie's accuser on Facebook, he was overweight.

The story brings out the bad and the good side of social media.

To call somebody out like this, particularly someone so young, is unfair and simply not a nice thing to do. It displays the darker side of social media, how there are some pretty nasty people out there - mostly keyboard warriors.

Then we see the good side, which in this particular case thankfully far, far outweighs the bad, with the way rugby people have rallied around Alfie.

He's had some wonderful messages of support, not only from the public at large but also from well known figures like Louis Rees-Zammit, Joe Marler, Andy Powell, Jonathan Davies - and even the New Zealand team.

I also sent a message, saying I would gladly go up to referee a game for Oakdale and speak to Alfie myself in person. I plan to do that very soon.

I trust and hope young Alfie takes on board this overwhelming support from the vast majority, rather than focus on the initial horrible comment.

Which, let me emphasise, was a flawed argument in the first place, anyway.

Why? Because rugby always has and always will be a game for everybody. It is what makes our sport so special and unique. Whether you're small, big, thin, tall, fast, slow, whatever, there is a position in the team you can fill.

And every single one of those positions matter just as much as any other.

Yes fly-half is the glamour role, yes the wingers tend to score the tries, yes the back-rowers seem to be involved non-stop by covering every part of the pitch.

But none of that would be possible without a prop ensuring there is a rock-solid scrum in the first place, a hooker throwing accurately to the lineout, the big second-rows winning the ball and providing bulk at set-pieces.

These remain absolute fundamentals to any team and always will be.

Okay, at the very highest level a few years back we got to a situation where part of me feared we were heading down the rugby league route of everyone just being musclebound and looking the same. At times you sometimes struggled to differentiate a forward from a back.

Fair enough. Your body shape does change as you get fitter, come to terms with and understand the demands of international rugby in the modern age.

Fortunately there are always exceptions, which I will come on to.

But the community game, which is what most people play, is completely different. It's very much a sport for every shape and size, accordingly you're able to fit into positions on the field that perhaps wouldn't be the case in other sports, but rugby does enable it.

That applies at every level of the community game, from seniors right down to Alfie's under-12s team and indeed younger.

In any case, at a young age who's to say what is to happen in a few years time? Experience tells us that someone who is the quickest in the team at 10 or 11 isn't the fastest any more at 15 or 16, when others have developed differently and caught up.

In five years, Alfie might be one of the quickest in Oakdale's side. Whatever, what must not diminish, despite the horrible comment made on social media, is his enthusiasm to play rugby, which fortunately he seems to have in abundance.

In New Zealand, so I am told, at younger levels they tend to play on height and weight, rather than age. So the biggest in his class at 12 might well end up playing with 13 or 14-year-olds.

If we want to have a conversation about restructuring our own game down that route, then it's a discussion we can have. But let's be honest, people pick up a rugby ball because they want to be playing with their mates, their immediate peers, be that in school, at a club or in the local park.

And, of course, have a dream of appearing for Wales one day.

They love the camaraderie, being around their mates of the same age in particular. Bonds are formed which in some cases can carry on right through to seniors rugby.

That's what a team sport is about. And what makes rugby unique is that you can be 24 stone or 12 stone, but there is still a place for you somewhere in the side - and you're as crucial to any success as one another.

In any case, my experience tells me it's the smaller ones who tend to go flying into tackles harder than the bigger guys. They show no fear out on that pitch.

I reiterate, rugby is a game for every shape and size.

Michael Lowry has just been called into Ireland's squad for the Six Nations on the back of some scintillating form in the back three for Ulster. He is one of the smallest around, standing at 5ft 7in, but he's also one of the best right at this moment in time. I have been hugely impressed by him since I refereed him for the first time a few years ago.

Lowry is more topical because the Six Nations is almost upon us again, but Shane Williams is perhaps a better and more well known example.

Shane Williams may have been diminutive but he never took a backward step (David Rogers/Getty Images)

He too stood at 5ft 7in, yet never once flinched in the face of any of the bigger guys.

Shane brought his own unique skills to the Wales set-up and, small in stature or not, he was good enough to win World Player of the Year.

We loved watching Shane, he was box office, lit up the game and had Welsh fans on the edge of their seat whenever the ball was in his hands and the try line anywhere near in sight.

But you ask Warren Gatland and I bet he will be the first to tell you that Adam Jones, built differently and nowhere near as nimble or quick, was as central to any success Wales achieved as even the great Shane was.

Adam brought different strengths to Wales and the Lions, but he too was hugely important.

That happens in rugby - at the very highest level, the community game and also at age-grade level.

It is a game for every shape, size and skill - big, small, athletic, strong.

Everyone has a role to play. Young Alfie should always remember that. So should his detractors.

I am looking forward very much to refereeing him and the two teams very soon. I hope to see some of you there too, showing your support.

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