Category Archives: Ebbw Vale Rugby
There is more of a settled look to the Ebbw Vale this week with just two changes from last week’s starting line up. Nathan Preece comes in for the injured Dominic Franchi and Tom Edwards starts at scrum half.
The Steelmen will need to be on the same form they showed at Sardis Road last week if they are to challenge a Newport team that has improved immensely since losing 30-6 at Eugene Cross PArk in September.
15 Christopher Levesley, 14 David Williams, 13 Nathan Preece, 12 Adam Jones, 11 Ryan Gardner; 10 David Langdon, 9 Tom Edwards; 1 Ross Jones, 2 Mathew Williams (captain), 3 Gethin Robinson; 4 Rhys Clarke, 5 Ashley Sweet; 6 Luke Crocker, 7 Ronny Kynes, 8 Harrison Keddie.
Bench: 16 Joseph Franchi, 17 Ian George, 18 Lloyd Bridges, 19 Cameron Regan, 20 Ethan Doyle, 21 Christopher Thomas, 22 Iain Smerdon,
23 Daniel Haymond.
The Foster’s Challenge Cup will involve the 12 Principality Premiership sides and will run during European and British & Irish Cup weeks, providing vital fixtures for the participating clubs and an opportunity for upcoming players to step up to semi-professional rugby and make a claim for starting places within the Premiership squads.
Some matches will take place midweek and some on weekends with three local derbies, Llandovery v Carmarthen Quins, Llanelli v Neath and Cross Keys v Ebbw Vale kicking off the competition next Wednesday evening (November 11).
While some Principality Premiership players will be called up to represent the Regional Premiership Select XVs in the British & Irish Cup.
The competition has been introduced following a wide-ranging review into competition structures across the game in Wales.
Chris Lloyd, multiple account manager for Heineken UK said, “We have links with Welsh rugby on many levels, including supplying seven of the 12 Foster’s Challenge Cup teams with Heineken product.
“We see this competition as a perfect opportunity to introduce younger players to a higher level of rugby. With players like Rhys Webb having come through the ranks at Bridgend, hopefully the Foster’s Challenge Cup will unearth the next Rhys Webb and other stars of the future.”
Ebbw Vale centre Adam Jones said:
“We’ve brought in some new boys from the lower leagues – this competition will give them the opportunity to put their hands up for a much sought-after semi-pro contract. It also gives other players the chance to be rested, while at the end of the day it’s always great to play for silverware.
“We’ve done well over the last five years. We haven’t had a great start to the season but we had a fantastic win at Pontypridd last weekend and hopefully we can keep that momentum going.”
Llandovery’s Matthew Jacobs added, “We’re looking forward to the tournament. It will be beneficial for the youngsters who haven’t had much game time as yet and we will have a chance to look at some young, local players with the future in mind. After winning the Foster’s 7s in August, it would be great to have the 15-a-side trophy in the cabinet too.”
The 12 Principality Premiership clubs will play each other home and away in three pools of four, with semi-finals and a final set for the spring.
Pool 1:
Carmarthen, Llandovery, Llanelli, Neath
Pool 2:
Aberavon, Bridgend, Cardiff, Pontypridd
Pool 3:
Bedwas, Cross Keys, Ebbw Vale, Newport
Foster’s Challenge Cup Round One fixtures:
Wednesday 11 November
Llandovery v Carmarthen Quins (7.15pm)
Cross Keys v Ebbw Vale (7.30pm)
Llanelli v Neath (7.30pm)
Saturday 14 November (all 2.30):
Aberavon v Pontypridd
Bridgend v Cardiff
Newport v Bedwas
The home fixtures of the Gwent Premiership Select XV, playing in the British and Irish Cup, have now been confirmed as follows:
Sunday 22nd November Jersey @ Cross Keys RFC 3pm – Live on S4C
Saturday 19th December Doncaster @ Bedwas RFC 3pm
Saturday 23rd January Connacht @ Ebbw Vale RFC 3pm
The Ebbw Vale squad for Saturday’s visit to Sardis Road, kicking off at 2pm , has been announced by Head Coach, Nigel Davies and shows 5 changes from last week.
