Well, it’s that time of the year again for Ebbw Vale RFC to spend the day at Ebbw Vale Market. This Friday (29th July) the Addicts will have a stall where you will be able to:

• Purchase “Champions” merchandise; t-shirts at £22, mugs at £8 and car stickers at £3
• Buy club merchandise at large discounts; replica shirts at £20, hoodies at £20, rain jackets at £15, polo shirts at £10 and t-shirts at £8
• Sign up for membership of Ebbw Vale RFC for the 2016/17 season
• Join the Ebbw Addicts for the 2016/17 season and book seats for games against London Welsh and Llanelli.
• Find out about Sponsorship opportunities for the 2016/17 season.

So come along and say hello!

Reminder
Spend more than £10 on club merchandise on market day and you will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of tickets to see Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Singleton Park, Swansea in September.

Centre commits

Jordan Howells has committed to his fourth season as a Steelman and will be looking to challenge the established pairing of Adam Jones and Nathan Preece in the coming season. Jordan although being an excellent attacking centre found himself coming off the bench in many games and he will be looking to recapture the form that saw him named Welsh Premiership Player of the Month in April 2015.

Pitman becomes Steelman

This is not another capture of a Penallta player but the signing of Scarlets’ No8 Rory Pitman. Weighing in at 118kg, Rory brings with him a fearsome ball carrying ability that was first noted as he came through the Ospreys development set up and has been displayed at clubs such as London Welsh, Rotherham and Wasps.
The 26 year old is looking forward to linking up again with friend and former team mate Josh Lewis and coming under the direction of forwards coach Lee Davies who helped guide him through his early days of senior rugby at Bridgend.

Ebbw Vale RFC have linked up with Ignition to offer the chance to win tickets to see Noel Gallagher on September 2nd, when his band, High Flying Birds, will be a headlining a show at Singleton Park in Swansea. We’ve been given two pairs of tickets to the above event and will be passing them on to two lucky people!

To have the chance to win the tickets is quite simple.The Addicts will be opening the club shop on Monday 24th July (6.00pm to 8.00pm) and will also have a stall at the Ebbw Vale market on Friday 29th July. Come along on either day and purchase some Ebbw Vale RFC merchandise to the minimum value of £10 and you will automatically be entered into the draw to win the first pair of tickets.

We have received the Champions t-shirts and car stickers and these will be available to buy on both the above dates. Champions mugs will also be on sale. There will also be a sale of last season’s leisure wear and replica jerseys.

Then watch out for a further competition in August, where purchasing your EVRFC season ticket could also win you a pair of tickets to see Noel Gallagher in Swansea.

Thanks to Marcus at Ignition for providing the tickets.

Ebbw Vale RFC are delighted that Nick Wakley has once again been named head coach of the Dragons 7s squad as they defend the Singha Premiership 7s title, won with a last gasp try by Ebbw Vale’s Harrison Keddie in the final last season against Wasps.

Joining Harrison in the squad this season will be another Ebbw Vale favourite, Chris Levesley, who recently impressed for GB students at the World Student Games. GB students lost to Australia in the final but Chris’s impressive displays have earned him a place in the Dragons 7s squad.

Ebbw Vale RFC has followed this year’s championship winning campaign in the Principality Premiership by announcing that TVR, the iconic British sports car manufacturer, is to be its main sponsor in the 2016 /17 season, carrying the company’s famous logo on the front of both shirt and shorts.

The news reinforces TVR’s commitment to the local community following its announcement earlier this year that it is to manufacture its new vehicle, engineered by Gordon Murray Design and powered by Cosworth, in Ebbw Vale, and which will have its public launch in 2017.

Commenting on the news, Ebbw Vale RFC Director and Chairman Jonathan Jones said: “As a club we are delighted that TVR has become a partner and feel it is fitting that a club that derives its nickname from the steel industry, which was once the main economic driver of the area, will have strong links with the iconic TVR marque.

“TVR’s facility will help to re-energise the area economically in the coming years and we look forward to working closely with the company, helping them develop an enjoyable and prosperous future with the club, its fellow sponsors, its supporters, and with the area as a whole. This must surely be the most prestigious sponsorship deal in the history of the Premiership and is an excellent boost for Ebbw Vale RFC and the League as a whole.”

Operations Director for TVR John Chasey commented, “TVR are looking forward to establishing our factory in Ebbw Vale and becoming an integral part of both the local economy and community. While TVR cars have traditionally sported composite bodies, they have always been built upon a steel chassis, and the new car will continue to use a steel frame bonded with carbon fibre as part of the iStream process, so the sponsorship of the Steelmen is an appropriate connection we look forward to developing.”

