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The George Morgan Young Player Trust has donated £1,000 to support talented young roller hockey goaltender Rhys Castle as he prepares for the exciting opportunity to represent Great Britain on the international stage.

The teenager from Church Village has earned his first international call-up after being selected for the British Inline & Roller Hockey Association Great Britain Under-17 squad.

Rhys, a pupil at Bryncelynnog Comprehensive School, plays his club hockey for the Cardiff Reapers and Deeside Predators and is now preparing to take the next major step in his sporting journey.

His selection provides a fantastic opportunity, but competing internationally also brings considerable expense for Rhys and his family.

With inline and roller hockey receiving no official sports funding, players and their families are responsible for meeting the costs of international travel, specialist equipment, tournament entry and other expenses.

The George Morgan Young Player Trust was therefore delighted to provide £1,000 towards Rhys’s costs, helping another talented young sportsperson pursue an opportunity to compete at the highest possible level.

Going the Extra Mile – and Up Pen y Fan!

Rhys has certainly demonstrated how determined he is to make the most of his opportunity.

As part of the fundraising effort, the youngster took on an extraordinary challenge by climbing Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, wearing his full ice hockey goaltender equipment.

Carrying the additional weight of his specialist gear made an already demanding climb considerably tougher.

Following the challenge, Rhys summed up the experience simply:

“It was hot and sweaty, but we made it.”

The remarkable effort helped kick-start a fundraising campaign with the family aiming to raise around £3,500 towards the costs associated with Rhys representing Great Britain.

His mother, Vickie, explained that meeting the tournament fees and insurance costs would remove a significant financial burden from the family, with any additional funds helping towards accommodation and other expenses.

International Opportunity

Rhys is preparing to make his international debut at the prestigious State Wars tournament in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he will have the opportunity to test himself against high-quality international opposition.

His ambitions don’t end there.

A strong performance could also help Rhys secure selection for the 2026 European Inline Hockey Championships in Ireland, providing another opportunity to pull on the Great Britain jersey.

For a young player who has worked tremendously hard to develop his game, the chance to represent his country is a significant achievement.

Helping Young Sportspeople Achieve Their Ambitions

Supporting young athletes such as Rhys is at the heart of the work carried out by the George Morgan Young Player Trust.

The Trust recognises that talented youngsters and their families can face substantial costs when opportunities arise to compete at national and international level, particularly in sports where little or no central funding is available.

The Trustees were therefore delighted to support Rhys with a £1,000 donation towards his international campaign.

Rhys’s determination – demonstrated not only through his performances on the hockey rink but by climbing Pen y Fan dressed in full goaltender equipment – highlights the commitment young sportspeople are prepared to make to chase their ambitions.

Everyone associated with the George Morgan Young Player Trust wishes Rhys Castle every success as he represents Great Britain and looks forward to following the next chapter of his sporting journey.