The Caerphilly groundsman who spent his summer working on the world’s biggest stage

Wales may have missed out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but there was a Welsh presence working hard behind the scenes this summer.

Rhys Cleverly, a groundsman who works on the pitch team at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, spent nine weeks at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California – one of the host venues at this summer’s spectacle.

Rhys, from Caerphilly, worked alongside international turf management specialists to transition the venue from its traditional artificial NFL surface to a natural hybrid grass pitch required by FIFA.

Away from his professional work, Mr Cleverly helps maintain the grounds at Caerphilly RFC, where he also coaches the youth team.

Speaking from California, he said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to be part of a project on this scale.

“While I’ve been able to share some of the experience and knowledge we’ve developed at Principality Stadium, I’ve also been learning from some of the best people in the business and gaining exposure to new technologies, systems and ways of working. Being involved in preparations for a World Cup venue is something I’m incredibly proud of and an experience I’ll carry with me throughout my career.”

Lee Evans, head groundsman at the Principality Stadium, said: “We’re all incredibly proud of Rhys. Opportunities like this don’t come around very often and it’s a real reflection of his ability.

“To be trusted to work on a World Cup host venue is a huge achievement.”

Rhys will return home to help prepare the Principality Stadium for the upcoming sporting season, including the FA Community Shield and the autumn rugby internationals.