15 Christopher Levesley, 14 David Williams, 13 Dominic Franchi, 12 Adam Jones, 11 Ryan Gardner; 10 David Langdon, 9 Christopher Thomas; 1 Ross Jones, 2 Mathew Williams, 3 Gethin Robinson; 4 Damien Hudd (Captain), 5 Ashley Sweet; 6 Luke Crocker, 7 Ronny Kynes, 8 Harrison Keddie.
Bench: 16 Joseph Franchi, 17 Ian George, 18 Lloyd Bridges, 19 Rhys Clarke, 20 Ethan Doyle, 21 Tom Edwards, 22 Iain Smerdon, 23 Nathan Preece.
You can catch highlights of last Saturday’s matchday on our youtube challenge here.
Ebbw Vale’s away fixture with Pontypridd on Saturday will now kick off at 2pm. We received a request for the alteration from Pontypridd today, Wednesday, and are pleased to accommodate them.
The Steelmen 23 for Saturday’s home match against Carmarthen has been announced, and contains several changes from last week with Dan Haymond, Jordan Howells, Chris Thomas, Ian George and Luke Crocker coming in to the starting line-up.
15 Daniel Haymond, 14 David Williams, 13 Jordan Howells, 12 Adam Jones, 11 Ryan Gardner; 10 Iain Smerdon, 9 Christ Thomas; 1 Ian George, 2 Mathew Williams, 3 Gethin Robinson; 4 Damien Hudd (Captain), 5 Ashley Sweet; 6 Luke Crocker, 7 Ronny Kynes, 8 Ethan Doyle. Bench: 16 Joseph Franchi, 17 Ross Jones, 18 Lloyd Bridges, 19 Joseph Bartlett, 20 Edward Morris, 21 Tom Edwards, 22 David Langdon,
23 Chris Levesley
Lloyd Bridges is on permit from Penallta and Ed Morris is on permit from Glamorgan Wanderers. Thanks to both clubs for their cooperation.
The Ebbw squad has been training hard this week, determined to give a much better account of themselves than they did at Llanelli last week. You can see what they’ve been up to here.
Head Coach Nigel Davies has named his match day 23 for the Steelmen’s visit to his old club, Llanelli on Saturday afternoon. Remember that this is a 12:30 kick off. Chris Levesley makes his first start at full back and Dominic Franchi has recovered from the injury he picked up at Llandovery to partner Adam Jones in the centre. Up front, Cameron Regan and Ashley Sweet return.
Chris Levesley; David Williams, Dominic Franchi, Adam Jones, Ryan Gardner; Iain Smerdon, Tom Edwards; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes, Ethan Doyle. Bench: Joseph Franchi, Ian George, Robert Sevenoaks, Harrison Keddie, Luke Crocker, Chris Thomas, Steffan Jones, DanHaymond.
Ebbw won 51-0 at Parc-y-Scarlets in April but Llanelli have improved since then and were big winners over Neath last week. The Steelmen will be keen to put things right after last week’s narrow defeat to Cross Keys.
Ebbw’s match at Parc-y-Scarlets this Saturday will kick off at 12:30 pm. This will enable people travelling to the game from Ebbw Vale to have enough time to return to EVRFC for big screen coverage of the Wales v South Africa Rugby World Cup quarter final, which kicks off at 4pm.
Club Secretary Ian James said, “We really have to thank the management at Llanelli RFC, and the match officials of course, in agreeing to our proposed kick off time change.”
The Steelmen 23 to take on Cross Keys at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday afternoon, kicking off at 1:30 pm, shows several changes from last week. Adam Jones makes his first start of the season at centre, as does Ryan Gardner on the wing, while Rob Seveonaks gets the nod at tight head and Rhys Clarke steps in for the injured Ashley Sweet.
