Category Archives: Ebbw Vale Rugby
Wing Owen Williams has decided to leave the club after limited game opportunities this season, and has joined local rivals Newport. Owen joined the club in the summer of 2014 from Pontypridd, played a major role in the club’s strong performance on our return to Premiership rugby and aided our transition from Championship rugby with his experience. Owen has been highly professional throughout his time at the club and we wish this highly likeable man all the best for the remainder of his rugby career
Also departing the Steelmen is young tight head prop Luke Leddington. Luke will switch to Newbridge in order to gain the consistent game time and training regime that he needs to progress at this stage of his carer. We fully expect to see Luke progress and return to challenge for a first team starting spot in the future.
Ebbw Vale will make their first trip in 20 years to Newcastle Emlyn in the 2nd round of the Swalec Cup. The game is to be played on the weekend of February 6th.
The draw in full is:
Newcastle Emlyn v Ebbw Vale
Beddau/Bridgend v Cross Keys
Newport/Carmarthen v Pontypool/Bedwas
Llanelli v Narberth/Merthyr
Llandovery v Newbridge
Pontypridd v Bridgend Athletic
Neath/Bargoed v Cardiff
RGC 1404 v Aberavon
Ebbw Vale will now not visit Newport for the Fosters Challenge Cup tie on Saturday as the Black and Ambers will face carmarthen in their Swalec Cup match, postponed from last Sunday. Instead, we will visit Newport on Tuesday, February 2nd, kick off to be confirmed.
Please note that the kick off for the home game against Pontypridd (March 12th) has been moved to 1:30pm to avoid a clash with the England v Wales match that kicks off at 4pm in Twickenham.
Ebbw Vale will now play Cardiff at the Arms Park on the evening of February 12th, kicking off at 7:30 pm. The game has been brought forward from the Saturday afternoon as it would have clashed with the Wales v Scotland international match next door.
There is believed to be no truth in the rumour that the Scottish Rugby Union declined the WRU’s offer to move their game to the Friday night.
Nigel Davies has selected his team to take on Neath at the Gnoll on Saturday afternoon, kicking off at 2:30.
Dan Haymond, David Williams, Nathan Preece, Iain Smerdon, Jared Rosser; Dai Langdon, Chris Thomas; Ian George, Joe Franchi, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Rhys Clarke; Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes, Luke Crocker.
Bench: Mathew Williams, Ross Jones, Lloyd Bridges, Dawid Rubasniak, Ethan Doyle, Dai Jones, Chris Levesley, Jordan Howells.
The bench features 17 year old Dawid Rubasniak, the first of Jason Strange’s Ebbw Fawr Welsh Cup Final team to be part of an Ebbw Vale league squad; he has also recently joined the Dragons Academy. Scrum half Dai Jones is also on the bench, on permit from Bedwas, the club he joined from Ebbw in the close season. Many thanks to our friends at Bedwas for their help.
Neath have not been enjoying the best of seasons, losing 12 and drawing 1 of their 13 league matches. However, their Boxing Day draw with Aberavon will have boosted their confidence and Ebbw will need to be on top form if they are to secure the season’s double over the All Blacks.
The Ebbw Vale team to take on Bedwas in the third of three consecutive matches has been announced.
Dan Haymond, Jared Rosser, Nathan Preece, Iain Smerdon, David Williams; Dai Langdon, Chris Thomas; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet, Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes, Harri Keddie. Bench: Joe Franchi, Ian George, Rob Sevenoaks, Cameron Regan, Luke Crocker, James hall, Jordan Howells, Owen Williams.
The club shop will be open on Wednesday 23rd December for some last minute Christmas Shopping. The shop will be open between 5pm and 9pm.
Items in stock: Replica Shirts, T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Rain Jackets, Baseball Caps, Beanies, Mugs, Calendars and some handmade Steelmen Jewellery. (Hoodies – limited stock)
All Snyder Jackets are now in stock. Those who have pre-ordered them can collect them tomorrow evening.
We have also had a number of body warmers and formal shirts delivered.
