Rugby star Mike Phillips's Welsh praised after S4C boss sacked

Llinos Griffin-Williams had been S4C's chief content officer since April 2022

Criticism of an ex-rugby star's Welsh is disappointing and embarrassing, say two language and translation experts.

A TV executive was sacked by Welsh language channel S4C after allegations she verbally abused pundit Mike Phillips at the Rugby World Cup.

It is understood that Llinos Griffin-Williams said the former scrum-half's Welsh was not a high enough standard.

S4C said encouraging Welsh use was "core" to its work and the ex-player was "integral" to its coverage.

Newyddion S4C understands that Ms Griffin-Williams, who was S4C's chief content officer, also said she could end his presenting career.

According to information shared with Newyddion S4C, Ms Griffin-Williams was in Nantes for the Wales v Georgia Rugby World Cup fixture in her role.

The second altercation is alleged to have happened at another bar in the city.

on BBC Radio Cymru's Bore Sul programme two language experts, Gwyn Williams, chief officer of the professional body for Welsh/English translation and Helen Prosser, director of teaching and learning at the National Centre for Learning Welsh gave him their backing.

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Phillips is a first language Welsh speaker from a farming family in Bancyfelin, Carmarthenshire who won 94 Wales caps.

"Last night was the first chance I had to watch the live coverage and I thought Mike Phillips was fantastic," said Mr Williams.

"He brought his knowledge, his experience and a lot of humour to it all.

"It would be great if we could all talk in strict forms of Welsh poetry, but we don't - I don't and I can't.

"I prefer slack Welsh to slick English and that's my opinion on the matter.

"I think the whole thing is very disappointing, and it's an embarrassment that this could happen."

Phillips has been part of the S4C team providing coverage of the Rugby World Cup in France.

Mr Williams said he wondered if such a negative incident might hit the confidence of other Welsh learners.

Mike Phillips, a regular S4C pundit, is lauded for his "lovely and natural" Welsh

He referred to similar criticism of the standard of former football international John Hartson's Welsh on the S4C football programme Sgorio two years ago.

"Lately he (Phillips) mentioned that he was worried about his Welsh," said Mr Williams.

"He lives in Dubai and we know how hard it is to maintain your Welsh when you live abroad.

"If this happens to strong, high profile people, what impact does that have on Welsh learners who also aren't confident?"

In May an ongoing independent external investigation was launched into the publicly-funded channel after claims a "bullying and toxic culture".

Claims made by the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (Bectu) described "a culture of fear" at the organisation.

Mr Williams said he had given evidence to the investigation by legal firm Capital Law and was looking forward to it being published "as soon as possible".

Expressing her disappointment that the issue had had so much attention, especially during Celebrating Learning Welsh Week - or Wythnos Dathlu Dysgu Cymraeg - Ms Prosser also praised the former player's Welsh.

Calling it "lovely" and "natural", she said she was glad most people had been "very supportive".

A spokesperson for S4C said: "Encouraging and promoting the use of Welsh for everyone is a core part of everything S4C does.

"We have had an excellent response to our coverage from the Rugby World Cup and Mike Phillips has played an integral part in that."

BBC Wales contacted Ms Griffin-Williams and the former rugby player earlier this week to ask for a response.

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