Monthly Archives: March 2023
The Ebbw Vale side to take on Carmarthen in the Indigo Welsh Premiership this Saturday, April 1st at Carmarthen Park, 14:30pm is as follows.
If you can’t make the game then you can follow updates on our social media channels Twitter @evrfc and Facebookwww.facebook.com/SteelmanRugby for updates #Steelmen
Team
1. Charley Kearns
2. Rhys Francis (c)
3. Dave Whiting
4. Dylan Bartlett
5. Curtis Gregory
6. Andrew Mann
7. Lewis Young
8. Chad Thomas
9. Matthew Flanagan
10. Evan Lloyd
11. Ryan Davies
12. Kieran Meek
13. Dom Franchi
14. Carrick McDonough
15. Morgan Richards
Replacements
16. Joe Franchi
17. Joel Harries
18. Adam Court
19. Gethin Williams
20. Ryan Jenkins
21. Dylan Davies
22. Ethan Phillips
23. Amir Jiwa Walji
The following fixtures have now been rearranged we can confirm. The fixture against Pontypridd will be shown live on S4C Clic
6th April
Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd RFC
Live on s4c
7:30pm
22nd April
Ebbw Vale v Aberavon
2:30pm
29th April
Ebbw Vale v Cardiff RFC
2:30pm
Dylan Bartlett re-signs for the Steelmen
Another fans favourite Dylan Bartlett has re-signed for the steelmen for the 23/24 season.
Dylan said; I re-signed for Ebbw because I believe that this club and team is going to achieve more and more each year. With the players we have, the coaches we have and the unreal support each we have.
Dylan is sponsored by Carl’s Heating Services https://www.carlsheatingservices.co.uk/
Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) member clubs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Special Resolution tabled at today’s (Sunday 26th March) Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), in a move set to irrevocably improve governance structures and change the face of the game in Wales for the better, forever.
A total of 173 members were represented, and a further 79 voted by proxy, at the Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot, with 245 votes (of 252 in total) cast in favour of the resolution, meaning the 75% majority for the motion to pass was easily exceeded (97.2% voted in favour).
The meeting was chaired by WRU President Gerald Davies who called it ‘quorate’ well ahead of an 11am start, with the 95-attendee threshold (to make any vote valid) also easily met.
The EGM also heard from WRU chair Ieuan Evans, chair of the WRU’s Community Game Board John Manders and interim CEO Nigel Walker, with Company Secretary Rhodri Lewis overseeing proceedings alongside independent scrutineer Jonathan Rhodes.
“I’m delighted with the support members have shown for the Board’s recommendation today,” said Evans, who set out his stated mission to modernise the governance of the WRU in his New Year address at the start of 2023, just a few weeks after his own election.
“We now have a line in the sand from which we intend to move forward purposefully, swiftly and better prepared to serve Welsh rugby’s needs. This is another historic day in the 142-year history of the WRU.
“From this moment on we will be much better equipped to overcome any challenges we may face and I thank all members for giving us the tools to do a better job on their behalf.
“The repercussions of a positive vote today are nothing short of momentous and I am genuinely excited about the latent potential of our national game at all levels.
“Members have taken the opportunity to pay something forward of huge significance to our great rugby playing country’s children… and its children’s children.
“We will draft in the very best talent to help our elected Board members. Each with a genuine and heartfelt, interest and love for our game.
“But also with the business expertise, varied skills and acumen to see Welsh rugby soar.”
With the Special Resolution passed the WRU will now appoint an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) as chair and recruit a two further new INEDs to its twelve-person Board, doubling the total number of INEDs to six.
In the new configuration four Board members will still come from the WRU Council which is entirely elected by member clubs, one of whom will be the Community Game Board’s chair.
The remaining two spots on the Board will be filled by the WRU CEO and a new Director role for someone who can support and further the women’s game.
All changes will take place in context of the overall aspiration to ensure at least five Directors are women.
The Annual General Meeting of the WRU, which will see a natural changing of the guard for a number of WRU Council members takes place in November, and the WRU has already planned a timeline for appointments, with the new chair to come in first and the following processes to be completed before the end of 2023.
