Club Statement – SRC Cup Semi-Final

Club Statement

SRC Cup Semi Final v Newport RFC

On behalf of the Board of Ebbw Vale RFC, I would like to take the opportunity to explain to our members, sponsors and wider community the reasons for the confusion around the above game.  The date for Semi Finals of the Cup and Plate has been in the calendar from July 2025. With Newport RFC topping their pool, the fixture would be played at their home pitch on Saturday 28^th February at 2.30pm.

On Monday 23^rd February, Ebbw Vale RFC were informed that there was to be a change of date and venue, to Sunday 1st March,  with the game taking place at Rodney Parade.

The rational given was that Newport City were playing at Spytty Park on Sunday and the posts could not be changed over in time.  At no point was it explained why this is such an issue, other than a vague comment that there is no one available to carry out the work. As a club Ebbw Vale RFC have a great deal of experience in carrying out this task and are surprised at the claim it could not be done in 24 hours.

We informed Newport that we could not meet this expectation due to player availability with the front row being the major issue. At this point Newport RFC referred the issue to the WRU. Unfortunately, the Rules and Regulations allow the home club to choose a day and suitable venue regardless of the opinion of the away team.

On Tuesday 24^th February, we were made aware by a member of the WRU Community Game Board that Newport had consulted with them on the Rules and Regulations.  Later that day, we found out that the game had been moved to Sunday 1^st March and would now be played at Rodney Parade, not via a conversation with Newport or the WRU, but via an announcement on Newport social media channels.  Ebbw Vale asked the WRU to consider the mitigating circumstances and appeal to Newport to reconsider. This appeal was unsuccessful.  As a club, we have spent most of this week trying to deal with player availability issues which has ended in several of our players having to change work commitments at short notice, which is not easy to do in today’s work environment.

We waited until the final decisions were reached before publicising the change of date or venue as that is the professional way to manage such situations.

As a board, we are mere custodians of community institutions that rugby clubs are and as a board at Ebbw Vale I would like to reassure you that we will never indulge in such behaviour and will manage the club with WRU key core values, respect and sportsmanship in all circumstances – something that Newport have categorically not done on this occasion.

As a club we will make no further comment on this issue and our attention now turns to this afternoon’s game.

Jon Jones

Director on Behalf of the Board

Ebbw Vale RFC