STAR ASHLEY SMITH “RUGBY IS MY LIFE”
Reported by Kieran Sullivan
At Rodney Parade, children from Lodge Hill Junior School met star player Ashley Smith, who is an ex-pupil of the school.
They interviewed him and these are some of the questions and answers. “Good morning Ashley”. “Good morning to you to” he replied. They asked him what his greatest achievement was. He answered “being vice-captain but I loved being captain for one match”. When asked why he started to play rugby he said “Well I always liked sports but my older cousin inspired me to be a rugby player when I watched him playing rugby on TV”.
The children then asked what was his most embarrassing moment. He admitted that once he was out in heavy rain and was really wet, when he started running fast his tracksuit bottoms and shorts fell down and he felt really silly. He then told the children that as a rugby player he had to be very fit and careful about what food he ate, for example lots of veg, fruit and carbohydrates like pasta, bread, rice and potatoes, but unfortunately he is not allowed chocolate.
Their last question was did he have a superstition. He said yes, he always had to put his right sock on before his left one, then his right boot before his left one.
The children finished b saying they hoped he gets over his injury soon and makes his dream come true of becoming an international player for Wales.
ASHLEY TELLS THE TRUTH
By Olovia Tune – Sports Reporter
Yesterday I interviewed Ashley Smith who is a rugby player for Newport Gwent Dragons. I asked him ‘So you used to be a Lodge boy then?” Ashley replied with “Yes I did, I remember playing football and Mr Reynolds, it’s a great school.” I asked who his favourite teacher was, he replied “I liked all the teachers but I liked Mr Morgan most of all.”
I asked Ashley who inspired him to play rugby. Ashley replied “well when I was younger I saw my cousin playing and then I started to play rugby, so it was my cousin who inspired me.” I asked Ashley when did he start playing for the Dragons, and he told me “I started playing for the Dragons Academy when I was 1 years old and after three years I moved up to the First Team, I have been with the Dragons now for 8 years.”
Ashley is currently injured, but I hope he gets better and will be again scoring tries on the pitch for Newport Gwent Dragons and perhaps one day might be playing for Wales in the Rugby World Cup.
