Monthly Archives: June 2026
Our next new signing is explosive young hooker, Evan Nicholls-Ngasseu.
He has rapidly progressed through the regional youth ranks and played semi-professional rugby while still an under-18 academy player.. He has represented the Cardiff U18 regional team and was also co-captain of Merthyr Youth for the 2025/26 season.
Evan stepped up to senior rugby during 2025/26 making his debut for Cardiff RFC in the SRC CUP against Pontypool RFC scoring two tries on debut and winning the man of the match award. A few weeks later he repeated the feat on his first SRC league start for Cardiff when he scored another brace of tries against Aberavon RFC.
He joins the Steelmen for the 2026/27 season.
Welcome, Evan!
New Signing
The first new signing for the Steelmen is young, powerful, ball-carrying no 8 Ioan Dacey.
Ioan developed his rugby skills through the junior and youth ranks at Merthyr RFC and has represented Coleg y Cymoedd in the Welsh Schools and Colleges League.
Ioan has also progressed through the regional age grades at Cardiff Rugby playing for Cardiff U18s and has been part of their Senior Academy.
Ioan has won 2 caps for Wales U18s scoring against Italy on his debut.
Ioan joins the Steelmen for the 2026/27 season.
Welcome, Ioan!
#FeelTheSteel
The Steelmen are delighted to announce that Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Alfred Bateman Lloyd and Harry Arundel have been retained for 2026/27.
Dylan Bartlett, passed 100 appearances for the Steelmen at the end of the 2025/26 season and was named Man of Steel at the end of season awards.
Curtis Gregory, starts his 5th season as a Steelman and will look to pass 100 appearances for the club in 2026/27.
Alfred Bateman Lloyd has been a big hit with supporters in his first full season playing for the Steelmen and was named Ebbw Addicts Most Promising Player in 2025/26
Harry Arundel returned to the Steelmen in January 2026 from Bridgend Ravens making a number of appearances during the second half of the season.
#FeelTheSteel
On the week of Arthur Lewis’s funeral, the Steelmen wish to pay tribute to a “once in a generational player worthy of being known as a Man of Steel.”
Balancing top tier rugby with hard work as an electrician, Arthur perfectly embodied the work ethic, grit and humility of the Gwent valleys becoming one of the most feared and respected centres in the amateur era.
Arthur played for his hometown club of Crumlin before joining the Steelmen where he went onto make over 500 appearances for the club. During that time, he captained the team in 1965/66, 1969/70 and 1972/73.
Earning 11 caps for Wales between 1970 and 1973, he won 9 of those matches famously captaining his country and scoring a memorable try against England. Arthur was also an integral part of the victorious British and Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand in 1971 scoring tries against Canterbury and Manawatu.
Mostyn Richards played alongside Arthur Lewis at Ebbw Vale
“Arthur was on the Lions tour of NZ in 1971 and was unfortunate not to make the fabulous back division for the 4 tests. He came back having learned a lot from the coaching of Carwyn James and set about turning EVRFC into a side who could mix it with the best teams up front, allied to an invasive back division.
We scored at least 6 or 7 tries literally from behind our goal line over a few years. Arthur was the inspiration of the style of rugby we entertained the crowd with. He taught all of us how to pass, when to pass, weight of pass etc and it paid dividends for many of us.
In a nutshell, he was an outstanding centre for Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Cross Keys, Monmouthshire, Wales, the Barbarians and the British Lions.
He was a supremely confident attacker, defender and catalyst for all the teams he represented. He was a true legend of EVRFC and always showcased the finer skills of the game in his illustrious career.”
The final word goes to REL, who wrote the following about Arthur,
“He reached the heights of rugby playing on every international ground in the world and received every honour in the game, a great player and character we were privileged to call one of our own.”
Arthur will always be remembered as a true gentleman who always had time for a chat, a pint with supporters and his wealth of rugby stories. He leaves behind a permanent legacy on the legends mural at Ebbw Vale and in the hearts of every supporter who watched him pull on the red white and green jersey. He was, and always will be, a true Man of Steel.
RIP ARTHUR
Ebbw Vale RFC are delighted to announce that centers Ethan Phillips, Dom Franchi, Cameron Davies and Iwan Holder will remain as Steelmen for 2026/27
Dom Franchi, who led the Steelmen in the absence of his brother Joe through injury last season, will look to pass 200 appearances during the 2026/27 season.
Ethan Phillips, named in the SRC Team of the Year for 2025/26, will look to pass 150 appearances for the Steelmen in 2026/27
Cameron Davies starts his 3rd full season as a Steelman since signing from the Dragons Academy. Cameron will look to pass 50 appearances for the Steelmen in 2026/27.