The Steelmen make a large number of changes for round 4 of the Fosters Challenge Cup at home to Bedwas on Wednesday evening, kick off 7:15. The team is as follows:
15 Tom Watkins, 14 Owen Williams, 13 Srdan Majkic, 12 Jordan Howells, 11 Jared Rosser; 10 Simon Veall, 9 Jac Jonathan; 1 Ian George, 2 Joseph Franchi, 3 Lloyd Bridges; 4 Damien Hudd (capt), 5 Anthony Brown; 6 Cameron Regan, 7 Dawid Rubasniak, 8 Ethan Doyle.
Bench: 16 Mathew Williams, 17 Ross Jones, 18 Robert Sevenoaks, 19 Harrison Fry,
20 Benjamin Papp, 21 James Hall, 22 Iain Smerdon, 23 Rhys Howells.
Many thanks to Rogerstone RFC, Oakdale RFC, Newbride RFC, Penallta RFC, Pill Harriers RFC, Caldicot RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons for permitting their players for this fixture. Gastenboek – Gokkasten + Casino Spellen + Online Casinos
Ebbw Vale travel to Bedwas this afternoon (December 12th) for the third of their Fosters Challenge Cup matches, and the first of three consecutive meetings with the Bridge Field men.
The team is: Chris Levesley, David Williams, Tom Watkins, Jordan Howells, Owen WIlliams; Iain Smerdon, Tom Edwards; Ross Jones (Captain), Joe Franchi, Lloyd Bridges; Joe Bartlett, Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes, Ben Papp, Ethan Doyle. Subs from squad.
Fancy a bit of a knees-up with some of the Steelmen of that cup final team of 1998? Then you need look no further than this poster…
There are just two changes to the Ebbw Vale team that beat Aberavon for the home fixture against Bridgend on Saturday afternoon (2:30 kick off). Rhys Clarke and Ethan Doyle come in to the back row for Cameron Regan and Harri Keddie, respectively.
15 Dan Haymond, 14 David Williams, 13 Nathan Preece, 12 Jordan Howells, 11 Jared Rosser; 10 Dai Langdon, 9 Chris Thomas; 1 Ian George, 2 Mathew Williams, 3 Gethin Robinson; 4 Damien Hudd (captain), 5 Ashley Sweet; 6 Rhys Clarke, 7 Ronny Kynes, 8 Ethan Doyle. Bench: 16 Joe Franchi, 17 Lloyd Bridges, 18 Ross Jones, 19 Joe Bartlett, 20 Ben Papp, 21 Jac Jonathan, 22 Iain Smerdon, 23 Chris Levesley.
It is with much sadness that we have heard of the passing of our friend and WRU District representative Mr Ken Hewitt on Sunday (November 29th). Ken was a true rugby man and a great supporter of our club and those in our district. We offer our sincere condolences to his family.
Ken’s funeral will take place at St. Mary’s Church, Abergavenny, at 2pm on December 16th, followed by cremation at Gwent Crematorium, Cwmbran at 3:30 pm.
Head Coach Nigel Davies has announced his side for Saturday afternoon’s fixture at the Talbot Athletic Ground against Aberavon, who are currently 3 places and 9 points above the Steelmen in the Premiership.
Dan Haymond, David Williams, Nathan Preece, Jordan Howells, Jared Rosser; Dai Langdon, Chris Thomas; Ian George, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes, Harri Keddie.
Subs: Joe Franchi, Lloyd Bridges, Luke Leddington, Joe Bartlett, Rhys Clarke, Jac Jonathan, Iain Smerdon, Chris Leversley.
Congratulations are in order for Ebbw Vale back row forward Luke Crocker who has been selected for the Wales A squad in the he first two rounds of the HSBC World Rugby 7s series to be played in Dubai and Cape Town. Luke and his team-mates will find themselves in a tough pool, where they will face Kenya, England and Australia.
Best wishes from everyone at Ebbw Vale RFC.
With Christmas only a few weeks away, the club shop will be open on the following dates to purchase your Steelmen merchandise.
