Author Archives: Robert Smith

It is with sadness that the club announces the departure of Head Coach Nigel Davies after 2 years at the helm of the Steelmen. Nigel’s undoubted quality and experience were key factors in the club lifting the Premiership trophy last season, he is guaranteed his place in the club’s history and I would like to place on record my personal, and the club’s, gratitude for this. It has been a pleasure to work with Nigel and we wish him all the best in his future rugby and personal career.

The following is a statement from Nigel:

“I would like to thank the players, committee and supporters at Ebbw Vale Rugby Club for the warm welcome and support over the last two seasons and, in particular, Jonathan Jones for providing me the opportunity and his friendship over this time.

Having been fortunate to experience quite a bit in my rugby career I will always regard being part of this group and lifting the premiership trophy as some of my fondest memories in the game.

Over my time at Ebbw I have learned and taken a lot from the experience and thank the club for that, and there is no doubting how special this club is and how fondly those who have been involved with the club speak about it and regard it, of which I now proudly count myself one!

When I first met Jonathan Jones to discuss the possibility of coming to Ebbw we discussed many things, most of which we have been able to deliver, but one was that I felt it was a 2 year position and, unfortunately, that time has now come.

Ebbw Vale will always hold a special place in my heart and I feel privileged to have played some small part in this great club’s history.”

The funeral of Mark Bull, who died recently, will take place at Llwydcoed Crematorium, Aberdare, on Friday, May 19th, at 3pm.

Mark, 59, was a life long supporter of the club both home and away and extremely knowledgeable about rugby
He taught at old Rassau School for many years and was well known and respected in the town.
Mark stood on the top step of the bank near the half way line on match days and really enjoyed us winning the Premiership last year. His close friend, Keith Follis, said, “He passed away with us still being the reigning champions.”
A gentle, kind and modest man, he will be missed by many people.
As a mark of respect the teams faced the terrace for a minute’s silence before kick off on Saturday, when Ebbw Vale played Merthyr.

For details of opportunities to link commercially with Ebbw Vale RFC for next season, 2017-18, please click here.

We would like to wish Gethin Robinson good luck in the future as he retires from rugby at the end of this season. Gethin has been a real hit with the Ebbw Vale faithful over the last 3 seasons and it will be strange not to see him on the field, and his family supporting him from the sidelines each week.

Gethin was the first player that then then coaching team of Jason Strange and Duane Goodfield signed on the club’s return to the Premiership, and he has played a key role in our success in the last 3 years with his experience and fitness setting a great example to the younger players in the squad. He has been involved in all of the games in the last 2 seasons, a bicep injury in March of his first season preventing an ever present record. On signing, Gethin declared he had come to Ebbw Vale “to win something”, a promise he kept and we thank him for playing a major part in what has been a great time in the history of the Steemen

I know his dad is wondering what he will do with himself on a Saturday afternoon. May I suggest, you still pay a visit to ECP as you will always be part of the Steelmen family.

Another member of the Steelmen family, the Rev Geoff Waggett, is retiring and moving to Bridgend after 17 years in Ebbw Vale.

The Rev has been a big supporter of the Steelmen both on and off the field through the Sports Chaplaincy Programme, providing sponsorship for the team through Churches Together and providing support to players and supporters through his role as Club Chaplain.

He has been a big support behind the scenes and everyone at the club wishes Geoff and his wife Jen the best of luck on their retirement.

There is a new venue, a new date and a new name for the WRU National 7s tournament. The Heineken 7s replaces the Foster’s 7s and will now take place at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday 27 May rather than BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Llandovery will defend their double title, with all 16 Principality Premiership sides competing, while the four Regional Women’s sides will also compete for the national title, currently held by the Scarlets.

WRU Head of Rugby Performance Geraint John said, “We changed the date of the tournament following discussion with the Premiership clubs and in view of the international sevens schedule.

“At the end of August, Premiership sides are focussed on the start of the 15-a-side season, whereas at the end of May, they can concentrate on sevens, albeit for a short time.