“We hope to complete the process for change by December this year, but the first steps will be taken immediately,” said interim CEO Nigel Walker.
“We need a new chair in place first and the recruitment process for INEDs, and of course any potential new CEO, will follow from there, with a natural stage at our AGM in November where the composition of our elected members will evolve due to a number reaching the end of their terms of office.
“This is just the beginning of a journey which will see the trust and faith of a nation in Welsh rugby restored and revitalised. There is a lot of hard work ahead of us but this is a genuinely uplifting moment in the history of our game.”
Club Statement 📃
Ebbw Vale RFC will be supporting the WRU’s proposal for change of governance at the EGM on the 26th March.
#EbbwVale 🇭🇺
Coaching Change at Ebbw Vale RFC
Ebbw Vale are disappointed to announce that due to Work and Family commitments along with a commute from his Llantwit Fadre base Forwards Coach Geraint Lewis will be stepping down with immediate affect
All at the club fully understand the reasons and are supportive of Geraint taking this step in the his and his families best interests
This brings to an end Geraint second stint at the club after 15 months after stepping in with last seasons Coaching changes and we are grateful for the hard work that helped to stabilise the club last season and improve the performances so significantly this season
We wish Geraint all the best for the future and he will assured of a warm welcome at the club in the future
Scrum Coach Aaron Coundley will take over as Forwards Coach until the end of the season when the club will review its coaching requirements
Unfortunately tonight’s fixture against Aberavon RFC has been postponed after a pitch inspection by both teams this morning.
The Ebbw Vale side to take on Aberavon in the Indigo Welsh premiership this Thursday evening at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium, 7:30pm kick off is as follows.
There will also be a live performance from the Beaufort Male Choir in the clubhouse after the game. There will also be a bucket collection at this Thursday’s game to help Ukrainian athletes attend the Olympics.
If you can’t make the game then you can follow updates on our social media channels Twitter @evrfc and Facebookwww.facebook.com/SteelmanRugby for updates #Steelmen
Or with LIVE on S4C https://www.facebook.com/s4cchwaraeon or https://www.youtube.com/@S4CChwaraeon/streams
Team
1 Luke Garrett
2 Rhys Francis (c)
3 Dave Whiting
4 Dylan Bartlett
5 Curtis Gregory
6 Andrew Mann
7 Lewis Young
8 Chad Thomas
9 Jonathan Evans
10 Evan Lloyd
11 Ryan Davies
12 Kieron Meek
13 Dom Franchi
14 Carrick McDonough
15 Morgan Richards
Replacements
16 Joe Franchi
17 Charley Kearns
18 Harry Drane
19 Morgan Thomas
20 Joe Thomas
21 Matthew Flanagan
22 Amir Jiwa Walji
23 Liam Lloyd
Ebbw Vale community show support for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria
Ciner Glass send their thanks to Ebbw Vale Rugby Club and members of the local community for their kindness and generosity in raising funds for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
The club recently organised a fundraising event at the Ciner Glass community stadium in Ebbw Vale for the team’s latest game against Bridgend, bringing together players, sponsors and local fans to support victims in the two countries. A sponsors charity raffle took place and generous donations were made, including one of the players donating his match fee, with over £800 raised for the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Mrs Didem Ciner, President of CiNER Glass Ltd, commented:
“On behalf of everyone at Ciner Glass, I would like to thank the club for their fundraising efforts and kind words of support following the devastating recent events in Turkey and Syria.
We are grateful for the thought and generosity that has been shown by the club and community, who came together so quickly to hold a fundraiser, and we send our heartfelt thanks to each and every person who made a contribution.”
Chairman of Ebbw Vale Rugby Club Jonathan Jones commented:
“We are deeply saddened by the devastation that has been caused by the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to send our thoughts to all those affected. We were glad to be able to contribute in a small way to the wider efforts taking place right across the UK to support the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Iron beat Steel
By Alex Kinsella-Evans
Third placed the Ironmen made a short trip across the Heads of the Valley to play fifth placed the Steelmen on a horrendous night where seeing players on the field was difficult.
