Category Archives: Ebbw Vale Rugby

Unfortunately Sam was dealt a blow this month after suddenly becoming unwell and being admitted into hospital. It was then discovered Sam had leukaemia. Ebbw Vale RFC send Sam and the family our best wishes.

You can support Sam by making a donation here https://www.leukaemiauk.org.uk/Fundraisers/whiteheads-youth-rfc-support-for-sam

Ebbw Vale supporters can now purchase reusable branded face coverings so you can stay safe as lockdown measures ease across Wales.

Following on from a number of requests from fans we are working with VX3, we are delighted to announce the new coverings are available to pre-order NOW for £6.

The face covers are available in adult and juniors sizes and are washable, reusable, provide a large covering and are triple layer in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for non medical masks.

The latest advice from the Welsh Government, based on updated guidance from the WHO, is to wear face coverings in situations where social distancing is not possible, such as on public transport. For more information from the Welsh Government click https://gov.wales/3-layer-face-coverings-recommended-not-mandatory-certain-situations-wales

Our new Ebbw Vale RFC face coverings will take around 3-4 weeks turn around, if you require postage you will need to say so in the email, provide address and also postage will be an additional cost on top of the mask price. Postage is £1.50.

Please note: All of our face coverings are for personal use. They are not suitable for hospital / medical use and therefore do not take away from NHS supplies. They are NOT medical grade masks or personal protective equipment (PPE). For more information please click https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

To order and purchase your Ebbw Vale RFC Face Covering email marketing@evrfc.co.uk by Monday 22nd June 3pm.

Mr Elvet Williams

It is with great sadness that the the club has learned of the death of Elvet Williams, father of long serving former hooker Mathew “Chunky” Williams. Elvet was a familiar face to all at the club as he followed his son’s career at the Steelmen at both home and away fixtures, and was well liked and respected by everyone. Elvet was always happy to chat over a pre- and post-match drink, clearly enjoying the performance of his son and team mates as well as the atmosphere in the clubhouse.

Our thoughts are with Mathew and his family at this sad time.

Volunteers generously give their time and dedication to make the club run smoothly across every aspect of its activities. As we have entered National Volunteer Week, the club wishes to thank all of the volunteers that make everything possible for all our players to take the field. From the tiny under 7’s, to the players at the height of The Indigo Premiership, the support given by our volunteers is invaluable. While we have been without any rugby for such a long time now, when the time comes to start again our volunteers will be a big part of it.

Club Chair Jon Jones said, “The sport of rugby in Wales has always been and will continue to be highly dependent on an army of volunteers who perform a multitude of tasks that allow the on field action to take place. These range from manning gates, serving food, managing kit, cleaning changing rooms, serving food and providing the skills that manage finances and social media. In essence, there are roles available to everyone and the satisfaction of contributing to your sporting community and developing a wider social network is a great reward for your efforts in contributing to a key part of the fabric of our communities.

Every club will welcome more volunteers, and the one positive to come out of the Covid pandemic, is the number of volunteers who have leapt into action to assist those in need of help. We salute those volunteers and those active in all volunteer roles throughout the country in National Volunteer Week and would urge people to get involved with your communities’ rugby club to allow the positive benefits that sport brings to be a key part of the future of our communities.”

Mini & Juniors Chair, John Prendergast, said, “This week, we enter National Volunteers Week and the management of the Ebbw Vale Steelers Mini and Juniors section would like to take this opportunity to convey its thanks to the army of volunteers who commit time each week for the development and participation of children within rugby across our structure.

 Weather is not the kindest in Blaenau Gwent, but each week our volunteers endeavour to give time to the cause, on the sometimes wet, sometimes frozen and occasionally perfect playing fields of North Gwent. Many of the roles are front line, such as coaches, coach assistants, refereeing and first aiders; however, other roles are more administrative, whether that is team management, organising fixtures, financial management or more. Volunteers’ time is needed for a wide variety of functions.

Without volunteers, rugby activity cannot go ahead and it is with great pride we celebrate the input of these hardy souls. A club can never have enough volunteers, and as we develop we are always looking for more help. If you think you can help in anyway, contact the club and we can discuss where you can support. It is highly rewarding seeing our players develop from U7 through to U16 pathway. You can help develop the next Rhys Jones or Joe Franchi!”

As part of our fundraising for Hospice Of The Valleys and the club we have launched a charity T-shirt and vest to help raise vital funds for such a great local cause that does so much amazing work in the community close to the club. Teaming up with club kit partners AKUMA these once in a lifetime items are a must to have for this summer as well as supporting a local charity.