“Also, by September, our national sevens coaches are close to finalising their squad for the World Series but by holding the Heineken 7s at the end of May, players will have a chance to impress the coaches to claim a place in the squad for the Rugby Europe sevens tournaments in June and July and from there, they could well be selected for the World Series.

“We have already seen in the likes of Steff Andrews and Jack Maynard, that players who impress at this tournament can go onto play for Wales Sevens, and moving the date of the event should accelerate that process.

“We will hopefully compete at the Commonwealth Games next year – with female as well as male teams – and we have the Rugby World Cup Sevens next year too.

“This tournament could be the start of a very exciting process for both men and women involved.”

Jon Daniels, Scarlets General Manager of Rugby said: “Sevens is a fantastic way of getting people involved in rugby as it’s fast-paced and full of action and it has built up a huge following since its inaugural appearance in last summer’s Olympics, a tournament where our very own James Davies came away with a silver medal as part of Team GB.

“The Heineken 7s tournament, at its new location here at Parc y Scarlets, will bring a fantastic season to a close but will also kick-start what is promising to be a thrilling summer of rugby. We’re delighted to host the new-look Heineken 7s, a hugely attractive competition for all Premiership clubs.

“Llandovery and Scarlets Women will be making their way here as current title holders and we sincerely hope that the Heineken 7s trophies will remain here in West Wales!”

Tickets for the day long event are on sale here now (tickets.scarlets.wales or by calling 0871 871 8088

There is a special offer available for participating teams including a coach to and from the event from their home club. For £15 per person (based on minimum of 49 people), they will receive club seats and access to the Quinnell Lounge as well as coach travel.

See www.scarlets.wales for more info, book via the Scarlets Ticket Office on 0871 871 8088 or contact your participating club or supporters’ club.

Ebbw scrum half Chris Thomas has been making a big impression in his first few games for Thames Rugby club in New Zealand. He’s played in all four of their games so far, all of which they have won, and has notched up a couple of tries. His performances have caught the eye of regional selectors and he’s been asked if he would like to be involved with the local provincial team, Thames Valley, who play in the Ranfurly Shield and are a feeder team for the Waikato Chiefs. As his dad, Richard, commented, “Pretty good going for a boy from Penallta and Ebbw!”

Fans’ favourite Chris Levesley suffered a serious facial injury 10 minutes into Saturday’s game with RGC, which resulted in him requiring an operation on a badly fractured jaw in the Heath Hospital on Saturday. Chris is recovering and will obviously play no further part in the remaining games. I’m sure all Ebbw Addicts wish Chris a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him in the Steelmen colours next season

James Lewis missed Saturday’s game with a hip flexor injury but should be in contention for the vital Llandovery game.

Outside Half Josh Lewis is still recovering from the affects of concussion during the Pontypridd game and will be assessed again during the coming week.

In addition to this Jonathan Davies received a 6 week ban for his dismissal in the Merthyr game and will be eligible to play from May 5th.

Everyone at the club was saddened to learn that Graham Davies, former Ebbw Vale and Cardiff lock, died on March 23rd. Graham lived in Alandale Road, Rassau, went to Rassau School and then Ebbw Vale Grammar School. He was capped in the Welsh Schools team and went with them to South Africa in in the 50s, when Clive Rowlands was scrum-half. He played for Ebbw Vale then moved to Cardiff where he was first choice for many years and represented the Blue and Blacks against the Springboks and All Blacks.

When we played at the Arms Park in the Cup we met him and other well known players of a great era in Cardiff’s history.

Our sympathies go to Graham’s family.

Ebbw Vale RFC are delighted to announce that Josh Lewis has signed a contract with one of the leading teams in UK rugby. After returning from a spell at the Scarlets that was blighted by a serious knee injury, Josh quickly recaptured the form that had previously delighted the Steelmen faithful. His form gained the attention of Bath who have added him to a very strong back division and, amongst others, he will compete with fellow Welshman Rhys Priestland for the number 10 position.

Josh is currently sidelined by a concussion sustained in the Pontypridd game but is determined to wear the Steelmen shirt prior to his switch to Bath.

