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| Photograph Courtesy of www.cardiffblues.com |
Christopher
David Dicomidis was born in Pencoed, Wales on the 14th of September
1985.
Chris’s early
education in Rugby Union saw him turn out for the junior teams of Pencoed RFC
and Cardiff RFC (Junior Blue and Blacks) prior to their disbandment at under 15’s
level. Chris also had spells at the Old Penarthians RFC, Tondu RFC and the
Celtic Warriors Academy.
Chris’s
education continued not just on the rugby field but also at UWIC and during the
2004-05 season he studied sports and leisure management and also turned out for
the University team where he represented them in the First Division.
Chris also
got his first taste of playing for the mighty Pont when he made a number of
appearances for them on permit which allowed him to feature for them in both
the league and the cup.
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| Photograph Courtesy of www.cardiffblues.com |
This wouldn’t
be the last time Chris featured for Pontypridd, in fact he was drafted into the
senior squad just a year later. Chris had previously featured as a Full back
for former clubs but it was at Pontypridd that it was felt his physical stature
and presence could be utilised to better effect by placing him in the Lock and
Back row positions. This positional move may have proven to be instrumental in
Chris being voted the most improved player by the Pontypridd Supporters Club in
2006.
Dico had his
first taste of under 21 international rugby with Wales during the 2005/06
season when he was capped during the under 21’s Six Nation Tournament held in
France. Chris had previously featured for the Welsh Under 19s side.
In the
2008/09 season with injuries depleting the Pontypridd squad Chris regularly
featured as a Flanker, a position which
was fairly new territory for Chris but a move which he embraced and
shone in, his power and pace was more than a benefit.
The season
that followed saw Chris feature at Number 8 towards the end of the season as
fans really began to see the versatility of the extremely popular player. At the end of the season awards Chris was
bestowed the honour of being voted both the Player of the Year and Players’
Player of the Year.
Quickly becoming
a fans’ favourite and after five committed years with Pontypridd, Chris went on
to be handed the honour of the Pontypridd Captaincy for the 2010/11 season. It
was in the same season that Chris’s International career then took what many
may have considered an unexpected turn.
After
featuring for the Welsh national team at youth levels many may have expected
him to feature for the full team in the future. However, during the end of 2011
Chris was approached by the Cypriot National team and duly accepted the
opportunity to feature for his Grandfather’s homeland.
Chris’s
career continued to go from strength to strength. He captained Pontypridd to a
historic league and cup double in 2013, this time predominantly playing in his
familiar back row position.
Chris’s talent and influence on the game wasn’t
unnoticed and after 8 seasons with the mighty Pont a move to the Pro 12 with
Professional side the Cardiff Blues materialised where he would join up with
former Ponty Great Dale “The Chief” Macintosh and of course former players such
as Kristian Dacey.
Chris made
his first appearance for the Blues against Glasgow in the Heineken Cup, what
better way to introduce yourself to the Blues fans than in such a huge game.
The move to the Blues was a significant one and has catapulted Chris into the
world of professional club level rugby, a move which he felt may never happen.
In an interview with www.walesonline.co.uk Chris said:
“If I’m being honest, I had given up on this happening. At 28, I thought my time had gone. I was happy with my job, I was happy playing for Ponty. I loved what I was doing. But when the call came, it’s something I had to take... Obviously I spoke to Chief (Dale McIntosh) about the environment down here and everything else.”
As well as
Chris’s achievements on the field he has also been bestowed one of the greatest
compliments any rugby player can achieve... not an award, not a trophy, not the
club captaincy... what I’m talking about is being Grogged! Shortly after being
named club captain for Pontypridd, Chris was immortalised in clay, of course he
is not the first Ponty captain to be Grogged but is definitely the first Cypriot
international!
Chris was
fantastic enough to talk to The Grogg Blog about his Groggs and Rugby playing
career. Hope you all enjoy the piece below!!
Growing
up in Wales, the Groggshop must have been something you were familiar with from
a young age. What would you say your earliest memory of the shop was?