To order your charity club t-shirt or vest please contact marketing@evrfc.co.uk.

Orders will be going in on a weekly basis and will have a minimum 3 week turn around due to the current Covid-19 situation.

T- Shirt £18.50 (available in red, green or white)

Vest £30

Adults’ sizes:
S 38” Chest
M 40”
L 42”
XL 44”
2XL 46”
3XL 48”
4XL 50”
5XL 52”

Children’s sizes:
Baby 19”
Infant 21”
XSC 24″
Child 25”
JNR 27”
XSB 29”
SB 31”
MB 33”
LB 35″

Ebbw Vale RFC can confirm that the following 2 players are leaving the Steelmen for pastures new and all at the club would like to thank them for their excellent service and wish them all the best for the future.

Scrum Half Dai Jones leaves the Steelmen after 10 seasons with only the brief interruption of a short stay at Bedwas during this period. Dai was signed by Neil Edwards and was a key man in the winning of two Division 1 titles and two Championship titles, as well as being an active member of the squad that returned to the Premiership. Dai will be missed within the squad and the Ebbw Addicts due to his approachability and character. At this point, he has not made a decision around his future rugby career.

The second departure is that of Dai Langdon who has played at 10 and 12 for the club with great distinction. He returned to the Steelmen, who he’d represented as an 18 year old Dragons Academy player, from Neath RFC where he had spent a number of seasons. Dai was the outside half who in fierce competition for the number 10 shirt guided Ebbw Vale to success in the title winning 2016 Premiership campaign. Dai will be returning to Neath RFC as they look to put pressure on last year’s Championship front runners Pontypool and Bargoed and will add his undoubted skills and experience to the Gnoll. Dai is another who has been very popular within the squad and amongst the Ebbw Addicts and we wish him the best of luck in guiding Neath in their title challenge.

The other updates at this point are as follows:

Scrum half Sam Ireland, after sustaining a nasty concussion playing as a centre replacement in the heavy defeat in the National Cup tie at Cardiff in early November, is making progress and for the first time has been able to increase his training workload over the last 6 weeks. Sam will join the squad whenever pre season training starts and will be assessed by the club’s medical team through the training period to ensure it is safe for him to return to Indigo Premiership rugby. All at the club will be pleaseD to see this skilful and likeable player successfully return to rugby.

Head Coach Greg Woods has started tentative discussions with the Dragons Academy, so He and his coaching team have an outline of the likely available players from our Regional partners. Once the the current Covid restrictions are lifted, and all are back in their roles, the discussions will be advanced further.

The Steelmen recruitment team still have an eye on players becoming available and may add to the current squad should the correct quality of player become available. There is also a group of 8/10 young players who have been invited to pre season training by the coaching group and we are looking forward to welcoming them to the club as soon as it is safe and appropriate.

Support The Steelmen & Hospice Of The Valleys

“During the crisis caused by the Covid 19 Global Pandemic the work of the key workers within the country led by the NHS has been outstanding in exceptionally difficult circumstances. Many people have raised significant sums of money including Captain Sir Tom Moore who raised over £30m for the NHS. Along with businesses the charitable sector has seen significant losses to their income with events cancelled and the closure of their retail fund raising arms. The officials at Ebbw Vale RFC have considered how we can help in some way and we believe that as a club that owes its excellent home facility to a Miners‘ Welfare Trust we should look to support a local charity.

We are delighted to launch a fundraising partnership with Hospice of the Valleys whose main facilities are a mile away from our Eugene Cross Park home. The Hospice has been a strong and welcome presence in the community of Blaenau Gwent for a number of years providing a fantastic service to those affected by cancer and dementia. Many within the club have faced the difficulties caused by the these all too prevalent illnesses and as a club we have taken part in fund raising for the Hospice for a number of years. Their work within our community underpins the work of the NHS in these areas and is extremely important in providing a level of care that all within our fantastic community deserve and we want to play a part in ensuring that the this wonderful and needed work continues as strongly as it has for many years to come.”

Jonathan Jones
Chairman Ebbw Vale RFC

“As proud ambassador of Hospice of the Valleys, I’m very happy to be supporting Ebbw Vale RFC in their joint venture with the Hospice in raising vital funds for both organisations. The amazing staff at the Hospice provide vital care and support for people in our community with life limiting illness. Throughout this current global crisis, the Hospice has continued to provide the exceptional services to those in greatest need.

As a former Ebbw vale player, it’s a privilege to be supporting a genuine community club, with a rich history in Welsh rugby and strong cultural values. These unprecedented times are certainly a challenge for us all. However, I believe it’s also a time that brings out the best in people. An opportunity for us as individuals to shine, by giving back to our community.

