Category Archives: Ebbw Vale Rugby
Rhys Clarke, Jared Rosser and Will Talbot-Davies featured in the Dragons Premiership Select XV against Ealing Trailfinders in the British and Irish Cup match at Pandy Park, Cross Keys on Saturday afternoon.
Unfortunately, the Gwent side registered a second successive defeat in the competition, having led for much of the game. Outside half Arwel Robson, a Penallta product now plying his trade with Newport, had a chance to win it with the last kick of the match but it was not to be, giving the visitors – whose Head Coach is Alex Codling, well known to followers of the Steelmen – a 27-25 win.
We have made some changes to dates/times of our home games with Carmarthen and Bargoed, better to fit in with Wales’s Autumn International programme.
The match with Carmarthen will now kick off at 1:30pm on Saturday,November 12th.
Bargoed will visit us on Friday, November 25th, for a 7:30 start. We are very grateful to them for agreeing this change.
Ebbw Vale’s outside half, Josh Lewis, has won this week’s Principality Try of the Week award for his brilliant individual score in last Saturday’s match with Merthyr. In a popular vote via Facebook, Lewis beat other worthy contenders including an excellent team try by Ebbw’s opponents in that match, finished by Rhys Downes.
One veteran Ebbw supporter described Lewis’s score as the best individual try he’d ever seen by an Ebbw Vale player and expressed the view- shared by many others – that it has every chance of being Try of the Season, an award won last year by team mate Ryan Gardner.
If you haven’t seen it yet, here‘s your chance. Be assured, once won’t be enough!
There’s been a shortage of reported witty banter for some time but it was in abundance at Merthyr on Saturday afternoon. We’ve collected a couple of cracking new witticisms and added them to the list that goes back to the 1980s. You can read them here.
Ebbw Vale host Pontypridd tomorrow night (October 12th, 7:15pm kick off) in the first of the season’s Foster’s Challenge Cup matches. Following the pattern they established last season, of using the competition for development, Ebbw include eleven players on permit and give opp0rtunities to some squad members who have not tasted league rugby this season. The team is led, for the first time, by Joe Bartlett.
The team is: Chris Levesley, Tom Watkins, Jordan Howells, Liam Jones, Kier Hughes; Dan Haymond, Ben Ellis; Joel Harries, Nicky Thomas, Joshua James; Joe Bartlett (capt), Max Williams; Blain Meek, Dawid Rubasniak, Josh Jacas.
Bench: Jonny Bowen, Steffan Blackmore, Ross Jones, Christian Francis, Ethan Doyle, Dai Jones, Dai Langdon, Joshua Congreve.
We are extremely grateful to Bedlinog RFC, Beddau RFC, Brecon RFC, Brynmawr RFC, Newbridge RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons for agreeing permits for their players to appear in this game.
Ebbw Vale will play Bargoed, Merthyr and Pontypridd on a home and away basis in this season’s Foster’s Challenge Cup. The admission prices for home matches will be:
Season ticket holders – free
Adults – £7
Concessions – £5
Nigel Davies makes several changes to the Ebbw Vale side that will meet in-form Merthyr on Saturday afternoon. Dan Haymond, Nathan Preece, Chris Thomas, Ian George, Ronny Kynes and Josh Jacas come in to the starting line up with Rhys Clarke moving to number 8.
The team is: Dan Haymond; Chris Levesley, Nathan Preece, Dai Langdon, Jared Rosser; Josh Lewis, Chris Thomas; Ian George, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (Capt), Ashley Sweet; Josh Jacas, Ronny Kynes, Rhys Clarke.
Bench:Joe Franchi, Ross Jones, Rob Sevenoaks, Joe Bartlett, Ethan Doyle, Ben Ellis, Jordan Howells, Ryan Gardner.
Head Coach Nigel Davies rings the changes for Ebbw’s visit to Neath on Saturday afternoon.
The team is: Will Talbot-Davies, Chris Levesley, Jordan Howells, Dai Langdon, Jared Rosser; Josh Lewis, Ben Ellis; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Rhys Clarke, Dawid Rubasniak, Rory Pitman.
