Rugby heroes to the rescue as they remove tree from A470

Treherbert RFC – nicknamed The Devils – acted as guardian angels to countless motorists, after a tree had come down across the A470 near Builth Wells on Saturday, April 4.

Although Powys missed most of the brunt of Storm Dave, which ushered in wind gusts of 60–70mph in exposed western and northern areas, it was still a far from idyllic easter bank holiday weekend, with the weather bringing down a tree between Builth and Erwood.

Rather than sit and wait in traffic, content to play on their phones and wait for the police and council workers to arrive, the coach full of lads exited and moved the tree out of the carriageway themselves.

The event unfolded as Treherbert were travelling home from taking on Llandrindod Wells.

The Devils may have come away from the spa town empty handed, following a 24-12 defeat in the sides’ WRU Men’s National League East Central encounter, but that did not deter them from becoming good Samaritans on route home.

“On the way back from Llandrindod Wells yesterday, the journey took an unexpected turn,” the club said in a post on its Facebook page on Sunday.

“A fallen tree was blocking the A470… but no hesitation from the boys. Off the coach, straight to work, and the road was cleared in no time.

“That’s what this team is about — graft, togetherness, and getting the job done. Proud of this group.”

The Devils were branded heroes by one motorist caught up in the chaos, who filmed the clear-up – with one player pictured lifting up a tree trunk topless and wearing a tie hanging down his back.

“The boys efforts were heroic and funny,” said the woman, who was travelling with her partner and four young children from Cardiff to Llanidloes.

“My partner plays rugby and he said ‘Yep they are definitely rugby boys’, although we didn’t actually know if they were or not.

Treherbert rugby players jumped out of their coach to move a fallen tree from the A470 on Easter Saturday, between Builth Wells and Erwood. (Image: Supplied)

“I had four young children with me (aged 6-11) and they filmed it on their iPads. They were really excited and it made a grizzly, rainy drive more fun.”

Treherbert received praise from Saturday’s opponents, Llandrindod, who posted about their efforts on Facebook. “The way they push in the scrum, this would be light work,” the club posted.

After posting on the club’s Facebook page about the incident, one commenter said: “Fantastic from everyone, so proud of you all. Not all heroes wear capes.”