This is a great opportunity for Josh and all staff at Ebbw Vale will be pleased that they have helped him to return to the full time game. It also emphasises to any young player that Ebbw Vale and the Premiership can provide a springboard into the professional game

At the same time Josh’s partner in many games for the Steelmen, Chris Thomas, has left for a period playing in New Zealand. It is hoped that Chris will return to the club next season having reached the 100 game landmark this season. Chris‘s eye for a gap and pace has seen the Penallta product score over 20 tries in the last 5 seasons, as well as pulling off some match saving tackles. He has played a major part in the success of the Steelmen and we wish him well on what will be a great life and rugby experience.

Click on the link for more details of what looks to be a fantastic event at the Welfare!

RTB Dan Lydiate-1-2

International rugby returns to Ebbw Vale this Sunday afternoon, March 26th. The Wales u18 team take on their English counterparts in a match that kicks off at 3:45pm. Tickets will be available on the gate at £5, with free entry for under 16s.

During what was a full blooded cup game v Merthyr RFC there was an unfortunate incident involving Jonathan Davies spitting at an opposition player. This has no place at Ebbw Vale RFC or within sport in general.

Jonathan, as a highly promising young player, was playing in the biggest game of his career to date and the adrenaline and excitement severely clouded his judgment leading to his mistake.

In light of this, Ebbw Vale RFC has suspended Jonathan with immediate effect and this will remain in place up to the disciplinary hearing by the WRU. Any repeat behaviour will lead to Jonathan being dismissed by the club and he fully understands and respects that.

To his credit Jonathan has fully admitted his mistake and is upset by his actions and will work with Coaching Staff and Officials to ensure there is no repeat of this behavior in the future

The following is a message from Jonathan:

“I would like to apologise to you all for what happened on the weekend. What I did has no place in sport, straight away I knew that I had messed up and was disappointed in myself. The incident happened in full view of my family leading to their embarrassment and shame in my actions.

I take full responsibility for my actions and what I did was completely out of order and will not happen again. Despite being a heat of the moment reaction, spitting has no place in sport.

Having really enjoyed the reception from the supporters at the club, it is only right that having apologised to the coaches, captain and players I give the same respect to the supporters at the club.”

The funeral of former club secretary Ray Powell will take place at Mount Pleasant Chapel, Ebbw Vale at 1pm on Wednesday 22 March followed by cremation at Llwydcoed.

It was a big weekend for our life member, scribe, friend and all-round thoroughly good egg: Roy ‘REL’ Lewis celebrated his 90th birthday – and in some style, knowing the Lewis family! As well as his family, Roy’s great loves in life are Ebbw Vale rugby, rugby in general, the Welsh Guards, Frank Sinatra and a nice glass of red. It is said that the telephonist at his former employer used to enquire of anyone who asked to speak to him, “Is it the rugby or the Guards?”

At 90, his writing on rugby remains as perceptive and witty as ever. I can vouch for this as an avid reader of his programme notes – and in recent years his website articles – going back to 1976.

Many happy returns from everyone at Ebbw Vale RFC, Roy!

Along with rugby people all over Wales and beyond, we at Ebbw Vale RFC was deeply saddened to hear the news last weekend of the tragic and untimely death of Welsh rugby international, Elli Norkett. Many older Ebbw Vale supporters will recall that Elli’s father, Kim, played at scrum half for us in the mid 1980s, as well as representing Breconshire on many occasions.

Elli’s death represents a sad loss for everyone who knew, loved and admired this talented young woman, described by her friend and team-mate, Shona Powell-Hughes, as, “A unique and irreplaceable character that could light up any room she walked into with just her smile – a smile which made you smile”.

We send our heartfelt condolences to Elli’s family.

Ebbw will play Merthyr at Eugene Cross Park in the quarterfinals of the National Cup. The draw in full is:

Cross Keys RFC v Pontypool RFC
RGC1404 v Llandovery RFC
Ebbw Vale RFC v Merthyr RFC
Carmarthen RFC v Pontypridd RFC

Ties will be played on the weekend of March 4th, with our game kicking off ar 2:30pm on the 4th.

