Dafydd Hellard (born 21 February 1985) is a Welsh
rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...
footballer, and
coach
Coach may refer to:
Guidance/instruction
* Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities
* Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process
** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers
Transportation
* Co ...
. He is on the books of
Championship 1 club
South Wales Scorpions
The South Wales Scorpions, known as the South Wales Ironmen in 2017, were a semi-professional rugby league club based in South Wales. They played in the third tier of the British rugby league system (currently known as RFL League 1, League 1) be ...
, and is also
player-coach
A player-coach (also playing coach, captain-coach, or player-manager) is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. A player-coach may be a head coach or an assistant coach. They may make changes to the sq ...
at
Conference League South
The Southern Conference League is a British rugby league division in the Rugby Football League's tier 4. It is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the South of England and South Wales. It was one of the leagues that replaced Rugby Leagu ...
club
Valley Cougars
Valley Cougars are a rugby league team based in Treharris. They play in the Wales Premier League, which they won in 2017 after defeating the Torfaen Tigers in the league's Grand Final.
History
They were founded in 2001 as Cynon Valley Cougars an ...
, as a .
Background
Dafydd Hellard was born in
Aberdare
Aberdare ( ; cy, Aberdâr) is a town in the Cynon Valley area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, at the confluence of the Rivers Dare (Dâr) and Cynon. Aberdare has a population of 39,550 (mid-2017 estimate). Aberdare is south-west of Merthyr Tyd ...
, Wales.
Player
Hellard came through the youth ranks at
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Rugby ( cy, Rygbi Caerdydd) are one of the four professional Welsh rugby union teams. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and in European Professional Club Rugby competitions.
Based in Cardiff, the team play at Cardiff Arms ...
before turning out for
Merthyr
Merthyr Tydfil (; cy, Merthyr Tudful ) is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydf ...
and
Rhymney
Rhymney (; cy, Rhymni ) is a town and a community in the county borough of Caerphilly, South Wales. It is within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. With the villages of Pontlottyn, Fochriw, Abertysswg, Deri and New Tredegar, Rhymney is ...
. He switched to rugby league in 2008 when he joined
Valley Cougars
Valley Cougars are a rugby league team based in Treharris. They play in the Wales Premier League, which they won in 2017 after defeating the Torfaen Tigers in the league's Grand Final.
History
They were founded in 2001 as Cynon Valley Cougars an ...
. By 2010 he had represented Wales with the
Wales Dragonhearts team, but the season ended in disaster when he suffered knee ligament damage which would keep him out until 2012.
South Wales Hornets
The South Wales Scorpions, known as the South Wales Ironmen in 2017, were a semi-professional rugby league club based in South Wales. They played in the third tier of the British rugby league system (currently known as League 1) between 2010 a ...
the feeder team to the
South Wales Scorpions
The South Wales Scorpions, known as the South Wales Ironmen in 2017, were a semi-professional rugby league club based in South Wales. They played in the third tier of the British rugby league system (currently known as RFL League 1, League 1) be ...
signed him up after his long lay off. In 2013 he moved back to his former club
Valley Cougars
Valley Cougars are a rugby league team based in Treharris. They play in the Wales Premier League, which they won in 2017 after defeating the Torfaen Tigers in the league's Grand Final.
History
They were founded in 2001 as Cynon Valley Cougars an ...
helping them to reach the
South Wales Conference Grand final. The 2014 season saw Hellard sign for semi-professional side
South Wales Scorpions
The South Wales Scorpions, known as the South Wales Ironmen in 2017, were a semi-professional rugby league club based in South Wales. They played in the third tier of the British rugby league system (currently known as RFL League 1, League 1) be ...
in
Championship 1 being dual-registered, so he could still play for
Valley Cougars
Valley Cougars are a rugby league team based in Treharris. They play in the Wales Premier League, which they won in 2017 after defeating the Torfaen Tigers in the league's Grand Final.
History
They were founded in 2001 as Cynon Valley Cougars an ...
where he was captain, when not picked for the Scorpions. By the end of the season he had won the
Conference League South
The Southern Conference League is a British rugby league division in the Rugby Football League's tier 4. It is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the South of England and South Wales. It was one of the leagues that replaced Rugby Leagu ...
title with the Cougars and made 11 appearances with the Scorpions scoring one try in
Championship 1. 2015 saw him play 15 games for
South Wales Scorpions
The South Wales Scorpions, known as the South Wales Ironmen in 2017, were a semi-professional rugby league club based in South Wales. They played in the third tier of the British rugby league system (currently known as RFL League 1, League 1) be ...
, and 6 games for
Valley Cougars
Valley Cougars are a rugby league team based in Treharris. They play in the Wales Premier League, which they won in 2017 after defeating the Torfaen Tigers in the league's Grand Final.
History
They were founded in 2001 as Cynon Valley Cougars an ...
Coach
For season 2015 Hellard was promoted to player coach of
Valley Cougars
Valley Cougars are a rugby league team based in Treharris. They play in the Wales Premier League, which they won in 2017 after defeating the Torfaen Tigers in the league's Grand Final.
History
They were founded in 2001 as Cynon Valley Cougars an ...
guiding them to the
Conference League South
The Southern Conference League is a British rugby league division in the Rugby Football League's tier 4. It is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the South of England and South Wales. It was one of the leagues that replaced Rugby Leagu ...
Grand final where he scored a try but they lost the game to
Nottingham Outlaws
Sources
South Wales Scorpions players
External links
Wales Rugby League websiteSouth Wales Scorpions websiteConference League South websiteValley Cougars website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hellard, Dafydd
1985 births
Living people
Merthyr RFC players
Rugby articles needing expert attention
Rugby league players from Aberdare
Rugby league wingers
Rugby union players from Aberdare
South Wales Scorpions players
Welsh rugby league coaches
Welsh rugby league players