Theses times will pass, we will shake hands, hug and have a drink together again. So, until then will you please support these two great organisations in whatever way possible? As always, we are so grateful for your support and friendship.

Stay safe & well.”

Byron Hayward

“It’s fantastic to see that as a club we have partnered with such a worthy charity “Hospice of the Valleys” for the forthcoming 2020/21 season. I know that it is a charity that is close to so many people who are associated with the club and the town itself. Hopefully this association will bring increased awareness and funds to the charity over the year. As a playing and management group we are looking forward to getting involved and helping out as much as we can and I am sure you will agree it is a great choice and worthy cause.”

Greg Woods
Ebbw Vale RFC
Head Coach

“Our Hospice of the Valleys team are working alongside our NHS colleagues in the community providing support wherever it is needed, be it in a patientKs home, in hospital or in one of the fourteen local care homes. Our amazing Hospice at Home team are helping to protect the NHS by helping to avoid hospital admissions where we can, our team are truly on the frontline providing palliative care where our patients and those who matter most to them need us now more than ever before. The demand on our services has not gone away as we continue with our day to day support and also deal with Covid-19 on top of this. We need the support of the local community to help us raise vital funds and continue being there for our patients and their families.

We must say a huge thank you to Ebbw Vale RFC who have chosen to support the Hospice at this challenging time, we know our Hospice means so much to the club, its players, supporters and community as a whole who have really taken the Hospice to their hearts. We also hope that this fantastic initiative receives the support it deserves which will of course benefit the Club and Hospice in helping to secure the futures for us both.”

Julie Williams, Business & Community Fundraising Manager, Hospice of the Valleys

About The Hospice

Hospice of the Valleys provides specialist palliative care to the people of Blaenau Gwent. We work with people who have a life limiting condition such as heart failure, COPD and cancer. Specialist Palliative Care can help patients and their families with physical, emotional, social and financial problems that are difficult to control. We can help to plan ahead, provide support at the end of life and through bereavement. Patients may only need care from the Hospice for a short time and can be discharged from us if their symptoms are controlled. We also have a designated service for patients with dementia and their carers called CARIAD (Care and Respect in Advanced Dementia).

Our team is made up of professionals who have all had additional training and experience in palliative care. The team provides care for patients:
· at home;
· in their regular place of residence including nursing homes, Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan or Ysbyty Tri Chwm; and,
· at our out-patient clinic in the Hospice in Ebbw Vale.

To help us raise money towards the Hospice Of The Valleys and club we are offering supporters the opportunity to ‘pre-order’ a certain number of Ebbw Vale RFC packages and experiences.

Please support this initiative in any way you can by clicking the following link to purchase:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/support-the-steelmen-hospice-of-the-valleys

Ebbw Vale RFC Chairman Jon Jones is delighted to confirm that Gareth Howells and Red Dragon Sports Management will continue to work with Ebbw Vale RFC after initial success last season. Gareth will provide additional services in the management and development of Social Media content across all official club channels. This role will enhance the work of Gareth and Red Dragon Sports Management in the key areas of Sponsorship and Marketing.
Jon said, “With working together last season being successful, we as a club were keen to build on the relationship with Gareth and Red Dragon Sports Management and look forward to continued success in the coming seasons.”

Gareth Howells director of Red Dragon Sports Marketing commented, “I am delighted and honoured to be working in partnership with Ebbw Vale RFC.  After working at Premiership and Regional level in commercial positions I have expert knowledge on advising clubs, teams and individuals on their sponsorship and marketing.  I know how difficult it is at premiership level to gain sponsors and how vital it is to look after sponsors.

I was approached by club chairman Jonathan Jones to gain new commercial partners for the club and increase new packages to sell as well as advise on the marketing strategy.

The new packages will focus on increasing commercial revenue and give a clear strategic direction to help steer sponsorship strategy, action and measurement.

We will aim to work more with the community, schools and local businesses and, whilst we understand the tough times people and businesses are going through with Covid-19, we need to plan for the near future and be ready for when the first ball is kicked.

To do this we are looking to attract local and national companies who we can introduce to a passionate club and supporter base who are going to do all they can to succeed in the league this coming season with the Ebbw Addict fans behind the side.

The club has numerous packages available, please get in touch if you wish to promote your business alongside Ebbw Vale RFC ‘ The Steelmen’ please contact marketing@evrfc.co.uk 

Missing your dose of the Steelmen. Have a look at this compilation from last season.