Bench: Joe Franchi, Robert Sevenoaks, Ian George, Joe Bartlett, Ethan Doyle, Chris Thomas, Ronny Kynes, Dan Haymond.
We have received the new Samurai merchandise (including replica shirts) and will open the club shop this Thursday evening (30th September) between 6.30pm and 8.00pm.
Price list is as follows:
Home Replica Shirt £49 S to 4XL
Away Replica Shirt £49 S to 4XL
Phoenix T-Shirt(Green with red) £18 S to 4XL
Phoenix Polo Shirt(Blue with red) £22 S to 4XL
Oceania Hoodie(Two tone blue) £40 S to 4XL
Extreme Gilet(Black with red) £40 S to 4XL
Georgia Full Zip Jacket(Blue) £45 M to 3XL
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO CARD FACILITIES.
ITEMS WILL NEED TO BE PAID WITH CASH ONLY.
We were extremely sorry to hear of the death of former player Barrie Tovey following a battle with leukaemia. Barrie played as a full back for Ebbw Vale in the 1960s and 70s and went on to serve on the committee, including a stint as match secretary. He remained an avid follower of the team throughout his life. Roy Lewis, who knew Barrie well, said, “Barrie was a very loyal committee member, and one of the nicest people I ever met.”
The funeral is on Friday 14 October 1030 at Christ Church and then the crematorium, followed by a reception at our clubhouse.
We send our most sincere commiserations to Barrie’s family.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been experiencing intermittent problems in updating and accessing this website. We understand the frustration experienced by supporters, but rest assured: it is nothing compared to that experienced by those of us who work to maintain, populate and finance it. Please bear in mind that, like everyone who volunteers at the club, we do all this for the sheer love of it, on top of all the other stuff like full time jobs, families and social lives. If we occasionally fall short of your expectations, please forgive us: there’s always a reason, and it’s not because we can’t be bothered or are useless at what we do. Some things really are beyond our control, like the server on which our website lived being infected by spambots that sent out emails constantly, making it unavailable to view or to update – you’ve probably been annoyed by that ‘data base error’ message, but not as annoyed as our webmaster whose match reports for the Newport game completely disappeared without being uploaded.
Anyway, our website is now on a new server and we’ve been assured that all will be well. Let’s hope so, as I find crossing my fingers for luck makes typing almost impossible.
Newport visit Eugene Cross Park on Saturday afternoon for the Steelmen’s first home game – and first Saturday game – of the season.
The Ebbw Vale team is as follows:
Dan Haymond, Chris Levesley, Jordan Howells, Dai Langdon, Ryan Gardner; Josh Lewis, Chris Thomas; Ian George, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Joe Bartlett; Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes, Harri Keddie.
Bench: Joe Franchi, Joel Harries, Rob Sevenoaks, Ethan Doyle, Josh Jacas, Rory Pitman, Ben Ellis, Will Talbot-Davies.
Please note: Alan Gall will be selling season tickets outside the main gate until 2:20 pm. Please do not pay at the gate and then try to reclaim in the club before the game; Alan will be available for half an hour in the club office after the match.
There will be a Q&A session with Nigel Davies and players in the main bar at 6pm.
Thanks to RTBs Under 8s and Whiteheads U8s for being the Guard of Honour today. Hope you have a great day and enjoy playing at half time!
We have agreed to rearrange two fixtures as follows:
Pontypridd (a) – Tuesday 25th October ko tbc
Swansea (a) – Thursday 3rd November ko:7:30pm.
Below is the text from a letter to all clubs from Gareth Davies, chairman of the WRU, stressing the importance of the work done off the field.
In the light of Gareth’s email and our own circumstances please consider the following:-
As we approach the start of the 2016/17 season as reigning CHAMPIONS we know we are going to have to improve everything we do. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes from a core of hard working volunteers and now is a good time to recognise this effort. Volunteers allow our famous club to fight above its weight but we can’t and won’t become complacent. If you want to see continuous improvement please contact us to see how you can help.
To those who’ve helped us over the past months and years, YOUR club thanks you!