Thursday 19th November 6.00pm until 8.30pm
Thursday 26th November 6.00pm until 9.00pm
Thursday 26th November 6.00pm until 9.00pm
Thursday 3rd December 6.00pm until 8.00pm
Saturday 5th December Bridgend Match Day 12.00pm until 2.15pm and 4.30pm until 6.00pm
Thursday 10th December 6.00pm until 8.30pm
Thursday 17th December 6.00pm until 8.30pm
Saturday 19th December 12.00pm until 3.00pm
We are an official supplier for the Mumph Christmas Calendar this year. The full size calendar is £8 and the desktop calendar is £5.50. These can be bought at the club shop. Mumph has also created an Ebbw Addict Mugby which can be bought in the club shop, costing £8 each or two for £15. It comes complete with a box!
Other Items on sale: club replica shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, polo shirts, rain jackets, club towels and beanies.Items can also be ordered using the form on the club website.
Some of the busiest people at the club are our highly skilled and dedicated medical team led by Dr Rhys Thomas and Rhys Shorney. The Pontypridd success came at a cost with the description “House of Pain” unfortunately being true for two of our young players. Dominic Franchi, who has impressed all with his powerful running and tackling during his debut season for his home town club, sustained a knee injury which will rule him out of contention for the rest of the season. Ryan Gardner, a product of RTB’s, who has provided real pace and trickery from the wing position this season, suffered a torn finger tendon which required an operation on Friday; he’ll be out of action for 8 weeks. Captain Damien Hudd is battling a groin injury but should be fit to return in the next few weeks. Rhys Francis, after missing all the early season with a knee injury, is now fit and, having made a successful return off the bench in the Challenge Cup at Cross Keys, will be looking to challenge for a place in the starting line up. Rob Sevenoaks, who has been a major part of our success in the last five seasons, has had a further knee injury following his operation in the summer and is currently working his way through a tough eight week rehabilitation programme to meet his stated aim of playing on Boxing Day against Bedwas. Josh Jacas is another working through a rehabilitation programme following a summer ankle operation, with a return targeted for the pre-Christmas period
All at Ebbw Vale RFC were delighted to see a group of players given the opportunity to join the Regional Select BIC squad. Unfortunately 2 of the players, Dominic Franchi through injury and Ross Jones, work commitments, were unable to take up the opportunity.
The other players, Ashley Sweet, Luke Crocker, Adam Jones and Chris Levesley have spent time training with the squad, joined by our Dragons Academy player Harrison Keddie, with Luc Jones and Rhys Buckley who have also represented the Steelmen this season.
Backs coach Nick Wakeley, having impressed with his 7s coaching success, will also link up with the BIC squad as and when his Steelmen duties allow him too
The club wishes the whole squad a successful and enjoyable BIC campaign, and would like to encourage all our supporters to go along and support the squad in the tournament home games
The whole point of the Fosters Challenge Cup is to give players from lower division clubs a taste of playing at a higher level. Ebbw Vale have embraced the philosophy by including players from 9 clubs in the 23 for the trip to Pandy Park tomorrow evening (Wednesday) kicking off at 7:30..
The squad is:
15 Dan Haymond (Captain), 14 Owen Williams, 13 Srdan Majkic (Rogerstone RFC), 12 Jordan Howells, 11 Craig Duncan (Brynmawr RFC); 10 Simon Veall (Oakdale RFC), Jac Jonathan (Newbridge RFC); 1 Ian George, 2 Joe Franchi, 3 Lloyd Bridges (Penallta RFC); 4 Rhys Clarke, 5 Joe Bartlett; 6 Cameron Regan, 7 Blain Meek (Blaenavon RFC), 8 Michael Jones (Dowlais RFC).
Bench: 16 Rhys Francis (Brynmawr RFC), 17 Luke Leddington, 18 Ross Jones, 19 Jake Conway (Glamorgan Wanderers RFC), 20 Craig Powell (Caldicot RFC), 21 James Hall (Caldicot RFC), 22 Iain Smerdon, 23 Tom Watkins.
Many thanks to all the clubs who have agreed to permits.
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.