Rugby has been in Rhys Goodfellow’s blood for as long as he can remember. His father Peter captained Glamorgan Wanderers, as well as having spells with Cardiff, Penarth, Newbridge and Bridgend, while his grandfather Peter was a Cardiff RFC legend who made 240 appearances for the club and went on to serve as chairman and fixture secretary.
Then there are his uncles on his mother’s side, Lyndon and Alan Thomas, who both played for Bridgend. So the sport has been a huge part of his life and, as such, he wasn’t going to let the little matter of a double organ transplant stop him from playing it.
Having suffered from cystic fibrosis from a young age, Rhys underwent surgery in October 2019, becoming the beneficiary of new lungs and liver at the age of 30. Showing huge determination, he was back playing rugby inside two years. In just his second game, he suffered a serious leg injury, but he wasn’t to be deterred and has gone on to figure at both full-back and scrum-half for Old Penarthians RFC this season. It’s an inspiring story.