Straight from the kick off Merthyr were on the front foot when the ball was knocked on by an Ebbw Vale forward. However, the play came to nothing.
With the weather conditions deteriorating, the referee awarded Merthyr a penalty. With the wind behind them, the Ironmen kicked to touch. From the lineout the referee awarded another penalty to the away side. Former Steelman flyhalf Josh Lewis, playing at inside centre for the evening successfully added the three points.
As the ball became difficult to keep hold of, due to the driving rain, Merthyr knocked the ball on, on their twenty-two. From the resulting scrum, the referee awarded a penalty to the home side. Ebbw’s prolific points scorer, Evan Lloyd, kicked his first penalty of the evening.
With Merthyr gaining the ascendancy and dealing with the weather conditions better, the away side were awarded consecutive penalties. However, the play came to nothing when the Steelmen turned the ball over and the referee awarded a penalty to Ebbw.
From the penalty, the home side’s outside half, Evan Lloyd, kicked into the Merthyr half. From the lineout, the home side went through the phases before the referee gave Ebbw a penalty within kicking range. Merthyr number five, Callum Bradbury, was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes. Fly half Lloyd put the home side in front after kicking the penalty.
Down to fourteen men, the Ironmen kept the ball within the forwards and from a lineout in the Steelmen’s half, the ball made its way to Merthyr winger Terri Gee, who burst through three missed tackles to go over for the first try of the game. Josh Lewis successfully converted the try, adding two points for the away team.
With both teams struggling to keep hold of the ball, no further points were added to the scoreline in the first half.
Half Time: Ebbw Vale 6-13 Merthyr
The second half continued in much the same vein as the first half, with both teams being awarded penalties and not being able to keep hold of the ball.
With the Ebbw pack starting to gain some ball, the referee awarded a penalty which outside half Lloyd successfully kicked to bring the home side within four points of the visitors.
As the home side line out started to go astray and Merthyr gaining more of the territory, the referee gave two further penalties to Merthyr, both inside the Steelmen’s half, which Lewis successfully converted, to make the scoreline nineteen points to nine to the away side.
Inside the last twenty minutes, the Ebbw forwards went through some good phases of play. The ball made its way out to Morgan Richards, who sliced through the Merthyr defence, only to be stopped by an illegal offence. The referee awarded a penalty to the home side within the Ironmen’s twenty-two. However, Lloyd hit the upright with the penalty attempt.
Both sides entered into a kicking dual to try and force a mistake. When inside the Ebbw twenty-two a kick by speedster Ryan Davies unfortunately hit a fellow Steelman and fell into the hands of an away side player who turned and went over for the away side’s second try of the game. Lewis was unable to add the two points.
As the weather deteriorated, no further points were added to the scoreline and the Ironmen deservedly won the game.
FT: Ebbw Vale 9-24 Merthyr
Spirit of Wales Distillery MOTM: Evan Lloyd
After the game we spoke with former Steelmen, Dragons and Ospreys back Josh Lewis. Josh commented on it being a game he did not want to be involved in. He acknowledged it was a game where a result had to be dug out. He finished by saying it was nice to get a victory, especially as he knew it was tough to go to the Ciner Glass Community Stadium and come away as victors.
We also caught up with Ebbw Vale winger Carrick McDonough. Carrick was disappointed with the performance. He thought there were errors in the set piece, individual errors from himself and others and overall the team made too many mistakes to be able to come away with a victory.
