Bargoed RFC would like to pay tribute to Head Coach Dai Lynch, who recently finished coaching at the club after seventeen successful years.
There is no doubt that Dai has been the most successful Coach in the 137 years of Bargoed RFC history.
In that time he has given seventeen years of top class service as a superb role model and an excellent ambassador for the club.
Dai is a product of Heolddu Comprehensive School, and later Loughborough University. When he returned to Wales, and started teaching, he played for Pontypool RFC, who he later captained before moving to Rhymney RFC where he was teaching in the nearby comprehensive school.
He came to Bargoed RFC from Rhymney RFC in 2002-03 as a Player Coach, and tough tackling centre. When he retired from his playing career, he developed into a great hardworking Coach in his time at the club.
There is no doubt that Dai has been the architect of the success that Bargoed RFC achieved on the field over the last seventeen years.
He worked tirelessly to build a side that would eventually end up playing at the top table of Welsh Club Rugby.
Fourteen years after he started, he took Bargoed RFC, as Head Coach, into the semi-professional arena of the Principality Premiership. His achievement in doing so is unique in Welsh Rugby history.
Dai is one of the hardest working coaches that you will ever come across. He’s always been prepared to put the hours in, with a fantastic work ethic, and he has always recognised the need to get the coaching detail right.
He is a deep thinker and passionate rugby man who has worked hard to take Bargoed RFC through the National Leagues. Over the last three seasons he has coached in the Principality Premiership, where he is highly respected among his fellow coaches.
During his time in the Premiership, Dai has also put a huge amount of hard work and effort into gaining his WRU Level 4 coaching qualification, and not to forget his work as a WRU Coach Educator and well respected Schoolteacher. He has indeed been a busy man, with rugby a huge part of his life.
The work that he has done, has not gone unnoticed, and is a benchmark for other coaches at Bargoed who will follow in his footsteps.
The style of rugby that he has coached with such great enthusiasm and skill, has entertained so many people in our community, and his influence has seen the profile of our club grow into one of the top sixteen in Wales, a remarkable achievement.
Dai is one of life’s nice guys, and is always someone who has time for a chat or debate about rugby or life in general. He was extremely popular with Bargoed RFC’s proud and loyal supporters. However he is also fondly remembered as one of the worst singers to come out of Bargoed RFC, but he is better than Ronnie Stoate!!
His dulcet tones could often be heard on the bus or in the club after games with a passionate rendition of ‘Sweet Caroline’ his favourite.
Dai can look back proudly on a career that saw him win titles in all the national leagues culminating in his two finest achievements. The first taking the National Championship title in 2014-15 and then a year later taking Bargoed into the Premiership.
Who could forget that memorable game at home against Pontypool which clinched promotion to the newly expanded Premiership at the end of season 2015-16.
Bargoed RFC would like to wish Dai all the best for the future, and there is no doubt that whatever he chooses to do he will give it the full 100%.
Dai Lynch is a genuinely nice guy but also a winner.
When asked about his time at Bargoed RFC, Dai commented ‘It’s been an absolute privilege and pleasure to work with so many great rugby people at Bargoed RFC. The club will always remain true to its values and its community roots.