The earliest memory I have of the
Grogg Shop was probably after the 97 Lions Tour to South Africa. I was obsessed
with the Lions during this tour and I seem to remember Neil Jenkins
being presented with a Grogg in his Lions kit and I remember asking my father
what a Grogg was. So from the age of 12 I have been aware of the Grogg
Shop.
For many
being Grogged is a sign that you have made it and deemed as a huge honour and
achievement how did you find out that you were being Grogged the first time and
how did you feel about it?
I had just been named Player of the
Year at Ponty, announced as captain and then I had a phone call
not long after whilst in work to ask if I would like to be Grogged. Of
course I accepted straight away and then I was straight on the phone to
tell my family. I felt really proud that I had been asked and that I
would be joining so many of my sporting heroes in being Grogged.
Prior to
being Grogged yourself, was there ever any “Grogg Envy” towards those players
who had previously been crafted?
Prior to being Grogged I had
massive envy towards anyone who was lucky enough to have been Grogged. I was
even more envious when Nathan Strong got Grogged as it had been a while since a
Ponty player had been Grogged. I remember turning to Louisa my now wife and
saying I would love that to be me.
I’m sure
over the years the Groggshop have presented you with some of your own Groggs.
Aside from these Groggs do you have any others in your collection? I’m sure our
fans would love to see some photographs of your own Groggs if you are able to
share them.
Obviously I have a number of my
own Groggs in various kits of teams I have represented and then one of my
favourite ever rugby player Jonah Lomu which my Grandfather bought me for my
21st. I also have a few golden bobs which you receive after being man of the
match at Ponty games and my player of the year Groggs. My plan now is to start
collecting seriously and pass them onto my son Jacob when he is old enough to
appreciate them.
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| Photograph Courtesy of Chris Dicomidis |
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| Photograph Courtesy of Chris Dicomidis |
For a
number of Grogg collectors the great appeal is being able to own a
fantastically crafted piece of some of your childhood/present day heroes. If
you could have a Grogg made of one of your own personal heroes who would it be
and why?
All my sporting heroes have been
Grogged, the likes of Jonah Lomu, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham. I know the
Sonny Bill Williams Grogg is out soon so that's definitely on my wish list. As
for other people, I would like to see Sam Burgess Grogged as he is an
immense rugby player but also seems very humble with everything he has been
through in life.
You have
been Grogged as a Pontypridd Mini so far for general sale to the public, if you
could be Grogged again would there be anything you would like to have done
differently for example maybe a 9” version, different kit or different physical
attributes or pose?
There is nothing I would change
character wise about my Grogg. I had a tough decision to make about the
number, at the time I was playing 6 so went for that, but since then I have
played all my rugby at 5 so maybe I would change the number. As for a different
pose maybe one of myself lifting the Swalec Cup or Principality League
trophy.
As well
as playing for Ponty, the Cardiff Blues and the Welsh Under 21 Team, you also
now feature for the Cypriot National team. Of course your fellow Welsh
Teammates will be well aware of the work of the Groggshop, but how about your
Cypriot Teammates, what are their thoughts on the fact you have been
immortalised in clay?
The Cyprus players are very aware
of what a Grogg is. One Christmas my father got me a Grogg in the Cyprus rugby
kit which I tweeted straight away. The next time I met up with them all there
was a thousand questions about The Groggshop in general and they were extremely
jealous at the fact I had been Grogged.
Over the course of your career to date you received a number of
great accolades including Captaining Pontypridd RFC. What would you say is the
proudest moment was of your rugby career so far and why?
The
proudest moment of my rugby career to date would probably have to be winning
the 'double' first time round with Ponty. Obviously I was captain which made
it extra special and my son was mascot the day we beat Llanelli in the
final. It was also special because we had missed out on the double the two
previous years, so winning meant we were finally rewarded for all the hard
work we as a team had put in. It was also special to win it with a bunch of
boys I regard as close friends as a number of us have grown up together in a
Ponty shirt.Once again a huge thank you to Chris for taking part! It's been a pleasure, good luck for the rest of the season!
