Category Archives: Ebbw Vale Rugby
January Squad News
The club is pleased to confirm the following signings:
Wing Mike Powell, who has spent the last 5 seasons at Bridgend RFC and prior to that played Premiership rugby at Aberavon RFC has made the transfer to Ebbw Vale RFC following a move to live in the area in the summer. As supporters have already seen, Mike brings with him a solid defensive game and pace.
Joining Mike is fellow winger Aaron Grabham who has completed a move from Llanelli RFC. Aaron scored for Llanelli against the Steelmen earlier in the season and has been a regular try scorer for previous clubs Aberavon, Neath and Bridgend, and adds undoubted pace in attack and defence.
A third back joining the club, having seen service at Bridgend and briefly at Pontypridd, is Ryan Evans. Ryan’s preferred position is outside centre but, as supporters have already seen, he has the skills and experience to feature at full back and outside half.
The final back to join the club is Rhys Jones whose transfer was completed in the last 24 hours from Merthyr RFC, in probably the worst kept secret in Steelmen Rugby history. Rhys’s short stay at Merthyr was a successful one but he was delighted to be offered the opportunity to return to a club that means a lot to him and his family. Welcome home Rhys!
The forwards have been strengthened by the signing from Bristol club Old Redcliffians of second row forward Corey Talbot. Standing at 6ft 9” and around 20st, and a product of the highly rated Clifton College rugby programme where he came under the influence of current RGC coach Saul Nelson, Corey has added lineout prowess and power to an already strong pack.
The club has one remaining squad place and are still looking at potential players to fill it.
Injury Update
One of the major reasons that has led to the Steelmen battling at the wrong end of the Premiership table ithe high level of injuries sustained to key players. The club has yet to see the team named on a Thursday take the field on a Saturday, and this has had an unsettling affect on performances.
The current situation is as follows…
Paul King sustained a thumb injury in Saturday’s game v Pontypridd.He has undergone an operation and will be unavailable for 6 to 8 weeks.
Rhys Francis, who has delivered a consistently high level of performance whether as a hooker or in the back row, suffered a dislocated shoulder in the drawn game at Llandovery and will undergo an operation in the next few weeks. This will rule him out for the rest of this season.
Dai Langdon is awaiting a scan on the knee injury sustained in the Llandovery game with fingers crossed that it is not a knee ligament injury.
Scrum half Sam Ireland is a few weeks away from a return after a concussion sustained in the Cardiff cup game followed by a groin injury.
Long time supporters’ favourite Cameron Regan is having a wrist operation in the next week or so and faces 10 to 12 weeks on the sidelines.
Hooker Joe Franchi is looking for a return to the team following the hamstring tear he sustained in the defeat by Swansea.
Recent signing Lewis Williams has sustained a groin injury which is proving troublesome to recover from, but he hopes to return to action in the next few weeks.
Back row forward Owen Young is on schedule to return in mid February following the knee ligament injury sustained in the Cardiff game in November.
The coaches, players and management of Ebbw Vale RFC would like to congratulate our young Dragons Will Griffiths, Aneurin Owen and Ewan Rosser on their selection for Wales Under 20 squad for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship.
“The club has learned of the serious road traffic accident involving Patrick Harrington.
He is seriously ill in Hospital and I, and all his many friends in Ebbw Vale, together with all in the Rugby Club which he has served with such distinction for so many years, are hoping and praying for a good recovery.
Our thoughts are with Sue, Rebecca and Fergus and their families at this difficult time.
Some may not know that Patrick played a considerable role alongside the Russell family during the glory years of professional rugby.”
Mark Powell QC
President
Ebbw Vale RFC
We wish all our supporters, sponsors, junior players and club members a merry christmas. Your ongoing support going into the 2nd half of the season will mean so much to us as we all take on the challenge of this premiership season. We look forward to seeing you all at EXP for the Merthyr game. Have a great Christmas and here’s to a positive 2020.”
Greg Woods,
Head Coach
There’s been a change to the fixture details for Llanell, away. It will now take place on Friday, April 17th at Parc y Scarlets. Llanelli have to play a cup match on the original daye of January 31st.
Head Coach Greg Woods has invited supporters, age group officials and parents to join the players and coaching staff for a Christmas Social in the clubhouse after training this Thursday (about 8pm). The event proved very popular last year,and the format will be the same this time:
– everyone must wear a Christmas jumper;
– players and staff to bring their own food for the Christmas feast;
– a tin of food to be donated by everyone attending for a local charity; and,
– players and supporters to form a joint Christmas carol singing choir.
See you all there!
Skipper Ashley Sweet runs out for his 200th appearance for Ebbw when they take on Bridgend this afternoon (14/12/19).
Ashley joined the club from Cardiff in the summer of 2010, when Ebbw faced their first season in Division One East, forming what would go on to become the best second row pairing in the Premiership with Damien Hudd. He has been with the Steelmen ever since, apart from a year as a professional player with the Dragons.
Congratulations to Ashley on a fantastic achievement!
Squad Update
The club is pleased to announce the arrival of two new players. Prop Dave Whiting has actually already made two impressive appearances from the bench, having signed from Worcester RFC after spending the last few years playing rugby at the top club level in Australia. The 25-year-old is a tight head by preference but is equally adept on the loose head of the scrum and is an imposing figure at 6ft 1” and 130kgs. He is also highly mobile with impressive handling skills and is Wales qualified via his grandfather.