Now…..let’s get behind the Champions, our very own STEELMEN and retain that title!
Ian, Jon and Alan.
If you feel you’d like to volunteer to help in any capacity please contact one of –
Ian James – clubsecretary@evrfc.co.uk – 07909870503
Andrew Phillips – ebbw40@gmail.com 07766490358
This is the letter from Gareth Davies.
Dear All,
On eve of the opening weekend of the new season I would like to take the opportunity to both thank each and every one of the constituent clubs and associations of the Welsh Rugby Union for your continued commitment to our national game and send our best wishes to all those involved this weekend and throughout the season both on and off the pitch
From the invaluable planning and preparation which takes place behind the scenes at clubs around the country during the off season to the players about to take their first competitive steps of the new season upon it, you are the lifeblood of the game and we looking forward to sharing an exciting season of rugby ahead in 2016/2017.
Remember whatever the role in rugby, the lifelong club stalwart, a new volunteer or a young player just starting out we are all united by our passion for the game and that includes the dedicated staff here at the WRU.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch at any time throughout the season with your relevant WRU representative if there is anything more you feel we can do to help with our common cause of safeguarding the future of our national game .
Gareth Davies
The first Steelmen selection of the new Principality Premiership season, to take on Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday (kick off 2:30 pm) has been announced. There are league debuts for Will Talbot Davies and Rory Pitman and the return of outside half, Josh Lewis, to the red, green and white. On the bench, the only new face is Ben Ellis, a scrum half who has joined from Hartpury College.
15. Chris Levesley, 14. Will Talbot Davies, 13. NathanPreece, 12. Dai Langdon, 11. Jared Rosser; 10. Josh Lewis, 9. Chris Thomas; 1. Ross Jones, 2. Mathew Williams, 3. Gethin Robinson; 4. Damien Hudd (capt), 5. Ashley Sweet; 6. Rhys Clarke, 7. Ronny Kynes, 8. Rory Pitman. Bench: 16. Joe Franchi, 17. Ian George, 18. Robert Sevenoaks,
19. Joe Bartlett, 20. Josh Jacas, 21. Harri Keddie, 22. Ben Ellis, 23. Jordan Howells.
Llanelli RFC have been in touch to let us know about prices at Parc y Scarlets for the fixture between Llanelli and Ebbw Vale on Sunday. Here they are:
Adult entry £12
Concession (over 60) £6
Parking (per car) £3
Here’s a message from our company secretary, Alan Gall, regarding purchase and collection of season tickets:
You will once again be able to buy or collect your season ticket from the clubhouse this Thursday between 6:15pm and 7:30pm.
If you are able to come along please do as this eases the pressure before the first home match of the season. Remember we can’t take card payments but you can order your ticket on the website and pay by Paypal and I’ll then post the ticket to you.
Alternatively you can transfer the money via internet banking to :-
sort code 30 92 97
account 33007560
Steelmen Rugby Limited
If you choose to do this let me know and I’ll post the ticket to you.
Cheque should be payable to Steelmen Rugby Limited.
We have received notice of some changes to the facilities for supporters at Parc y Scarlets. The changes are as per this announcement:-
WELCOME TO THE LLANELLI RFC ‘CLUBHOUSE’ A GREAT MATCH-DAY EXPERIENCE AWAITS LLANELLI RFC SUPPORTERS AND VISITING FANS THIS SEASONAS THE QUINNELL LOUNGE WELCOMES THE WELSH PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP
Following discussions with the Scarlets, we are pleased to advise you that we can now offer RFC supporters, visiting fans, officials and players a great match day experience as a Llanelli RFC ‘Clubhouse’ type environment has been created at Parc Y Scarlets. On match day all other entrances will be closed and ALL supporters will enter the Quinnell Lounge with its excellent catering and bar facilities. Supporters will be able to occupy centre pitch top quality stadium seats outside the lounge, a truly unparalleled scenario not, to be matched anywhere in the Premiership league.