Ebbw Vale RFC are pleased to announce their coaching structure for the coming season.

Nigel Davies remains to lead the club’s defence of their Premiership title, secured with a superb performance at Sardis Road in May.

With Ceri Jones having moved on to coach the Dragons, the club are delighted to welcome back former Steelmen prop forward Lee Davies as Forwards Coach. Lee enjoyed a 9-year Premiership playing career that included a 3-year spell at Ebbw Vale from 2003 to 2006 after coming through the Pontypridd U21 set up. Lee played at Bridgend and Pontypridd before retiring with a back injury in 2012. As a qualified secondary school teacher he switched to Coleg Y Cwmoedd 4 years ago to join the rugby academy and he has played a strong role in making the college one of the stand-out performers in the college league. Alongside this, Lee has also coached Cardiff Blues age grade rugby at U16/18 level. Last season he coached Beddau to a sixth placed finish in the Championship. Lee is qualified to WRU Level 3 and is about to embark on his Level 4 qualification.

The club is delighted to welcome Lee back and he clearly fits with the ethos of appointing young ambitious coaches who have an affiliation to the club and an understanding of its culture.

Damien Hudd will assist Lee, and will combine this new role with his continuing playing career. The club will support Damien as he embarks on gaining his Level 1 and 2 WRU coaching qualifications in the coming season. A keen student of the game, Damien is looking forward to his new role and the club is delighted that this is the opening chapter in retaining his obvious leadership qualities for the long-term.

Mike Powell, who performed the Assistant Coach role last season despite the severe leg injury he sustained in October, has moved on to pastures new. We thank Mike for his efforts and the part he played in our title-winning season.

Nick Wakley will once again coach the backs. After joining at Christmas 2014, Nick has developed strongly as a coach and is looking forward to working with a talented back line that seldom receives the credit it deserves. Once again Nick’s expertise has been in demand on the summer 7’s circuit, which is a clear indication of his attack coach ability.

The strength and conditioning role will once again be fulfilled for the 4^th season by former Steelmen scrum half Lewis Roberts. An intern from the University of South Wales, Harry Ashby, will assist Lewis. The club would like to take the opportunity to thank former Steelmen pace ace Ian Jeffries, who heads up this key area of Educational Sport for the University.

Principality Premiership champions Ebbw Vale will begin the defence of their title away to Llanelli on September 3. The Steelmen, who beat Pontypridd 38-12 in the grand final to lift the Premiership trophy for the first time in their history, then travel to Sardis Road for the first league match on Pontypridd’s new 3G pitch on September 10, before welcoming Newport to Eugene Cross Park on September 17 followed by Bridgend on September 24.

The Principality Premiership has been revamped in time for this season with 16 teams playing each other in the first half of the season. In the New Year, the league will be split into two divisions of eight for the remainder of the season, the top teams playing it out for the title.

All the clubs in the expanded division will receive the same on and off-field support from the Welsh Rugby Union. As previously agreed and announced, the Premiership will be ring-fenced until the end of season 2018/19.

Ebbw Vale head coach Nigel Davies said, “It’s going to be a tough start, Parc y Scarlets and Sardis Road are always difficult places to go but we expect everyone to raise their game against us as champions this season anyway. We did well away from home last season, and we will just have to prepare well in pre-season and back ourselves to get off to a good start. After all, the first 15 rounds of the season is like a mini-season in itself and if you don’t get momentum early on, you’ll be on the back foot and find it difficult to stay in the top eight when the league splits.

“It’s always nice to go back to Llanelli, I have lots of friends there and I have huge regard for their development work. Like Ebbw Vale, they develop players and coaches for the professional game. As for Pontypridd, we beat them three times last season, and returning to the venue of the final will certainly be a big occasion, but we have to play these teams at some point so we just have to be ready. We will look forward to our first home matches against local rivals Newport and Bridgend.”

Davies is confident he has the right balance in his squad to launch a staunch defence of the title, with Damien Hudd still at the helm.

“The big strength of the team is its togetherness and we’re really pleased that the majority of the squad has stayed together. We’ve added some strength and are on the look-out for one or two more players but we’re happy with the balance of the side. Damien had such a great end to the season and winning Player of the Season, he’s been like a 19 year old around pre-season training. You need leaders at every level of the game and Damien has such fantastic leadership qualities.”

The fixtures are all here.

As July takes over from June, and the nights begin to lengthen, Ebbw’s players are back in training and thoughts switch to the season ahead. The first dates of note, for the eagerly anticipated pre-season friendlies, have been announced.

