TWINS Curtis and Connor Davies who started their careers as seven-year-olds in Ystradgynlais have helped Wales qualify for the Rugby League World Cup.

Wales became the tenth side to qualify for the 2021 tournament in England with a 40-8 victory over Ireland, at Wrexham, in which both twins played. World Cup qualification capped a successful autumn European championship in which both made their Welsh debuts.

The 21-year-old brothers both play for semi-professional side Halifax in the Championship, the tier below the Superleague, but first played rugby, of the union variety, with Ystradgynlais RFC.

“Before they went north they had played all their rugby, from under sevens to under-18s with us,” said Ystradgynlais spokesman Huw Thomas.

While once young Welshmen who made their names in amateur rugby union were “tempted” north to earn a living in the professional game the brothers started playing the 13-man code while at Welsh medium school Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera under the tutelage of former Welsh league international Ioan Bebb.

Their talents earned them Welsh league caps at under 16s level and attracted the attention of northern scouts. The boys were given the opportunity to further their league careers alongside their university studies in Leeds.

They have also played for the South Wales Scorpions and Neath Port Talbot Steelers amateur club in league.

Hailing from Cwmllynfell the pair played all of their age grade rugby for Ystradgynlais featuring for a youth team that won the league and Breconshire Cup in 2014.

“It was a very successful squad and those two were the standout players,” said Huw who had been coaching the youth team the year before the brothers made the step up through the age grades. Huw said the brothers had always impressed the coaches with their talent and dedication and said it wasn’t just limited to both codes of rugby and are delighted by their success.

“We are just chuffed we’ve got two Welsh league internationals from the club. They have worked really hard ever since they came to the club and we are proud of them. They are really quiet, tidy lads who just work really hard with their rugby and they have both followed and played rugby league for a long time.

“They always had the work ethic and they are also both black belts in kickboxing and they did a display in the club one year, fighting against themselves, they were about 15 at the time. Their dad was telling me they would be up the north of England one week with the rugby league and then somewhere else the next week with the kickboxing and they were playing rugby union on Saturdays. If you’re a good sportsman it can be really hard on the parents.”

During the European Championships the brothers, who caught the eye of Welsh coach John Kear with their performances for Halifax this year, made their debuts as Wales thumped Scotland 50-12 at Galashiels.

That set up the winner takes all showdown with Ireland in which Curtis, who plays loose forward, set up two tries having started on the subs bench while brother Connor started at hooker. Victory was a turn around for the Welsh team who were heavily beaten just a year ago at the 2017 World Cup in Australia by Ireland.

Huw said the majority of the youth team Curtis and Connor played in, who also won the Ospreys age grade cup in 2013, now form the backbone of the Ystradgynlais first team who compete in division two west central of the WRU national league.

“They come back at Christmas and they do pop in the club,” said Huw of the twins: “I’m sure when the World Cup in on people will want to go and support them.”

Ystradgynlais RFC welcomes new players of all ages from age seven up and anyone interested in playing for the club can contact it through its website or social media accounts.