The ‘Clubhouse’ will be open usually from 1pm on the day of a game, which is typically 2.30pm and all tickets will be allocated at the entrance of the Quinnell Lounge on the second floor of the main entrance. There is lift access on the ground floor reception. Payments to made in CASH ONLY. Match day programmes will also be for sale at the ticketing station.
Supporters who wish to take up Llanelli RFC hospitality packages can do so in the comfort of the Hospitality areas in the Quinnell Lounge and expressions of interest should, as usual, be made to the Executive Committee (Peter Thomas in the first instance). Details of committee contacts are all on the RFC website.
Players and coaching staff will also enter the lounge post-match and this is a great opportunity to meet the players before or after they have their post-match meal.
This measure will save the Region a considerable sum of wasted expense in match day expense and will bring everyone together in the spacious comfort of one of the top lounges in Welsh rugby.
Ebbw Vale RFC are delighted to announce an enhanced relationship with Division 1 East Nantyglo RFC in addition to the other clubs that they currently work with in the Blaenau Gwent area. The relationship will include Nantyglo coaching staff attending Steelmen training sessions and being mentored by Ebbw Vale coaching staff. There will also be the opportunity for some of the younger Ebbw Vale squad members to gain valuable game time and experience with Nantyglo in the league and provide an opportunity for Nantyglo players to test themselves at a higher level in the midweek Fosters Challenge Cup.
Another of Ebbw Vale’s coaching staff has been snapped up on a fulltime basis with Nick Wakley being appointed as Wales Women assistant coach as preparations for next year’s World Cup in Belfast and Dublin begin in earnest. Wakley initially joined Ebbw Vale in November 2014 as Assistant to Jason Strange, a role he continued under Nigel Davies last season. He will be joined by Paul Young as Forwards coach.
Under head coach Rowland Phillips’ tutelage, Ebbw Vale backs coach Wakley, who also heads up the women’s sevens program on a full-time basis, will coach the Wales backs.
“Nick Wakley is already delivering the sevens program with the Welsh women so he will bring a lot of playing and coaching experience to the 15-a-side international game,” said WRU head of rugby performance Geraint John. “The calibre of these appointments to the national women’s programmes, following that of Rowland Phillips as Wales Women head coach, reflect a clear decision by the Welsh Rugby Union to increase the resource and support available to one of the fastest growing sports in the world.”
Ebbw Vale are delighted at this latest development and are fully supportive of Nick’s transition to a professional coach role. We thank Nick for his work as we returned to the Premier Division and the winning of the title in a high quality performance at Pontypridd in May.
At this time Nigel Davies will not look to fill the role.
Ebbw Vale’s fixture at Aberavon, which was to have been played on Saturday, November 19th has been switched to Friday, November 18th with a 7:15 kick off. This is to avoid a clash with the Wales v Japan international match in the autumn series on the Saturday afternoon.
This season’s fixtures in the Fosters Challenge Cup have been published this morning, and it’s all change this year for Ebbw. Instead of being lined up to meet fellow Dragons’ region clubs, the Steelmen will face Bargoed, Merthyr and Pontypridd, home and away, during the first half of the season.
Ebbw’s fixtures have been added here.
All the Fosters Challenge Cup Fixtures can be downloaded here.
Ebbw Vale RFC, in conjunction with RTB Steelers and Jesters Girls Rugby presents:
“FEEL THE STEEL” FUN DAY SUNDAY 14th AUGUST as part of the Dragons’ Summer Tour.
10am to 1 pm
Meet at The Welfare, Eugene Cross Park
Open to boys and girls aged 6 to 15
Do you play rugby? Or are you interested in starting to play rugby for a club or your school? Then come along and have some fun at the “FeelTheSteel” Fun Day!
Activities include:
Meet and Greet with players from Dragons Rugby
Q & A with the Dragons Players
Skills sessions with EVRFC players and RTB coaches
Chance to “FeelTheSteel” and have your picture taken with the Premiership Trophy won by EVRFC last season
Take part in the Brian Moore’s Mouth Competition
Bouncy Castle
Tag Rugby Matches
#feelthesteel
As the world turns towards Rio and the start of the Olympic Games, one member of the Ebbw Vale RFC coaching staff will have a bird’s eye view as part of the GB Swimming Squad in Brazil.