On Friday 12th of August, the Steelmen make the short trip to Bedlinog, returning to the ground where they clinched the Division One East crown on a blazing hot day in May, 2011. The ‘Foxes’ won promotion to the Championship last season and will prove stiff opposition for Ebbw – especially with a certain Iain Smerdon pulling the strings.

On Saturday, August 27th, Ebbw will play British and Irish Cup holders, London Welsh. The game, at Imber Court (KT8 0BT) will kick off at 2:30. The sides met at Eugene Cross Park last summer, and the Addicts will be looking forward to a day out in Surrey… which is why they’re running transport there!

The cost will be £20 per person including a full English (surely that should be ‘Welsh’) breakfast at the rugby club before departure to London.

To book seats on the bus, contact Ebbw Addicts:
Phone: 07766490358
Email: ebbwaddicts@gmail.com

Details of timings will be released followed.

Training is due to commence this evening (Tuesday) on French’s field starting at 6.30pm.
Training will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm.

This autumn Wales are playing the following matches :-

Australia 5th November kick off 2:30pm
Argentina 12th November kick off 5:30pm
Japan 19th November kick off 2:30pm
South Africa 26th November kick off 5:30pm

If you would like to be considered for tickets please email:
International-tickets@evrfc.co.uk

There’s news of another player staying with Ebbw Vale RFC for the coming season, and of one returning to his home village club after 3 excellent seasons with the Steelmen.

Scrum half Tom Edwards, who came back to Ebbw Vale from Bedwas at the start of last season, has put pen to paper for the coming campaign. Blaina boy Tom, who missed a large part of the season through injury, will be looking forward to a good pre-season so that he’s ready to challenge for the 9 shirt in September.

Outside half Iain Smerdon has decided to return to Bedlinog, his home village club, after three great seasons at Eugene Cross Park. Smerdon became a firm favourite with Steelmen fans, who admired his bravery, commitment and skill in getting his outside backs into play. Everyone wishes him well back at the Foxes, where his experience will be vital in their first Championship season following promotion.

Following on from the incredible demand for Champions mugs the club are pleased to announce the release of a Champions t-shirt and car sticker.

Both the t-shirt and car sticker have been created by Mumph (of Mugbys fame) who also designed the Champions and Ebbw Addicts mugs this season.

The T-shirt has a Mumph design on the front with all the season’s results on the back. The t-shirt will cost £22

The car sticker will retail at £3.

Information of when the t-shirt and car sticker can be bought from the club shop will be released shortly.

T-shirt front

T-shirt back

Car sticker

Principality Premiership Champions Ebbw Vale RFC have agreed a deal with the famous Samurai brand for the next two seasons. Chairman Jon Jones, in announcing the partnership, said that having met with Samurai staff, their professionalism, flexibility and the high quality products made the choice an obvious one for the club. “I’m sure the players and supporters will enjoy wearing the new kit and leisure wear in the coming seasons,” he said.

Mike Atkin, Head of UK Sales at Samurai Sportswear added, “We’re delighted that Ebbw Vale RFC have joined the Samurai Family. We’d like to thank the club for the opportunity and we look forward to seeing our cutting edge Iconix Match Kit giving them the winning edge on match days, alongside our training wear range. The club really engages with both the local and wider community and Samurai Sportswear are proud to be the official kit supplier for the foreseeable future; we look forward to more seasons of success!”

And here is your first taste of the season’s home and away kits…

Many happy returns to our Company Secretary extraordinaire, Alan Gall, who has significant birthday today (Sunday). Everyone at the club sends very best wishes!

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Best wishes are in order for Rhys Clarke and his bride-to-be Kylie who are getting married today, Saturday. Everyone at Ebbw Vale RFC sends congratulations to the happy couple!

Here’s the last in the series of off-season squad updates, but there are sure to be more to come as the summer wears on. We’ll keep you posted!

Ronny “showbiz” Kynes will start his 6^th season as a Steelman and will have kept fit in the summer polishing the numerous awards he won: Welsh Rugby Writers’ Premiership Player of the Year, Premiership Top Try scorer and Supporters’ Player of the Year at Ebbw Vale. Ronny gained a large amount of publicity for the tries scored, and gave interviews with great humour and the honesty to praise those around him in the team. His 19 tries are a Welsh Premiership record and he has passed 70 tries for the club in 130 appearances, which is a phenomenal record! It is great news that the fans will once again be able to see the famous Catch‘n’ Kynes (© our webmaster, not Phil Steele!) in the coming season. As well as his driving skills Ronny is a quality 7 winning many turnovers and creating unrest in the opposition back line. Equally importantly, he is one of the key players in setting the standards amongst the playing squad.

