Something to sing about !
A few hours prior to a recent mid week choir rehearsal, the squad for the British and Irish Lions’ Summer rugby tour to New Zealand had been announced. The rights and wrongs of the selection on such occasions is inevitably a topic of much debate amongst Choristers but this time the focus was firmly on one player – the inclusion of Gloucester and Wales forward Ross Moriarty in the tour party. Ross is a relative newcomer to the Welsh squad and was a slightly surprising, but well deserved choice according to the pundits; the interest was not around that however, but the fact that Ross is the grandson of the Choir’s second tenor and Section Registrar Billy Cousins.
Billy pictured with his wife Rita and Ross after a Wales game at the Principality Stadium, was naturally delighted with the selection, coming just a day after Ross’ 23rd birthday. ‘Rita and I listened to the squad announcement at home and when his name was read out I must admit to having a tear in my eye’ said Billy. He added ‘both Ross’ dad, Paul and Uncle, Richard played rugby for Wales but Ross is the first to get a Lions Rugby Union call up and all the family are immensely proud of what he has achieved’.
Ross visited New Zealand to compete in the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship and toured New Zealand with Wales in 2016 so he is already familiar with the Country. He still has a little way to go however to match his Grandfather’s record of 4 visits to New Zealand having toured there with the Orpheus in 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2007.
Needless to say all connected with the Orpheus add our congratulations to Billy, Rita and Ross and wish Ross continued success in the future.