15 Daniel Haymond, 14 David Williams, 13 Nathan Preece, 12 Adam Jones, 11 Ryan Gardner; 10 Iain Smerdon, 9 Thomas Edwards; 1 Ross Jones, 2 Mathew Williams, 3 Robert Sevenoaks; 4 Damien Hudd (captain), 5 Rhys Clarke; 6 Harrison Keddie,
7 Ronny Kynes, 8 Ethan Doyle. Bench: 16 Joe Franchi, 17 Ian George, 18 Gethin Robinson, 19 Joe Bartlett, 20 Luke Crocker, 21 Chris Thomas, 22 Jordan Howells,
23 Chris Levesley.
If you missed Saturday’s home win over Cardiff (it was 34-22 in case you haven’t heard) there’s a chance to catch up with a flavour of the whole matchday experience, including plenty of on-field action, on our very own youtube TV channel. If you were there, why not relive the memories?
Click on this link to go to EVRFC TV.
Ebbw Vale entertain old friends and rivals Cross Keys next Saturday afternoon, October 10th.
Make a note of the early start though – the game will kick off at 1:30 pm, because of the Wales v Australia match later on that day. Set your alarm!
Ebbw are ready to welcome Cardiff to Eugene Cross Park on Saturday afternoon, determined to put behind them last week’s reverse at Llandovery.
The team is: 15 Daniel Haymond, 14 David Williams, 13 Jordan Howells, 12 Nathan Preece, 11 Thomas Watkins; 10 Iain Smerdon, 9 Thomas Edwards; 1 Ross Jones, 2 Mathew Williams, 3 Gethin Robinson; 4 Damien Hudd (captain), 5 Ashley Sweet; 6 Harrison Keddie, 7 Ronny Kynes, 8 Ethan Doyle. Bench: 16 Joseph Franchi, 17 Ian George, 18 Robert Sevenoaks, 19 Joseph Bartlett, 20 Rhys Clarke, 21 Christopher Thomas, 22 Chris Levesley, 23 Steffan Jones.
You can take a look at the Steelmen’s preparations in training this week on EVRFC TV.
After the excitement of Saturday night’s gargantuan encounter with England, please join us in watching Wales v Fiji on the big screens in the clubhouse this Thursday from 4pm.
There will be a film crew in attendance relating to RWC2015 and highlighting the part rugby clubs play in Wales so the more we can get supporting the better!
There are changes to the starting line up for Saturday’s visit to Llandovery, for what Head Coach Nigel Davies has called his side’s toughest challenge so far. “Llandovery are a very good team and play a very good brand of rugby,” said Davies. “They play from all over the park and have some really dangerous runners. We’ve won our first three games but have only just done enough. I want us to go to Llandovery and express ourselves a bit more.”
Jared Rosser makes a first start at full back, having impressed as a replacement on the wing against Neath, and Nathan Preece, recovered from injury, slots in alongside the in-form Dominic Franchi. Ian George and Rhys Buckley pack down in the front row, Joe Bartlett comes in for Damien Hudd at lock and Ronny Kynes is back at openside. Ashley Sweet captains the team.
Last week’s Man of the Match, Steffan Jones, will be looking to add to the brace of tries he bagged in the victory, especially as he has the treat of visiting beautiful rural Carmarthenshire on his birthday.
The team is:
Jared Rosser, Steffan Jones, Nathan Preece, Dominic Franchi, Tom Watkins; Iain Smerdon, Luc Jones; Ian George, Rhys Buckley, Robert Sevenoaks; Joe Bartlett, Ashley Sweet (capt), Luke Crocker, Ronny Kynes, Harrison Keddie.
Bench: Joe Franchi, Ross Jones, Luke Leddington, Rhys Clarke, Cameron Regan, Chris Thomas, Dan Haymond, Jordan Howells.
The latest episode of EVRFC TV is ready for you to watch on our youtube channel.