Harry Rees Weldon Ebbw Vale Youth Player Selected for Wales U18’s
Harry Rees Weldon a current member of the Ebbw Vale Youth Squad has been selected to play for Wales U18’s in Sundays match v England to be played at St Helens Swansea this coming Sunday
Harry a centre / winger will make his debut on the wing and all at the club are delighted at his selection. Harry has also represented Coleg Gwent and the Dragons Age Group U18’s this season impressing the Welsh Selectors earning selection for a squad that played in Scotland last weekend. He has also earned a Dragons Academy Contract for next season that will see him attached to the Ebbw Vale Senior Squad in season 23/24
Head Coach Jason Strange has had Harry training with the Senior Squad since the beginning of November and has been impressed with Harry’s commitment and improvement during this period
All at the club look forward to seeing Harry representing the Senior Squad in the near future and enjoying his time with Wales U18’s
Harry has made the following comments
Ebbw Vale has given me where I could play rugby, progress my skills and enjoy myself with good mates and support from all involved at the club. Being at Ebbw Vale has allowed me to be seen by the Dragons resulting in Regional Age Grade selection. With this opportunity I was able to play in front of Welsh Selectors earning an invite to squad and trial matches. Throughout this process the coaches at Ebbw Vale Youth and Team Manager Damian Jenkins have been extremely supportive. I would also like to thank my youth team mates for the support over this period and in my time in the team. I would also like to thank Jason Strange, all senior coaches and players in the squad who welcomed me to train with them helping my development as a rugby player, being around an excellent semi-professional environment has really accelerated my development as a rugby player
Another young player with Ebbw Vale connections will hopefully win a cap from the bench on Sunday, outside half Jack Woods, son of former Head Coach Greg Woods has also earned selection for Sunday’s game. As a club we are delighted for Jack as well as Greg and Claire who will be extremely proud parents on Sunday.
The Ebbw Vale side to take on Merthyr in the Indigo Welsh premiership this Wednesday evening at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium, 7:30pm kick off is as follows.
Let’s pack the bank and shout on the Steelmen
If you can’t make the game then you can follow updates on our social media channels Twitter @evrfc and Facebookwww.facebook.com/SteelmanRugby for updates #Steelmen
Team
1 Luke Garrett
2 Joe Franchi (c)
3 Dave Whiting
4 Dylan Bartlett
5 Curtis Gregory
6 Gethin Williams
7 Lewis Young
8 Chad Thomas
9 Jonathan Evans
10 Evan Lloyd
11 Ryan Davies
12 Kieran Meek
13 Dom Franchi
14 Carrick McDonough
15 Morgan Richards
Replacements
16 Rhys Francis
17 Charley Kearns
18 Harry Drane
19 Andrew Mann
20 Ryan Jenkins
21 Mathew Flanagan
22 Amir Jiwa Walji
23 Liam Lloyd
T&J Parcels Sponsor Ebbw Vale Rugby Club
Ebbw Vale RFC is delighted to announce a new two and a half year commercial partnership with local company, T&J Parcels.
T&J Parcels will now be sponsoring the main stand and also proudly have the company logo on the Ebbw Vale match shirts. We thank John and Tracey for their commitment to the Steelmen for the next two and a half years and cannot wait to work with you on a number of exciting activities.
Company Director John Pitt said;
At T&J Parcels we are very community lead and pride ourselves on helping our community were ever possible. We currently sponsor a number of teams and individuals in the local and surrounding areas and when we had the chance to get involved with the steelmen we thought it was too good an opportunity to turn down. With myself being a Ebbw Vale boy and Tracey being a Brynmawr girl and with both of our passion with rugby it was something we couldn’t turn down. We are committed to the Steelmen and we hope our partnership thrives and continues for the foreseeable future.
About
T&J Parcels make sending a UK parcel easy and quick. Whether you’re shipping domestically, or importing into the UK. With competitive rates and fully trained fleet, T&J Parcels are your team to get the job done. We are proud to have been operating for 6 years and with an estimated 20,000 successful deliveries every year!
European, National, Local and Same Day services are offered
For further information check out https://www.facebook.com/Pittsparcels or https://tjparcels.com/
McDonough re-signs for the Steelmen
Addicts favourite Carrick McDonough has re-signed for the steelmen for the 23/24 season.
Carrick said on re-siging.
I’m delighted to have re-signed for Ebbw Vale the 23/24 season, a team that is striving to get better week in week out. The fans are amazing and we have a very close group of players.
