O'r Cae Rygbi i Radd Meistr mewn Cysylltiadau…

Ymunodd Jacob Collin, 22 o Broughton, ag academi rygbi'r coleg ar gampws Llandrillo-yn-Rhos yn 2015, i hyfforddi a gweithio ar gyfer ei gymhwyster academaidd ar yr un pryd. Diploma Estynedig Lefel 3 BTEC mewn Chwaraeon.

Yn ogystal â chwarae i dîm academi'r coleg, chwaraeodd Jacob i RFC Yr Wyddgrug a thîm dan 18 RGC. Roedd Jacob yn wirfoddolwr brwd ac yn hyfforddwr chwaraeon anabledd, a bu'n cynnal sesiynau addysg gorfforol yn rheolaidd gyda grŵp o fyfyrwyr blwyddyn 10 yn Ysgol y Gogarth.

Ar ôl cyfnod llewyrchus ar gaeau rygbi Gogledd Cymru, aeth Jacob ymlaen i ennill gradd (Anrh) 2:1 mewn Chwaraeon, Ymarfer Corff a Gweithgaredd Corfforol ym Mhrifysgol Durham, cyn mynd ymlaen i ddilyn cwrs ôl-radd, Gradd Meistr Mewn Cysylltiadau Rhyngwladol.

Yn ystod ei gyfnod yn y brifysgol, roedd Jacob yn dal i gymryd rhan mewn mentrau cymunedol a daeth yn swyddog hyrwyddo rygbi dros Glwb Rygbi Prifysgol Durham. Fel rhan o'r rôl bu wrthi'n paratoi ac yn cyflwyno sesiynau hyfforddi mewn ysgolion lleol. Yn ogystal â hyn, gweithiodd ar raglen ehangach i gynnig cyfleodd chwaraeon i blant o gefndiroedd economaidd-gymdeithasol is.

Cymerodd ran mewn her elusennol gyda thri ffrind o'r brifysgol a chodi dros £2,000 i OddBalls Foundation, elusen sy'n codi ymwybyddiaeth o ganser y ceilliau. Cwblhaodd y criw Her y Tri Chopa mewn llai na 24 awr.

Siaradodd Jacob am ei amser yn y coleg:

"Y fantais fwyaf o gael astudio yng Ngholeg Llandrillo oedd y ffaith bod modd i mi gyflawni cymhwyster academaidd o safon (BTEC Diploma Estynedig mewn Chwaraeon) a chymryd rhan mewn rhaglen ddwys o hyfforddiant rygbi ar yr un pryd. Mae hyn yn bosib diolch yn y lle cyntaf i staff academaidd ardderchog y coleg sy'n gweithio'n ddiflino i hwyluso modiwlau strwythuredig a hwyliog."

"Yn ail roedd y cydbwysedd rhwng gwaith unigol a gwaith grŵp, ynghyd â chyflwyniadau ac asesiadau ymarferol yn rhoi'r cyfle i mi wella nifer o sgiliau pwysig. Datblygodd fy hunanhyder a fy sgiliau siarad cyhoeddus o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i'r cwrs hwn."

"Roedd yr academi rygbi yn rhan hanfodol o fy natblygiad fel chwaraewr. Diolch i'r elfen cryfhau a chyflyru - ynghyd â hyfforddi deallus gan Andrew Williams ac Afon Bagshaw - cefais sylfaen gadarn i fynd ymlaen a llwyddo ar lefel prifysgol. Rhoddir gryn bwyslais ar ddatblygu cymeriadau cyflawn yn y coleg. Mae'r academi rygbi yn cyflawni hynny ac mae nifer o gyfleodd i gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau allgyrsiol, yn cynnwys hyfforddi a dyfarnu yn y gymuned leol. Ond yn bwysicach na dim i mi, mi wnes i gwrdd â ffrindiau da yn ystod fy nghyfnod yn yr academi sydd yn bwysig iawn i mi hyd heddiw."

Meddai Andrew Williams, Cydlynydd Academi Rygbi Coleg Llandrillo:

"Rydym wrth ein bodd gyda datblygiad arbennig Jacob. Roedd o'n fyfyriwr a chwaraewr rygbi arbennig a dw i'n siŵr bydd yn llwyddo pa bynnag lwybr ddewisith o."

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am rygbi, neu gyrsiau chwaraeon eraill, neu leoedd yn un o academïau chwaraeon Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, ffoniwch dîm Gwasanaethau i Ddysgwyr y coleg ar 01492 542 338.

E-bost: ymholiadau.llandrillo@gllm.ac.uk

Gwefan: www.gllm.ac.uk

Web: www.gllm.ac.uk

Jacob Collin, 22 from Broughton, joined the college's renowned rugby academy at the Rhos-on-Sea campus in 2015, carrying out his training alongside studying for his academic qualification: BTEC L3 Extended Diploma in Sport.

As well as representing the college's academy team, Jacob played for Mold RFC and RGC U-18s. A keen volunteer, Jacob offered his services as a disability sports coach at Ysgol y Gogarth special school, where he led regular physical education sessions with a group of 10 students.

After impressing on rugby pitches across North Wales, Jacob went on to achieve a 2:1 in BA (Hons) Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity at Durham University, before pursuing postgraduate study, in the form of a Master's Degree in International Relations.

Whilst at university, Jacob continued to be involved with community-inspired initiatives, becoming community engagement officer for Durham University Rugby Football Club. The role involved him preparing and implementing coaching sessions at local schools. In addition, he worked as part of a wider programme to provide sporting opportunities to children from low socio-economic backgrounds.

A charitable challenge saw Jacob, along with three university friends, raise over £2,000 for the OddBalls Foundation, a charity working to raise awareness of testicular cancer. They completed the Three Peaks Challenge in under 24 hours.

Jacob recently spoke about his time at college:

"The most beneficial aspect of attending Llandrillo College was the ability to pursue a respectable academic qualification (BTEC L3 Extended Diploma in Sport), whilst being fully involved in a high-performance rugby union programme. This is testament, first and foremost, to the excellent academic staff at the college who work tirelessly to facilitate well-structured and enjoyable modules."

"Secondly, the balance of individual and group work, alongside presentational and practical assessments, enabled me to improve several important skills. In particular, my self-confidence and public speaking skills developed as a direct result of the course."

"The rugby academy was a vital part of my progression as a player. Strength and conditioning - combined with insightful coaching from both Andrew Williams and Afon Bagshaw - laid the foundations for me to go on and achieve success at university level. Significant emphasis is placed upon producing well-rounded characters at the college. The rugby academy certainly achieves this, with lots of opportunities to take up extra-curricular activities including coaching and refereeing within local communities. Most importantly for me, however, was that I made firm friendships during my time in the academy which I still value greatly today."

The college's rugby academy coordinator, Andrew Williams, said:

"We are delighted with Jacob's remarkable progression. He was a fantastic student and rugby player and I am sure that he will succeed in whichever career path he chooses."

For more information about rugby, or any sports courses, or places in any of the college's sporting academies across Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, call the college's Learner Services team on 01492 542 338.

Email: enquiries.llandrillo@gllm.ac.uk

Web: www.gllm.ac.uk