It’s not a a ‘rugby highlights’ programme as such, although there is quite a bit of action in there, but it’s more a flavour of the day at last Saturday’s home match with Neath. Here’s the link.
Following last Saturday’s bonus point win over Newport, Head Coach Nigel Davies makes 8 changes to the starting line up for tomorrow’s home match against the Welsh All Blacks, Neath.
David Williams moves to full back, with Tom Watkins moving to the left wing to accommodate Steffan Jones on the right. Iain Smerdon and Luc Jones come in at half back and, up front, there are first starts of the league season for Rob Sevenoaks, Ashley Sweet and Cameron Regan.
David Williams, Steffan Jones, Jordan Howells, Dominic Franchi, Tom Watkins; Iain Smerdon, Luc Jones; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Robert Sevenoaks; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Luke Crocker, Cameron Regan, Harrison Keddie.
Bench: Joe Franchi, Keagan Bale, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Bartlett, Ethan Doyle, Chris Thomas, Jared Rosser, Dan Haymond.
Neath have not had the best of starts to the season, losing narrowly at home to Newport then conceding 40 at Carmarthen – though they did score 22 themselves. However, they are always formidable opponents and any team coached by Patrick Horgan and Gareth Llewellyn will always represent a serious challenge. Ebbw’s coaches and players know they’ll need to be at their best to win this one. Have a look at them in training this week in the latest episode from EVRFC TV.
There’ll be some familiar faces in the Neath squad tomorrow; as well as our former coach Patrick Horgan, look out for ex-Steelmen Aaron Bramley, Aaron Coundley, Marc Jones and Jonathan Griffiths.
If you missed Saturday’s big win over Newport, or if you just want to relive some of the key parts of the match day experience, click on over to EVRFC TV where our roving video auteur Chris Peet takes us through a visual account of the day.
Please note, this is not a highlights video, nor is it meant to be. It’s something new we’re trying and we’d welcome your feedback.
Nigel Davies has announced his first Ebbw Vale Premiership team, ready for the season’s opener at the Brewery Field, Bridgend on Saturday afternoon, kicking off at 1:30.
The side is as follows:
Dan Haymond; Owen Williams, Jordan Howells, Dominic Franchi, David Williams; Dai Langdon, Tom Edwards; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Rhys Clarke; Luke Crocker, Ronny Kynes, Harrison Keddie.
Replacements: Joe Franchi, Ian George, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Bartlett, Chris Thomas, Iain Smerdon, Ryan Gardiner.
There are league debuts for new Steelmen Dom Fanchi, David Williams and Luke Crocker. Referring to the pre-season fixtures, Nigel Davies said,”Going up against two teams from the English Championship has been great and taught us a lot about ourselves. Now, we are really looking forward to testing ourselves against the rest of the Premiership again. It will be tough at Bridgend because they are the Swalec Cup holders, have quality in their squad and will be looking for a strong start at home.”
The WRU has today confirmed that experimental laws will be trialled in the Principality Premiership (including the Challenge Cup but NOT the Swalec Cup) for the coming season.
The main changes will be as follows:
Points values
Try – 6 points
Conversion – 2 points
Penalty – 2 points
Drop goal – 2 points
Penalty try – 8 points (no conversion required)
Bonus points
A team scoring 4 tries will gain a bonus point
A team losing but by 8 or less points will gain a bonus point
Front row replacements and substitutions
If, because of a sending off or an injury, a team cannot provide enough suitably trained front row players, the match continues with uncontested scrums. In this case the scrums have to be played with 8 players.
Time regulations
If time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty is then awarded, the referee allows play to continue. If time expires and a player then kicks to touch from a penalty kick anywhere in the playing area, the referee allows the throw in to be taken, and play continues until the next time that the ball becomes dead.
Kick off and restarts
Kick off sanction is a free kick at the centre of the half way line.
The changes will commence in the first round of Premiership matches this weekend.
Ebbw Vale’s team to take on English Championship side London Welsh at Eugene Cross Park on Friday night (kick off at 7:30) has been announced.
