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Peredur Owen Griffiths, who represents Plaid Cymru, is one of four regional Senedd Members serving the South Wales East region.

I would like to take this opportunity to salute the many volunteers in our communities who make grassroots sports clubs tick over all year round. These people give their time to a local sporting team week in week out, in all weathers. They do not do it for financial reward but they do it for the betterment of the place in which they live and the players they coach or support.

It is worth reminding ourselves as Rugby World Cup fever takes hold in our towns and villages, that each and every player wearing the red of Wales out in France started at a grassroots club as a kid. Each one of those players got their first taste of rugby because someone stepped up and coached them from a young age. The Welsh Rugby Union adeptly reminded us of the importance of grassroots rugby when they announced the squad selection with a clip from each players’ first ever club.

Of course, this is not just true of rugby – it is the same with any sport you care to mention. You only have to see how a young lad developed in this area and went to become known across the world for his footballing prowess. I am of course talking about Aaron Ramsey, who has now come full circle and is back playing for the club he grew up supporting. For a player who has played in European Championships and World Cups for his country, he celebrated his penalty in the Welsh derby as much as any goal he has scored before.

There is a thriving junior football scene in the Caerphilly basin. That’s been the case for some time but what is new is the number of girls getting into football. At Plaid Cymru conference earlier this year I met with representatives from the FAW and they told me about the staggering growth in the girls’ game over the last five years. It is heartening to see such growth in the sport.

Only a small minority will go onto to make a living in the sport of their choice. For those who don’t get that far then the lessons they learn through team sport are priceless. Camaraderie, determination, teamwork, effort and discipline are among the valuable qualities that our youngsters learn through team sport. These lessons, which come in handy later in life, are instilled thanks to the dedication of volunteers.

On the subject of grassroots sport, I want to give a mention to Aber Valley Wolves rugby league team. They have had another successful season of rugby league with a thriving junior section that supports hundreds of kids from their base at Aneurin Park in Penyrheol. They also had a number of teams make the grand finals day which was held in glorious sunshine at Merthyr rugby club.

It was also great to hear about the six boys from the club who represented their country in a victory against England to clinch the first-ever U16s Four Nations champions in rugby league. To everyone who is involved in the club or has been involved in the club, I want to say a massive well done and thank you for your efforts with the Wolves.