Independent fuel distribution company Oil 4 Wales has unveiled two new rugby brand ambassadors.
The Brecon-based company has secured the support of Welsh forwards coach Robin McBryde and Welsh international prop Robert Evans.
Hailing from Anglesey, McBryde made 250 appearances for Llanelli, had 37 caps for Wales during an international career spanning eleven years and was selected for the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
After retiring in 2005, McBryde had his first taste of coaching with the Scarlets U18 Regional Team, winning the Regional Championship in that season, before being appointed as forwards’ coach for the National Team, a post that he has held since 2006. He has twice been given the honour of caretaker Head coach of Wales’ national team, in 2009 and 2013, due to Warren Gatland’s absence whilst coaching the British and Irish Lions.
Outside of rugby, the fluent-Welsh speaker is a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, and is actively involved in the award ceremonies conducted during the National Eisteddfod as the Grand Sword Bearer, a role that he has fulfilled since 2007 when Ray Gravell had to step down due to illness.
Family-run Oil 4 Wales has also signed 23-year old rugby talent Robert Evans, who made his debut for the Scarlets in 2013 and was named in the 2015 RBS Six Nations squad.
The Haverfordwest-born Scarlets prop has played a key role in Wales’ Six Nations campaign this year.
McBryde and Evans now join Oil 4 Wales’ other brand ambassadors, which include former and current Welsh international rugby players such as BBC Wales’ Sports Personality of the year for 2015 Dan Biggar, Scott Quinnell, Dan Lydiate, Ken Owens, Neil Jenkins and Jonathan Davies.
As the oil brand for Wales, Oil 4 Wales has a strong affiliation with Welsh rugby sponsoring some of the country’s leading teams, as well as supplying some of Wales’ leading players. It regularly hosts ‘meet and greet’ sessions with its rugby brand ambassadors across the breadth of Wales, demonstrating how the community is at the heart of its operation.
Colin Owens, managing director of Oil 4 Wales, said: “We’re thrilled that Robin and Rob have joined the Oil 4 Wales team. Robin is hugely respected in the game having enjoyed a decade playing at the highest level and now in his role as part of Warren Gatland’s coaching team.
“Rob has enjoyed a breakthrough season and has been a standout player in this year’s Six Nations tournament. He’s got a promising future ahead of him and it will be great to watch him develop.
“They’re both hugely passionate Welshmen, which fits in with our truly Welsh brand. We’re looking forward to having Rob and Robin at our future events to epitomise our company ethos of ‘working with the community, for the community.”