Here what Carrick had to say below
Carrick is sponsored by Keith Price Volvo Abergavenny https://www.keithpricegarages.com/usedcars/volvo
Update
Ebbw Vale RFC and Joe Bartlett would like to thank everyone for their concerns and well wishes. Joe is sore but feeling a touch better after his awful injury on Saturday.
Joe suffered a dislocated ankle and fractured his tibia and fibula at the fixture against Swansea.
We would like to thank both clubs medical teams (Saran and Sam) for their professionalism in dealing with Joe’s injury on and off the pitch and our club Dr Rhys Thomas who we are fortunate and grateful to have as our club doctor who is one of the UK top orthopaedic surgeons for the past 30 years and before him is father Dr Gordon Thomas.
A tale of two halves 24-31
By Alex Kinsealla-Evans
The Steelmen went to St Helens fifth in the table, looking to continue their good run after victories against Llanelli and Bridgend, on a day that was perfect for rugby.
However, the team were slow out of the blocks in a first half they are likely to want to forget.
With the home side forwards on top, the first opportunity fell to the All Whites centre Osian Knott, who entered the Ebbw Vale twenty-two. However, the play came to nothing when the referee awarded a penalty to the away side.
The home side scored the first try of the game when through some good backs play, centre Knott with space in front of him showed pace down the wing and put in a kick which eventually found the supporting scrum half Gareth Rees, who went over for the try. Fly half James Davies successfully added the extras.
From a lineout in the Swansea twenty-two, the Steelmen forwards drove to the line, with captain Rhys Francis diving over to score his sides first try of the game. Outside half Evan Lloyd was unable to add the two points.
On the halfway line, with Ebbw winning a line out, scrum half Matthew Flanagan threw a long pass which was read and caught by the home side’s outside centre Tom Florence, who raced away unopposed to score the All Whites second try of the game. Davies again added the conversation.
With Swansea’s outside half James Davies marshalling his backline well, an excellent 50:22 by the number ten gave the home side a lineout in the away side’s twenty-two. From the lineout the referee awarded the home side a penalty, which Davies successfully kicked to put his side 17 – 5 ahead.
Swansea were awarded a scrum after the ball become stuck from a lineout inside the Steelmen’s twenty-two. From the scrum, the All Whites number eight Scott Jenkins picked up the ball and ran down the blindside to score in the corner. Fly half Davies successfully kicked the conversation.
Despite efforts by both sides, no further points were added to the scoreline before half time with Swansea deservedly going into the break ahead.
Half Time: Swansea 24-5 Ebbw Vale
The Ebbw Vale side came out for the second half clearly fired up. From a penalty, fly half Lloyd kicked into the Swansea twenty-two. Good home defence initially held up the attack before the referee awarded a penalty to the away side. Another kick to touch led to the away side nearly scoring a try. However, the Swansea defence held firm.
Ebbw coach Jason Strange replaced props Luke Garrett with Charley Kearns, Dave Whiting with Adam Court and flanker Joe Thomas with Lewis Young after fifty-seven minutes gone.
A further penalty awarded by the referee to the Steelmen saw outside half Lloyd kick to within the five-metre line. With the forwards building up a head of steam scrum half Matthew Flanagan cleverly picked up the ball and dived over to score his team’s second try. Lloyd missing the conversation.
With the Ebbw replacements starting to make an impact, a surging break from Lewis Young was only stopped by an illegal offence by the All Whites second row Tristan Davies. Referee Newman showed the player a yellow card.
Within a few minutes the home side were down to thirteen men, when flanker Callum Bowden was shown a yellow card for a foul. Lloyd kicked to the corner. However, the home sides thirteen men held the Ebbw attack up over the line.
Influential centre Dom Franchi was replaced after sixty-eight minutes by last week’s hero Kieran Meek.
The away side took advantage of the extra men when outside centre Ethan Phillips continued his recent good form by running at speed through a gap in the Swansea defence to touch down in the corner. Lloyd expertly added the extras to bring the Steelmen within seven points of their opponents.