Iwan Holder signed for the Steelmen from Hereford RFC at the start of 25/26 season. He played a number of games for Newbridge RFC in the Welsh Premiership before injury ended his season. He will be looking to make am impact with the Steelmen in 2026/27
#FeelTheSteel
Ebbw Vale RFC are delighted to announce that props Luke Garrett, Morgan Bosanko, Adam Williams and Morgan Williams will remain as Steelmen for the 2026/27 season.
Luke Garrett, has been a stalwart of the team over a number of seasons and was named in the SRC team of the year for both 24/25 and 25/26. Luke will look to pass 150 games for the Steelmen in 2026/27
Morgan Bosanko, has proved a big hit with the supporters since joining from Pontypridd RFC last season. Morgan was named in the SRC team of the year for 25/26 and can play on both sides of the scrum.
Adam Williams will start his 3rd full season as a Steelman since joining from Cardiff Rugby. Adam passed 50 appearances for the Steelmen in 2025/26.
Morgan Williams starts his second full season as a Steelman since signing from the Dragons Academy. Morgan will look to pass 50 appearances for the Steelmen in 2026/27
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The Steelmen will have a new club captain for the 2026/27 season, with Sion Parry stepping into the role that Joe Franchi has held for the last 7 seasons. Sion will start his 3rd season as a Steelmen having joined from Pontypridd RFC in 2024.
Commenting on his appointment as captain. Sion said
“I’d like to start by saying thank you to Jason, Aaron, Ieuan, the Ebbw fans, and my fellow players for putting their trust in me to be captain for the upcoming SRC season. I’m incredibly proud of the opportunity and very much looking forward to leading the boys out. I can’t wait for the season to get underway.
I’d also like to give a special thank you to Joe Franchi and Dom Franchi. From the moment I joined the club, they welcomed me with open arms and made me feel part of the family. Joe has been an outstanding captain for this club over the last seven years, brilliantly supported by his brother, and I hope I can help create the same culture, environment, and standards that they have built. Both have played a huge role in developing my leadership, and I wouldn’t be writing this without them.
I’ve enjoyed my rugby over the last two seasons more than at any other point in my life, so when Jason asked me to be captain, I couldn’t have been happier.
The hard work starts now in pre-season, and we’ve got a group that’s hungry, committed, and ready to bring some silverware back to Ebbw this year.”
Jason Strange paid tribute to Joe Franchi for his leadership over the last 7 seasons and welcomed Sion into his new role
“Joe has been a tremendous captain and an outstanding leader.
He has played a huge role in establishing the culture, standards and values that define this club today. Even while dealing with a serious injury setback last season, he has continued to lead and support the group exactly as you would expect from him.On behalf of the club, I would like to thank Joe for everything he has done as captain over the last seven seasons. His influence on this group will continue long after he hands over the captaincy.
I am also delighted to that Sion Parry will become our new club captain.
Sion embodies everything we value as a club. He leads through his actions and cares deeply about his teammates.
He has earned the respect of everyone within the squad.
And I know he will do an outstanding job leading the team into the next chapter of its journey.”
The new SRC season will begin on Saturday 12th September when the Steelmen will host Swansea RFC at the CiNER GLASS Community Stadium.
The Steelmen will play 3 preseason games this summer against Cross Keys, Dings Crusaders and Brynmawr RFC.
The Addicts will be providing transport to the Dings Crusaders match on Saturday 22md August.
At a packed Welfare, the Steelmen held their annual Club Dinner and Presentation Evening on Friday 7th June. Among many highlights of the evening was the awarding of Life membership to Jan Edwards who has been treasurer for the mini and junior section for the last 27 years!
Dylan Bartlett was awarded the Man of Steel with Sion Parry picking up both the Ebbw Addicts and Players Player of the Year Awards. Alfred Bateman Lloyd was voted most promising player by the Ebbw Addicts. A special presentation was made by Joe and Dom Franchi to Lewis Young, Evan Lloyd and Adam Court who are leaving the club following the 25/26 season
The full list of awards were as follows:
- Clive Burgess Man of Steel – Dylan Bartlett
- Denzil Williams Players Player of the Year – Sion Parry
- Ebbw Addicts Player of the Year – Sion Parry
- Ivor Evans Clubman of the Year – Jon Evans
- Ebbw Addicts Most Promising Player – Alfred Bateman Lloyd
- The Doctor Gordon Thomas Award – Joe Franchi
- Gareth Howls Captains Award – Joe Franchi
- Try of the Season – Ewan Bowden
- Top Try Scorer – Ieuan Morris
- Top Points Scorer – Evan Lloyd
- 100 Caps – Evan Lloyd and Dylan Bartlett
- Life Member – Jan Edwards
- Special Presentation – Lewis Young, Evan Lloyd and Adam Court