Ebbw Vale RFC is currently looking for an enthusiastic person with a graphic design and videographer background to help the club design graphics to use across our social media platforms such as facebook, twitter and Instagram. The person would also be able to create short videos to assist with promoting the club such as behind the scenes footage, interviews and promo video.

The position will be voluntary but a great chance for a person to gain experience with one of Wales’s premier rugby sides, the role will suit someone who is passionate about rugby and looking to gain experience and living in the area.

Graphics will be need to be produced as and when needed, sometimes very quickly due to announcements being made and you will report to the commercial and marketing manager. If you are interested in discussing the role please contact marketing@evrfc.co.uk

The centre positions will be hotly contested with the experienced Dom Franchi being joined by Paul King, Ryan Evans and Ethan Phillips.

Matthew Flanagan enters his third season with the Steelmen following several years at Llanelli RFC. Matthew performed strongly last season to take a firm grip on the No 9 shirt by the end of the season and will be looking to continue this strong form in 20/21.

He will be partnered by a a pair of experienced operators in the 10 shirt in Rhys Jones and Lewis Williams. Rhys quickly settled back into life at ECP after a half season spell with fellow Heads of the Valley team Merthyr RFC. His experience and game control, along with his deadly goal kicking, will be essential as the Indigo Welsh Premiership continues to become more competitive.

A strong challenge for the position will come from Lewis Williams who has well over a 100 Premiership appearances with the majority being at Pontypridd RFC. Lewis will be looking for an injury free season with the Steelmen after being hit with a groin injury after joining in November 2019, and is another with a great deal of goal kicking prowess.

Head Coach Greg Woods has commented on the group of forwards who will take the Steelmen into next season. He said, “I am really pĺeased with the make up of the forward pack this year. It’s a fantastic blend of young and experienced players. It’s been an aim of ours to increase the physical size and ball carrying capability of the pack and I believe we have done that this spring. We want to create a really competitive environment where players will have to  train at match day intensity to warrant their selection. The physical  size, competition for starting spots and the overall mobility of the forwards we have will stand us in good stead in the premiership, where we face different playing environments every week. As a group of coaches we cant wait to work with the squad in pre-season”.

26 year old Tight Head prop Scott Evans joins the club from Pontypool RFC and prior to this spent several seasons in the Premiership playing for Cross Keys RFC where he came under the influence of Steelmen supremo Greg Woods. Scott will bring with him a solid scrummaging ability and is known as a mobile and powerful ball carrier. A product of Oakdale RFC he will hope to enjoy the success and longevity of the last Oakdale product in the Steelmen front row, Mathew ‘Chunky‘ Williams. Scott has also played a number of games with the Dragons Celtic Cup team.

Scott said, “Playing back in the Indigo Welsh Premiership has always been an ambition of mine and I am looking forward to a big pre-season to show what I can do and push for the number three jersey. I spoke to a few of the Ebbw lads and they said it is a good club on and off the field and I am excited to get started and progress at the club.”

Second row forward Kyle Evans comes to the Steelmen from Ystrad Rhondda having been a key member of the team that won promotion from Division 1 and has consolidated with solid performances in the Championship. Kyle will provide line out prowess and a powerful tight game. Kyle said, “After three successful seasons with Ysrad Rhondda, lI’m delighted to be signing for an established Indigo Welsh Premiership  club like Ebbw Vale. I’m very excited at the challenge ahead and can’t wait to get to start pre-season training with the club.”

22 year old back row forward Scott Parsons has been highly recommended to the club as a dynamic and powerful carrier from the 6 or 8 position. Scott joins the club from the Bristol based Old Redcliffians and will add his skills to what will be a highly competitive back 5 roster. His CV includes Somerset County U18 and U20 along with Bristol Academy and ‘A‘ League experience.

Scott told us, “I’m really pleased to be signing for Ebbw Vale RFC for the coming season, and looking forward to a new challenge within a more professional environment. I’m hoping to develop all aspects of my rugby in the upcoming season and becoming a key member of the squad. I can’t wait to meet the boys and get stuck into a successful season!”

Here’s a video of Scott in action.
IMG_0088

23 year old Alex Grey joins the Steelmen after spending last season playing for the Wales 7s squad as a fully contracted player, and representing Wales at the Vancouver and Los Angeles legs of the IRB World Series. Alex is a native of Bury St Edmunds where he has played for the local club, winning several league Player of the Week awards whilst living on the family farm. Alex is able to play right across the back 5 with his favoured positions being 6 and 7.