The quiet man of the Back Row Ethan Doyle will also be back for his second season with the Steelmen. Many consider him unlucky not to have played more games in his first season with his hard grafting, carrying and pace winning many admirers amongst the Steelmen faithful.

Here is the latest installment of news about the Steelmen squad for the forthcoming Principality Premiersship season. And there’ll be more here on Friday evening!

Dan Haymond, Chris Levesley and Ryan Gardner all return for the coming season.

RTB product Ryan, fresh from winning Premiership Try of the Season, made a great early season impression before a freak finger injury sustained at Pontypridd at the end of October required an operation keeping him out of action for 10 weeks. With players in form he found his opportunities limited but did put in an impressive 15 minutes in the play off semi final at Llandovery with his pace helping the Steelmen hold out against the rapid Drovers back division. As the fastest man in the squad, it is anticipated that the 21 year old will press strongly for a starting slot.

The diminutive Chris Levesley will return for a second season and will again thrill and bemuse supporters with his footwork and strength. An exciting player he will be looking for an injury free season as a number of niggles limited his game time last year in the 15 or wing shirts.

Abergavenny product Dan Haymond will start his sixth season at the club and will be fresh from making a major impression in the play off games. His searing 60 metre break at Llandovery created a wonderful try that ultimately proved the difference between the sides. Dan also ran in an 80metrer try in the final, displaying great pace and a potential future career in acting as he executed a swallow dive for the try without taking his eyes off the waiting camera. Dan has a been a loyal and valuable member of the Steelmen over the last five seasons and all are delighted that he remains to fight for the 15 shirt.

As the clock ticks down towards the start of pre-season training, here is the latest release regarding the club’s squad. This time, we’re back in mid-field with three firm favourites.

The rock like centre pairing of Adam Jones and Nathan Preece will be harnessed again in the coming season. Brynmawr native Nathan worked tirelessly to overcome a serious hamstring injury that sidelined him at the end of the previous season and the start of last season. With a full pre-season, he will look to recapture the robust form he displayed once returning to the team.

Adam will also look to get a strong pre-season in after suffering a recurrent groin injury. Supporters will long remember his Man of the Match performance in the thrilling televised home encounter with Aberavon that enabled Ebbw Vale to reach the play offs. Adam also revealed a hidden talent in the last few weeks of the season, his ability to speak Welsh delighting the S4C crew, as well as the growing Welsh-speaking community in North Gwent!

Outside Half Dai Langdon returns for his third season in his second spell at the club where he first played as a 17-year-old, and will provide a major obstacle to the returning Josh Lewis in gaining the 10 shirt. Dai, a native of Brynmawr, will combine his rugby whilst studying to become a teacher at Swansea University. He will look to build on his impressive end of season form where he expertly guided the Steelmen with his kicking and passing game.

A wise man once said, “The off-season in rugby is a bit like Heathrow Airport: there are departures as well as arrivals.” We are announcing some of the former today as two players have ended a one-year spell at the Steelmen, for non-rugby related reasons, and one takes a break after two seasons.

David Williams will return to his home in Leicester and look to start university and be closer to family and his girlfriend. David, who won the coveted Man Of Steel award, will be missed for his work rate, immense ability in the air and finishing prowess. David scored 7 tries, 3 coming against his Dad’s hometown club of Pontypridd. He will be missed by players and staff at the club, as a man who could be relied on in all circumstances. David played in every league game apart from the early season hammering at Llandovery.

Luke Crocker will ply his trade at the Cardiff club following a season interrupted by Wales 7s call-ups. Luke, a native of the capital city will rejoin his – and our – old coach, Duane Goodfield, at the Arms Park, the catalyst for this being that he has gained a position within the Blues community rugby department. The club would like to thank Luke for his efforts and look forward to seeing him next season

Rhys Francis who suffered a very serious knee injury in November will sit out the 16/17 season. Rhys would have been able to return around the December period but, having had to delay his university course for a year due to the injury sustained, will concentrate on qualifying as a teacher. The club looks forward to seeing the Tredegar based product of Cardiff Met return in season 17/18.

Here is the latest round of EVRFC signings ahead of the 2016-17 Premiership season. The sharper among you will have spotted that we’re doing this every couple of days, and that’s the plan for the remainder of the close season, until the squad is completed. Stay tuned!

“The Pitmen” is the nickname of the excellent rugby nursery that is Penallta RFC and their products, Rhys Clarke and Chris Thomas, will enter their 4th season as Steelmen. The third former Pitman, Lloyd Bridges, is entering his first full season with Ebbw Vale having joined mid way through last season.

