Coaching announcement

Statement from Lee Davies

It is with great regret that I announce that Ben and I have decided to step down from our roles as coaches at Ebbw Vale RFC. This wasn’t a decision we took lightly, however when we weighed up our options we felt the club and players weren’t moving forward under our guidance. It took honesty from players and staff to identify this and we thank everyone for their honesty.

As a group we have felt a substantial amount of pain over the past three months, and we feel we have exhausted many avenues aiming to move us forward as a coaching and playing group. To prepare for a Saturday game takes hours of analysis, planning and delivering. So I thank all for their input.

With both of us heading up rugby programmes in successful college and university academies, we have decided to take some time out and concentrate on these pathways. This will also give us time to reflect and learn from the experience and spend some much needed time with our young families.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the club for their support and efforts over the past 18 months. The club is evidently in a huge transitional process and I urge everyone to be patient; it will take time and I am sure former glory will be restored.

Finally on a personal level I will always hold the club in a fond place, having spent time there as a player and now granted a shorter period than planned as a coach.

Those who have supported us, once again thank you. Best of luck for the rest of the season, and more importantly next season when it counts!

Chairman Jon Jones has added the following

It is with a heavy heart that I have agreed this course of action with Lee and Ben as the best for the club and them as individuals. They are men of integrity and honesty and are also extremely hard working and passionate in what they do. Both are quality young coaches and I am sure that they will learn from the experience and go on to success in the future careers. Both Lee and Ben will always be welcome at the club and I look forward to seeing them do well in the future.

I personally will reflect on what all at the club and particularly I could have done to prevent this end result and work hard to ensure we learn from it and come back stronger and better equipped to return the club to the position we all desire

The club has begun its search for a new coaching set up and will update you all as we move forward.