Teachers do not often get to see the fruits of their labour after their students leave school.<\/span><\/p>\n The 69-capped international packed down with her former Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera pupil Mel Gnojek at Cardiff Arms Park.<\/span><\/p>\n “I feel old, but really proud to see how far she has come on her rugby journey,” said Harries. <\/span><\/p>\n Gnojek had been lost to rugby when her mixed team split into girls and boys, and it wasn’t until Harries came to teach at Ystalyfera that she became reacquainted. <\/span><\/p>\n “She brought girls’ rugby with her and got me back into the game,” said the 21-year-old.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’m thankful for Sioned because without her I wouldn’t be playing today, it’s really special for me to be able to play alongside her.”<\/span><\/p>\n Harries recognised Gnojek’s potential from the start and was quick to put her in the “right position”.<\/span><\/p>\n “I remember when I first saw her playing, she said to me ‘I’m a 12’, I looked at her straight away and said ‘no, you’re a back rower, you’re a six or an eight’,” she said. <\/span><\/p>\n “To see her then develop through the age grades, playing for Seven Sisters and at this level, it’s really nice and humbling.”<\/span><\/p>\n Gnojek admitted running out with her coach and mentor against Ireland’s combined provinces team was a “bit scary”, but said Harries “still had her teacher hat on”.<\/span><\/p>\n “She was ‘come on Mel, come and do this with me’,” said Gnojek.<\/span><\/p>\n “She’s amazing isn’t she? So determined and strong.<\/span><\/p>\n “Everyone can see it, not just our team, the teams she plays against. Everyone is frightened of her – but in a good way.”<\/span><\/p>\n It is not only on the rugby pitch where Gnojek has followed in Harries’ footsteps, as the pair are now colleagues at Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera.<\/span><\/p>\n Gnojek co-captained Wales’ emerging squad which beat England in 2018 and 2019, but has yet to win a senior cap.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Mel](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/114FA\/production\/_128460907_mel.jpg\")
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