The last season saw a real breakthrough by the talented back five forward Rhys Clarke. The Players’ Player of the Year nailed down the number 6 jersey with some hugely energetic and skilled performances. Rhys also put in a number of high quality performances in the 4 and 5 shirts and will go through the 100-appearance barrier in the coming season to gain his club cap. This form attracted a number of suitors but Rhys has remained loyal to the Steelmen.

Chris Thomas is another who will break the 100-appearance barrier to gain a coveted club cap and will be looking to build on his success of last season. The scrum half provided a razor sharp service to the outside backs and kept back rows honest with his eye for the gap and blistering acceleration. No one will forget his brilliant last-ditch tackle in the Premiership semi-final at Church Bank, turning the much bigger Llandovery centre over as he crossed the line, a tackle that proved both match-winning and title-winning!

Lloyd Bridges is highly rated by departed forwards coach Ceri Jones, a man who knows what it takes to play prop. Lloyd is expected to challenge strongly for the tight head role in the coming season, but is equally comfortable on the loose head of the scrum. He has also proved himself to have a great attitude, working hard in training and pushing the more experienced players for a place.

Here is the latest news on our squad for what promises to be an exciting season, with visits to Bargoed, Colwyn Bay, Merthyr and Swansea to add to the Addicts’ itinerary. There’ll be more to come on Wednesday evening, so stay tuned!

The club is delighted that the remaining members of our mighty front 5 are all signed up as Steelmen for the coming season.

The highly experienced Gethin Robinson enters his third year at Eugene Cross Park and he will be joined by Ian George who enters his second season in a third spell at loose head prop.

They will be joined by boiler house duo Josh Jacas and Joe Bartlett who both added their talents at crucial times in the Steelmen’s last campaign.

Josh attracted rave reviews starring for Newbridge after returning from a frustrating injury that took two operations and 12 months to return to the field. His pace and size was put to good use in the play off final where his cameo appearance at 6 underlined his potential in the back 5. Joe Bartlett will once again provide reliable and skilled back up to Damian Hudd, a situation he manages very well. With a strong pre season he could well challenge for a starting role.

Here is the latest news on our signings for season 2016-17.

Our aim is to keep supporters up-to-date with all the news that’s fit to print during the close season., starting with all the signings as they’re made available to the website. We’ll post something new every couple of days, at 6 pm, so make sure you keep checking in!

The return of Josh Lewis from the Scarlets will worry all opposing back rows in the Premiership in the coming season. Josh was a prolific point and try scorer for the Steelmen in the title winning team during the first year of the Championship, a feat he maintained in the Premiership for Llanelli.

The signing of Josh is a major statement of intent by the Steelmen amidst competition from numerous Premiership clubs for his signature once it was clear he would be released by the Scarlets at the end of the season. Having suffered a knee injury and somewhat suprisingly not getting opportunities at Regional level he will be returning to semi pro rugby at the club where, he openly says, he has most enjoyed playing.

Josh will add his undoubted talents and a professional edge to the back line should he overcome what is always strong competition for the shirt!

Here is the latest news on our signings for season 2016-17.

Our aim is to keep supporters up-to-date with all the news that’s fit to print during the close season., starting with all the signings as they’re made available to the website. We’ll post something new every couple of days, at 6 pm, so make sure you keep checking in!

The Franchi twins, products of RTB Ebbw Vale, Dom and Joe, will once again share the team’s colours this coming season. Dom made a huge impression with his powerful tackling and hard carrying approach prior to a season ending knee injury in the away game at Pontypridd at the end of October. His recovery is progressing well and he is on target to return to action in early October.

Joe really pushed hard for the hooker position during the last season, his powerful carrying and ability to jackal was a potent weapon off the bench or as a starter. He has also played a major role in the dominance of our set piece, with strong scrummaging and accurate throwing into the line to launch the formidable driving line out.

More to come on Friday evening at 6pm.

The answer? The number of years five front 5 forwards will have amassed in the Steelmen colours, by the end of next season. Ross Jones, Robert Sevenoaks, the 2015-16 Premiership Player of the Season Damien Hudd, and Ashley Sweet all enter their 7th consecutive season with the club, whilst supporters’ favourite, hooker Mathew “Chunky“ Williams, enters his 14th season at Eugene Cross Park as he closes in on 300 appearances.

All of the above have been key elements of our success on the field and in setting the right environment off the field, and we are delighted that they have signed up for 2016-17.

(Without being too pedantic, mathematically, both Damien and Ross had previous spells with the Steelmen!)