Dan Haymond; Owen Williams, Jordan Howells, Dominic Franchi, David Williams; Dai Langdon, Tom Edwards; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Joe Bartlett; Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes, Ethan Doyle.
Replacements from the rest of the squad.
Leading Premiership club Ebbw Vale RFC are delighted to announce their season long support of Mental Health charity, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent Mind.
The club will carry the charity’s logo on the front of its home and away shirt, advertising on its website and in its match day programme. In addition to this the club will support fund raising initiatives via collections and through the provision of free international tickets for use by Mind locally. Finally, the club will also provide a number of free season tickets for use by the charity.
Sheree Williams (representing Mind) was delighted when approached by the Steelmen with the idea of promoting the charity’s work in the community.
“The mission for Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent Mind is to campaign to improve service, raise awareness and promote education and understanding of mental health and wellbeing with a particular emphasis on men’s mental health. The statistics on male suicide are deeply concerning both nationally and within our local communities. The involvement of a high profile rugby club will assist us in our mission and we are looking forward to a successful partnership with Ebbw Vale RFC in the coming season.“
Jon Jones Chairman of Ebbw Vale RFC commented,
“When the opportunity arose for us to support a local charity, the aim was to look for an organisation that would benefit from raising awareness within our community. We felt that Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent Mind needed this, to support the valuable work it does. Male mental health still has a stigma and machismo attached to it that often prevents a person seeking the help they need. If we can help remove these issues and raise awareness in the coming year, it will be as significant as anything we achieve on the field of play. We look forward to working with the charity in the coming months.”
(Image courtesy of ncr photography.)
Applications are invited from season ticket holders for tickets for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament to be played in February/March 2016
To apply, please use the link to ‘International Tickets‘ on this website. Please quote your season ticket number as shown on the reverse of this season’s (2015 – 2016) season. If you haven’t yet got your new season ticket you can still request tickets and when you collect the ticket state that you have applied for 6 Nations tickets.
Applications must be received by 4th September 2015.
For the first time since St David’s Day, 1969, London Welsh visit Eugene Cross Park this Friday 28th August, for a friendly fixture against the Steelmen, kicking off at 7:30pm. This is our last pre-season friendly and should be a great game; don’t forget London Welsh were in the English Premiership last season so it will a real test for our team who would appreciate your vocal support.
Entry costs will be:
Adults £10
Concessions £7
Season ticket holders free
If you haven’t bought or collected your season ticket yet you can do this on Thursday 27th between 6pm and 7pm from the clubhouse. If you prefer to wait until Friday, season tickets will available to buy or collect outside the main gate before the match
The club shop will be open on Saturday 22nd August between 11.00am and 12.00pm
The shop will also be open on Thursday 27th August between 5.30pm and 8.00pm
For the match against London Welsh on Friday 28th August, shop opening times will be:
5.30pm until 7.15pm
9.15pm until 10.00pm BestesOnlineCasino – wie auswählen? – Created with VisMe
The Ebbw squad for Saturday’s friendly fixture at Pontypool is as follows:
15 Daniel Haymond
14 Owen Williams
13 Jordan Howells
12 Dominic Franchi
11 David Williams
10 David Langdon
9 Thomas Edwards
1 Ian George
2 Joseph Franchi
3 Keagan Bale
4 Joseph Bartlett
5 Rhys Clarke
6 Luke Crocker
7 Ronny Kynes
8 Harrison Keddie
Subs.
Ross Jones
Rhys Buckley
Luke Leddington
Ethan Doyle
Ben Papp
Cameron Regan
Carl Lewis
Iain Smerdon
Ryan Gardiner
Ashley Sweet has withdrawn as he was due to have an operation to remove his appendix. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Luke Crocker, who joined from champions Pontypridd in the close season, makes a first start for the Steelmen as he returns from Dragons 7s duty, along with Owen Williams and Harri Keddie.