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Aberavon confirmed Jason Hyatt would not return to his post last week
Aberavon’s supporters club have paid tribute to Jason Hyatt ahead of the coach’s departure from the Wizards.
Back in January, the respected coach stepped away from his job for the remainder of the season due to mental health issues, making the brave move to concentrate on getting better with the support of his family. Last week, the club confirmed that Hyatt would not return to his post.
During his time with Aberavon, Hyatt played a pivotal role in the early career of Welsh rugby international Jac Morgan.
When Morgan was 18 and considered stepping away from the professional game, it was Hyatt who gave him the opportunity to flourish at Aberavon, which helped kickstart the Wales captain’s career.
Hyatt’s influence on Morgan formed a part of the tribute paid by Aberavon’s supporters after his departure was confirmed.
“The sun has set on Jason’s time as Aberavon Head Coach, and so it is appropriate for the club’s statement regarding his departure to be matched by a few words from Aberavon’s ever-loyal supporters,” read their letter to Hyatt. “Jason, of course, began his career as an uncompromising hooker in the centre of an equally uncompromising front row in the early 2000s.
“Perhaps, however, rather fewer of our number will remember a young hooker making his debut in a Wizards shirt in the 1990s. His playing career eventually took him to professional rugby based at Stradey Park for a number of seasons, before the lure of the Talbot Athletic Ground brought him back to Aberavon.
“His retirement from playing saw him rise through the coaching ranks at Swansea and then Tonmawr, before he came to Aberavon’s rescue in dramatic fashion.
“With the club struggling to gain any traction in the Premiership, Jason stepped in to coach a team sitting at the foot of the table in November 2013, with little apparent prospect of climbing clear of the relegation zone. His first match in charge was a Friday evening home game on November 15th against Bridgend, which the Wizards won 27-23.
“It proved to be the last victory of 2013, but the new year brought better news as the Wizards snatched a series of notable victories and found themselves facing the task of gaining at least a single league point from the final match, at home to high-flying Carmarthen Quins, to avoid the drop.
“Surely no one present at the Talbot Athletic Ground that sunny April afternoon will ever forget how an injury-ravaged Aberavon squad responded. Four tries would earn a bonus point; the Wizards had scored three, from Stef Andrews, Jonathan Phillips and Matthew Jenkins by half-time.
“Less than a minute after the interval, the Quins lost possession near their own try line. Play went through a couple of phases, and the most appropriate hero of the hour, Aberavon skipper Ian Moore, scooped up the ball and crashed over the line between the posts. Pure emotion took over – there were tears of joy all around, including those running down the face of Jason Hyatt. We were safe from relegation.
“Building on that foundation, Jason continued to assemble a squad capable of challenging for honours. This vision nearly reached its zenith in 2017 during the Premiership Play-Off Final against Merthyr. While the history books show a narrow defeat, many of us who stood on the touchline that day still believe we were the best side in the league that year – a testament to the standard Jason had set.
“The ‘what ifs’ of sport were never more prevalent than in the 2019-20 season. With an unquestionably strong squad playing some of our finest rugby, the global pandemic brought the curtain down prematurely. We will never truly know if Jason would have lifted a trophy that May, but the momentum he had built was undeniable.
“In 2022, Jason led the Wizards to the Principality Stadium for the Premiership Cup Final. It was a proud day for the club, marking only our second appearance at the national stadium in the professional era. Seeing the team led out by Joe-Tomalin Reeves – one of Jason’s protégés – was a special moment.
“Perhaps Jason’s most enduring legacy is his remarkable eye for talent and his dedication to player development. Numerous Aberavon players have transitioned to professional and international rugby under his watch, and none more so than Jac Morgan.
“At a time when Jac was on the verge of walking away from the professional game, Jason gave him the opportunity to flourish. Watching Jac progress to captain his country and reach the highest echelons of the game has been a source of immense personal pride for Jason – seeing a young man he believed in reach the very top.
“In recent times, Jason’s bravery in speaking openly about his battle with mental health showed a level of honesty rarely seen in the world of high-level sport. In doing so, he has become a role model for young players and others alike.
“We owe Jason a huge vote of thanks. Under his direction, Aberavon secured their position amongst the top semi-pro clubs in Wales, and all that we Aberavon supporters have witnessed during the dozen years since then can be traced back to the turnaround that began in November 2013.
“He remains a great rugby man, respected throughout the game, but more importantly, he is a great friend to many at the Talbot Athletic Ground. His tenure has shown us loyalty, integrity and passion. We wish him all the very best, along with his wife Jo, son Lewis and daughter Leah, and we hope he finds happiness in whatever his next chapter holds within the game he loves so passionately.”
Hyatt responded on X, saying: “Such thoughtful & kind words from the best supporters a coach could wish for. Thank you.”
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