Welsh Rugby Team Has a Writer In Residence

True story. And his name is Owen Sheers. According to this article from WalesOnline:

THEIR play has often been described as poetry in motion, and they’ve been responsible for their fair share of on-field drama over the years.

But now the Welsh rugby side can boast a poetic side off the field too – after appointing the world’s first international sports team writer in residence.

Best-selling novelist, playwright and poet Owen Sheers was unveiled in the new role yesterday. He will take up the post in January and will follow the national squad in the build-up to matches as well as visiting the regions and local clubs. The position comes with an annual stipend of £10,000 funded by the Arts Council of Wales, with the artist chosen independently by the WRU. It is funded for the next three years with two other artists – not necessarily writers – taking up residence in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

As for what he'll work on:

“The obvious question is: ‘What will you write?’” he said. “If I had the answer I would tell you but it is all about responding to what you find. Given my recent work on The Passion in Port Talbot, and my current project with the Theatre Royal Haymarket and Bravo 22 Company, this position with the WRU feels like a very natural step in my writing life.”