The Addicts will be running a bus to Carmarthen Quins on Friday.
The bus will leave the rugby club at 5.30pm. There are still a number of seats available.

Seats can be booked by:
Email: ebbwaddicts@mail.com
Phone: 07766490358

Also deposits of £40 for RGC trip should be paid asap.
There are still places left on the trip.
Fur further information use the contact details above.

It was with great sadness that we heard of the recent sudden and untimely passing of Paul Sturdy, Vice President and ex-committee member.
Paul served formally on the committee at Ebbw Vale RFC in the early ‘noughties’ and was a passionate supporter for over 20 years. He was also actively involved supporting his son’s coaching career along with watching and helping his twin daughters’ play rugby, most recently with the Jesters.
A generous man, Paul was at a rugby fundraiser with family and friends the day before he died and donations to Velindre in Paul’s memory are welcomed by the family.
The funeral will be at St David’s Church, Beaufort on Monday 20th February at 11:30am with burial then at Cefn Golau Cemetery. Mourners are asked to wear red rugby jerseys or other red items.
Our thoughts are with Paul’s wife, Vicky, and their children Stacey, Luke, Scott, Rhian and Alex.

The club was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden death of former player and current serving Police Officer Mark Dicks at the tragically young age of 53.

Mark, known to all as Dicksy was a native of Rassau and joined the Steelmen following advice from his work colleague at Marine Colliery and Ebbw Vale stalwart Malcolm Sibthorpe after starting his senior career at the RTB club. Dicksy was a great performer in the 2nd row and only left his hometown club when he joined South Wales Police, switching to the star studded police team that contained many current Welsh internationals.

Dicksy also spent several seasons in a very strong Pontypridd team where he alternated between the second and back rows. He dropped down from what was then known as First Class Rugby and joined Merthyr where he now lived and captained the club as they climbed the leagues. He ended his career as a player coach at Dowlais RFC after which he switched all of his attention to motocross, a major love for Dicksy from a young age

Dicksy was an imposing figure, as gentle off the field as he was tough on it with a wonderful sense of humour, often self deprecating, and could be relied upon to provide some fun at anytime.

As someone who knew him very well from the age of 4, he was a wonderful person to grow up with and a great friend to many, myself included and in the last few days many Dicksy stories have come back to me and they have all, without fail, made me smile.

Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with his wife and family.

As a mark of respect a minute silence will be held prior to this Saturday’s Bedwas game

Chairman

Jon Jones

Ebbw Vale will make a welcome return to Beddau RFC in Round 2 of the National Cup, on February 18th. This was always one of the best away fixtures when we were in Division One East and the Championship, with a warm welcome off the field and hard games on it.

The draw in full is:

Narberth RFC v Carmarthen RFC
Pontypridd RFC v Newport RFC
Bedwas RFC v Merthyr RFC
Bridgend RFC v RGC 1404
Cardiff RFC v Pontypool RFC
Cross Keys RFC v Neath RFC
Beddau RFC v Ebbw Vale RFC
Llandovery RFC v Bargoed RFC

Three Premiership games scheduled for Saturdays have now been moved to Friday nights to avoid clashing with Wales’ Six Nations fixtures. The changes are as follows:

Ebbw Vale v Aberavon now Friday, February 10th, 7:30pm
Carmarthen v Ebbw Vale now Friday, February 24th, 7:15pm
Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd now Friday, March 17th, 7:15pm

The second half of the season coincides with the January 31st transfer deadline leading to a hectic few days for club officials!

The club has signed the following players:

The Lewis twins return to the club after 10 years playing professional rugby mainly at London Welsh. Scrum Half Rob and Centre / Wing James, victims of the sad circumstances at London Welsh, are back at the club where they started their senior career and continue the long history the Lewis family has with the Steelmen, their late grandfather being a star performer at outside half, father Steve a record points holder at scrum half and cousin Iestyn a highly talented centre, all gracing Eugene Cross Park over the last 5 decades. Welcome back to two highly talented individuals who have always expressed a desire to return to the club!