Coach Strange cleared the replacement bench over the remaining minutes with captain Rhys Francis being replaced by Alex Watkins, Joe Bartlett replacing his brother Dylan Bartlett to mark his first game back, Dylan Davies making his debut for Ethan Phillips and Liam Lloyd coming on for Morgan Richards.
Referee Newman gave Swansea their third yellow card of the game when prop Ben Warren was penalised for a professional foul. However, the away side were unable to take advantage from the set play.
From a scrum on the halfway line, the Ebbw pack won the ball against the head. Quick ball out to the backs saw the ball at speedster Carrick McDonough’s hands, who showed a clean pair of heels to go over in the corner. Lloyd kicking the conversation from out wide to make the score 24 all.
From the immediate kick off, the ball was won by Ebbw’s second row Joe Bartlett, who went down with an unfortunate injury. The game was stopped for a period whilst the medical staff attended to Joe. Credit goes to all who attended so quickly and expertly.
The home side won a penalty from the resulting scrum. However, outside half Davies was unsuccessful with the kick.
With the play going into the last moments, the ball was caught by the Swansea’s number ten, who ran towards the half way line and threw a pass, which was expertly intercepted by replacement Lewis Young. The replacement flanker backed his own pace, put his head down and ran in unopposed to score the final try and win the game for the Steelmen. A brilliant kick by Lloyd from out wide added the extra two points.
FT: Swansea 24-31 Ebbw Vale
Whilst coach Strange will be happy with the five points from the game, he will no doubt be hoping his team put in an eighty-minute performance against Merthyr on Friday evening.
After the game we spoke to second row Dylan Bartlett. Dylan believed the team did not start from the off. They went 24-5 behind and made it difficult for themselves. However, he praised the squads work rate and was happy to grind out the win with a bonus point.
We then spoke to Ebbw Vale back’s coach Steve Lang. Steve acknowledged going in halftime the team needed a massive second half. The squad had spoken all week about making sure they stayed in the game and it is exactly what they did. He finished by praising the difference the replacements made and was pleased for the squad with the end result.
Finally, we caught up with Swansea backs coach James Hook. James was disappointed with the end result, especially after such a great first half for the home side. He was pleased with the tries his team scored, however, he felt the home side let Ebbw back into the game. He finished by praising the Ebbw Vale pack, who he felt were good but was frustrated to lose it at the end.
The Ebbw Vale side to take on Swansea in the Indigo Welsh premiership this Saturday at St Helens, 2:30pm kick off is as follows.
Making their first appearance this season for Ebbw Vale are Joe Bartlett and Dylan Davies who are named amongst the replacements
If you can’t make the game then you can follow updates on our social media channels Twitter @evrfc and Facebookwww.facebook.com/SteelmanRugby for updates #Steelmen
Team
1 Luke Garrett
2 Rhys Francis (c)
3 Dave Whiting
4 Dylan Bartlett
5 Curtis Gregory
6 Gethin Williams
7 Joe Thomas
8 Chad Thomas
9 Mathew Flanagan
10 Evan Lloyd
11 Ryan Davies
12 Dom Franchi
13 Ethan Phillips
14 Carrick McDonough
15 Morgan Richards
Replacements
16 Alex Watkins
17 Charley Kearns
18 Adam Court
19 Joe Bartlett
20 Ryan Jenkins
21 Dylan Davies
22 Keieran Meek
23 Liam Lloyd
Swansea vs Ebbw Vale preview
This week Alex Kinsella-Evans caught up with co-captain Joe Franchi who gave his thoughts on the up and going fixture against Swansea on Saturday.
Reflecting on areas to improve, Joe believes the areas that require attention were getting the basic processes nailed in the lineout and more clarity on the players roles in attack in different areas of the field. By doing this, hopefully this will show an efficient set piece and lots of good quality attacking phases.
Joe was pleased with the scrum. He thought it was very dominant against Bridgend and the backs was brilliant at times.
Looking forward to the Swansea and remaining games, Joe would like to see the attack continue to evolve as the weather and pitches get better.
The Ebbw Addicts play a massive part in shouting us on, so we are calling on them to make the trip to the seaside and shout on the Steelmen!