Rhys Shorney, the club’s lead physio and strength and conditioning coach, has been selected as part of the Physio team for GB swimming in Rio. This is the second time Rhys has been to an Olympic Games as he was also was part of the physiotherapy team for GB swimming in London 2012.
Rhys, a former Ebbw Vale player, has played a leading role in the growth of Ebbw Vale RFC over the last six years with his professional approach to the treatment and rehab of injured players, allied to his excellent knowledge of strength and conditioning, having a major role in the success of the club winning the Premiership title last season.
Rhys has already been out in Rio for the past week preparing the GB swimmers in their quest for gold. He said, “”Working for British Swimming has been a privilege over the last two Olympic cycles, and being able to support some of the best athletes in the world as they attempt to fulfil thier life’s dream has been an honour. The responsibility of which is one I don’t take lightly or for granted.”
Good luck to Rhys and all the GB squad in Rio from everyone at Ebbw Vale RFC!
Ebbw Addicts Travel to RGC
Saturday 3rd December/Sunday 4th December.
The Addicts will be providing transport to the above match. This will be an overnight stay at the Premier Inn (Glan Conwy) in Llandudno. Cost of the trip will be:
£65 for members of the Ebbw Addicts Travel Group*
£75 for non-members*
*Cost is per person sharing a twin room*
**Breakfast on Sunday morning is included in the price**
To book your seats on the trip, phone 07766490358 or email ebbwaddicts@mail.com
Ebbw Vale RFC is once again delighted to welcome several highly promising players to Eugene Cross Park.
Returning for his third season is Welsh U20’s Grand Slam Winning No8 Harri Keddie. All at the club have enjoyed watching Harri develop over the last 2 seasons and he has contributed strongly to our success in this period. Many expect Harri to challenge strongly for the senior Dragons team in the coming season and Ebbw Vale will look to play its part in ensuring he achieves this goal.
18-year-old Jared Rosser returns for a second season and is another who delighted the Steelmen faithful, with his development bringing several excellent displays in taking us to the Premiership Title, including a match-clinching try in the play off semi final at Llandovery. This form earned him a place in the Wales U20’s World Cup squad where he gained several caps and scored his first try in Welsh colours. This was a huge achievement for such a young player and he will spend August in South Africa with Wales U18’s
A third player returning to the Steelmen will be prop forward Keagan Bale who missed the whole of last season following a knee injury sustained in training. He had previously made a strong impression with an excellent display at Llanelli in April 2015 and will be looking forward to getting back into action
A new face for the Steelmen will be 18-year-old second row Max Williams who comes to the club with a reputation of being an athletic ball carrier that befits a former basketball player. Max will also be touring South Africa will Wales U18’s and will not be seen in Steelmem colours until September
There are two Ebbw Vale based players allocated to the club by the Dragons, both being products of the Jason Strange coached Ebbw Fawr School’s Cup Final team, Joel Harries and Dawid Rubasniak.
Joel, a native of Beaufort, trained with the club last pre season as a 17-year-old and impressed our experienced front row players with his strength and power in the loose head prop position. He will certainly add competition to the more established loose heads at the club.
Dawid was an unused substitute in the Neath away league game and then went on to make his first appearance in Ebbw Vale colours in the Fosters Challenge Cup game against Cross Keys, played on the 4G pitch at the Dragons’ Ystrad Mynach training Centre. He impressed all with a dynamic performance that was capped with a try and he will be looking to pressurise Ronny Kynes for the No7 shirt.
The final player of the Academy allocation, and a new face at Eugene Cross Park, is 18-year-old full back Will Talbot-Davies. Will, a native of Solihull, has come through the Welsh Exiles program and impressed the Steelmen’s Head Coach with his pace and elusive running for the Dragons U18 team. The coaching staff are looking forward to working with this exciting talent. He will be living with Steelmen favorites, Dorian Jones and Carl Meyer, who will no doubt instill in him their passion for the club!