He comes to the Steelmen with impressive references from Wales and former Ebbw Vale player and coaching favourite Nick Wakley,  as a skilful, powerful player with a great engine that allows a high intensity performance throughout the game.

Alex said, “I’m very excited and grateful for the opportunity to be signing for Ebbw Vale RFC. I look forward to representing such a great club in the Indigo Welsh Premiership and will relish the challenge that it brings.

Ebbw supporters will remember that the last player to join us from Wales 7s was the hugely impressive Lloyd Evans and they will be delighted if Alex makes the same impression on the team that Lloyd did. Highlights of Alex can be found at https://youtu.be/dpNLCuoo05s

We are pleased to announce the first of five new forward signings today, with four more to come over the next four days.

The return of Number 8 Ethan Doyle will be welcomed by the Ebbw Addicts who took to the pacy, powerful and skillful play during his previous 18 month stay with the Steelmen. Ethan was a key part of the squad that won the Premiership and was a strong presence in his second year before moving back to Old Redcliffians and, in his last game for the Steelmen, scored two tries to ensure an away win in a tough encounter at Swansea. 29-year-old Ethan has also played in the Number 4 position in the attritional League 2 South and this versatility is a bonus for the Steelmen. Ethan told the website, “I’m excited to come back to Ebbw Vale and play in front of the Ebbw Addicts again. I’m entering a strong Steelmen squad so hopefully this season will be as successful as my first, when I was a Premiership winner!”

The club is delighted to announce that six more players have committed to Ebbw Vale for the coming season.

From Friday 8th May we will be bringing you one forward signing per day for the next 5 days.

The traditional strength of the Steelmen has been a powerful pack and this will be no different in the coming season with a large amount of experience in the front row. Ross Jones and Rob Sevenoaks enter their 11th season with the club and are both within single figures of reaching 250 games. They are joined by loose heads Joel Harries and Luke Garrett.

Joel, who is coming into his 4th season at the club, will look to have an injury free year after Two seasons ruined by injuries, and all are looking forward to seeing him displaying his strong carrying and tackling game, allied to a solid scrummaging technique, on a more regular basis. Former Dragon Luke adds his undoubted all round ability as he enters his third season at Ebbw having joined from Neath in November 2018 and there will be strong competition between the two younger men and the elder statesman Ross Jones who showed last season that there was no drop off in his scrummaging ability that has been his trademark over his entire career.

The tight head berth will see Dave Whiting concentrate on the number 3 position of the scrum. Dave, who joined from Worcester RFC in early November 2019, played across the front row, showing admirable technique in all positions to go with ball handling and jackalling skills that befit a player who is a former Number 8. He will be challenged by Ellis Evans who has performed strongly at Brynmawr RFC and did well with limited opportunities at the Steelmen last season with a thumb injury keeping him sidelined for 8 weeks.The scrummaging prowess of Ebbw Addicts‘ favourite and twice Man of Steel Rob Sevenoaks will provide stiff competition for the No 3 shirt to the young pretenders!

At hooker newly appointed Captain Joe Franchi, who is close to 150 games for the club, will be backed up by Mikhail Blake entering his second season with Ebbw, where he impressed with his work ethic and his controlled aggressive approach to the role and made his mark with his display in the draw at Llandovery.

Coaches Greg Woods and Gethin Robinson are looking forward to working with the group.

“At such a difficult time, many may think that events at Ebbw Vale Rugby Club should come well down the order of importance.
I, perhaps not surprisingly, disagree!
The messages from Greg, the announcement of a new captain, and Jon’s review of the season, all remind us that we will eventually come through this, and provide us with a cause for optimism.
Of course, we will have to suffer bad news in the meanwhile and the sad death of Neil Robinson reminds us of the many who have given so much to have made Ebbw Vale such an important club in Welsh rugby.
Neil exemplified all that the rest of Wales admires about us: loyalty, high standards, a sense of past history and generosity of spirit.
If my memory serves me right, before taking up teaching he had a brief period as a policeman and I suspect no other President can claim as can I that he cross-examined two of Ebbw Vale’s finest – Neil and Detective Sergeant Gareth Howls!
And thinking of Ebbw Vale’s finest I was struck by a glaring omission in the Chairman’s review. There seemed to be one person whose contribution to the season was greater than anyone else – and that is Jon himself.
Perhaps only those most involved in the running of the club – and his long suffering family – appreciate the enormous sacrifices and effort that he makes to ensure not just the success but also the very existence of the club we love.
From everybody who holds Ebbw Vale RFC dear, Mr. Chairman, we thank you.
Long may you reign!“

Mark Powell, President.