The return of the twins sees 2 sets of twins in the squad and it will be interesting when they are on the field the same time as the Franchi twins. This is highly unusual and it would be interesting to know if another club has 2 sets of twins in the squad.

23 year old second row Lance Randall joins the club after being out injured for a long period with a knee injury. He is a product of the Dragons Academy where he played alongside several of the current Steelmen Squad. Lance is a Welsh U18 international and has played senior rugby at Newport and several seasons at Cinderford. He has worked hard over the last 8 weeks with the clubs medical team to return to action and has impressed coaches in training and all believe he will add to the already strong Steelmen pack

The club are also delighted to see centre Dom Franchi return to the playing squad after a long period out with a knee ligament injury sustained at Pontyprid on World Cup Final day in 2015. Dom had established himself as a favourite of the Ebbw Addicts with his strong ball carting and destructive tackling. Dom has worked diligently on his rehabilitation at all times and deserves to enjoy the warm welcome he will receive when he takes the field

Centre Adam Jones has suffered a setback as he battles a groin strain and will be reassessed by medical staff in the next few weeks

Further updates on squad and injuries will follow next week.

We are all sorry to learn that one of our legendary players of the 1950s and 1960s, the great Albert ‘Albie’ Jackson (of Blaina), has died. Albert was a key figure in two Championship sides and Roy Lewis, who saw him play many times, recalls the final game of the 1951-52 season, at home to Neath when, in front of 10000 speactators, Jackson chased a cross kick, which he caught to score under the posts. Great skill for a threequarter – but Albie was a hooker! No wonder Roy describes him as the ‘Chunky’ of his day.

The funeral will take place on Monday 6th February at 12 noon at the Wesleyan Chapel, Nantyglo, followed by cremation at Croesyceiliog.

The club will hold a minute’s silence before Saturday’s National Cup tie with Skewen RFC.

Naturally, our condolences go out to Albie’s loved ones.

The WRU have released the Premiership fixtures for the second section of the season, and Ebbw’s programme looks like this:

February 4th Bedwas (h)
February 11th Aberavon (h)
February 25th Carmarthen (a)
March 18th Pontypridd (h)
April 8th RGC (a)
April 29th Llandovery (a)
May 6th Merthyr (h)

The matches against Aberavon, Carmarthen and Pontypridd clash with Wales 6 Nations games, so will have earlier kick off times, or be played on other dates, subject to agreement between clubs and the WRU.

The family of long-time Steelmen supporter, Howard Thomas, have asked us to include the following information regarding his funeral:

“The funeral for Howard Thomas will be on Tuesday 24th January, with an 11:45am service at Christchurch, Ebbw Vale (conducted by club chaplain Rev Geoff Waggett) followed by cremation at Llwydcoed crematorium, Aberdare.”

If you’re wondering exactly what happens next, our club secretary Ian James has put together this message, which tells you as much as we know.

“The WRU’s Premiership team starts working on fixtures today, January 9th.  The WRU and Premiership clubs will then meet on Monday 16th January when we’d hope to agree the format and publish the fixtures soon afterwards.
The prime criterion is to try and ensure that all clubs get the same home/away balance over the whole season i.e. 11 home, 11 away. This will mean that teams who have had 7 home and 8 away fixtures in the first section of the season (as we have) will have 4 home and 3 away fixtures in the second section.
Of the 7 other teams in the Top 8 Ebbw have played 5 away, but will only have 4 home games to “get the balance right”. This means a second away trip to one team we’ve already visited. RGC again, anyone?
Over the longer term the ‘home or away’ basis of the first section (rounds that finished yesterday) will be reversed on a two year cycle, so all the teams we played at home in the first half this year, we’ll play away next year.
Please note, this is all subject to change or tomy misinterpretation!
I’d be grateful for any constructive thoughts or comments, so please contact me if you have any: clubsecretary@evrfc.co.uk “