He is joined at the Steelmen by highly experienced outside half Lewis K Williams who has represented Pontypridd, Bridgend and Llanelli in the Premiership. Lewis is best known for his time with Pontypridd where he played 92 games and has been a consistent points scorer and game controller. As befits a player of this pedigree, he possesses a big kicking game and is able to bring fluidity to the back line.
Sadly, two players are leaving the Steelmen due to changing work commitments. Craig Fillier and Carl ‘the Beast” Sully worked hard throughout preseason and impressed coaches and spectators with great attitudes and skills. Craig will combine running a new gym with turning out for Blaina RFC, and Carl will play his rugby at Pill Harriers once he recovers from a shoulder injury. We wish both players well for the future.
Suspension
Rob Sevenoaks received a three week ban for his red card at Cardiff in the Cup Game at the Arms Park and will be available to play on December 14th.
Injury Update
There is a lengthy injury list at the moment and here is the latest picture as of Thursday, 28th November:
Sam Ireland – concussion – return to play scheduled for December 7th
Cameron Regan – wrist injury – return to play in 2 to 4 weeks
Luke Garrett – heel injury – return to play in 2 to 4 weeks
Craig Duncan – ankle ligaments – 4 weeks
Ellis Evans – hand injury – 8 weeks
Dai Jones – hand injury – 2 to 4 weeks
Joel Harries – pectoral muscle injury – working hard towards a February return
Owen Young – knee injury – 12 weeks
Our home game with Bridgend will take place on Saturday, 14/12/19 at 2:30pm, which was the date originally scheduled. BBC Wales were going to feature it live on 13/12/19 but those plans have changed.
Anyone who’s recently enjoyed a matchday burger, hot dog or cuppa will be delighted with the following news. The Scruminicious Burger Bar, housed in the refurbished building between the clubhouse and the stand, will be open from next Monday, 7 days a week, 8am til 3pm. Call in for a snack or a drink and support the club!
Ebbw’s reputation as the Premiership’s most photogenic team continues, with BBC Wales confirming that the following matches will be televised live:
Nov 8th Cardiff (away) – this is the Specsavers Cup tie
Dec 13th Bridgend (home) – changed from Dec 14th
Jan 3rd Merthyr (home) – changed from Jan 4th
Kick off times will be around 7 to 7:30; obviously these will be confirmed in advance!
Ebbw Vale will be one of six Welsh teams to take part in a new cross border competition, playing six Scottish clubs following the end of the Indigo Group Premiership season.
Ebbw’s fixtures are:
25/04/20 Southern Knights home
02/05/20 Watsonians away (Myreside Rd, Edinburgh EH10 5BZ)
09/05/20 Ayrshire Bulls home
16/05/20 Heriots home
23/05/20 Stirling County away (Bridgehaugh Park, Stirling FK8 2EW)
30/05/20 Boroughmuir away (North Meggetland, Edinburgh, EH14 1AS)
Chairman Jonathan Jones said, “We’re really excited about this opportunity of cross-border competition against these Scottish teams. It is a welcome new addition to our season for everyone involved. As a club we have an old friendship with Watsonians which we are looking forward to renewing – the supporters are already looking at which match – or matches – they can organise trips to!”
Our away match with Newport, originally due to be played on December 28th, has been moved to January 31st with a 7:30 ko.
As announced at the club AGM in June 2018, our Treasurer and Company Secretary Alan Gall has now stepped down from his roles with the club following a summer spent handing over to the new incumbents. Chairman Jonathan Jones said, “Alan has been an integral part of the success of the club over the last 8 years and has worked extremely hard in this period taking on far more than a traditional Treasurer’s role. Only those close to the club can begin to understand his contribution and the amount of time he has put into ensuring that we have competed very successfully at Division 1, Championship and Premiership Level. His input has been as vital as any on or off the field in this period. His fantastic work will be greatly missed by the officials of the club and we look forward to seeing him at the games, relaxed and without the stress that the workload provides – particularly on a home match day!
I would also like to take the opportunity to welcome and thank those who have stepped up to take on the tasks previously performed by Alan.”
Alan told the website, “Having done the job for 8 years, I have decided to step down as Treasurer. I feel it’s time for younger people to take over! My duties have been assumed by Mark Hathway (Finance), Bob Craft (Season tickets) and Damien Jenkins (International tickets). I wish them and everyone else at the club all the very best for the future.”
Our Premiership match at Pontypridd will be featured on TV as a Friday night game, on October 18th, kick off time to be confirmed.
Our home game against Llanelli will not now be featured on TV and will take place as originally planned on Saturday, October 26th, kicking off at 2:30 pm.
Ebbw Vale’s away matches against Cardiff in November have also been rearranged.
The Premiership game will now kick off at 7:30pm on Friday, November 1st and the Cup game will now take place on Friday, November 8th, also with a 7:30pm start.
The changes have been made to accommodate European Cup rounds in which the Blues will play at the Arms Park on the Saturdays.
The club has received this communication from the WRU.
“Following the comprehensive process undertaken as part of the League Rules of the Welsh Rugby Union, it is with great pleasure that I write to inform you that the Competitions Management Committee have granted Ebbw Vale RFC Premier Division A Licence status for the coming 20-21 Season.”
Club Secretary, Karl Offers said, “We are very grateful to everyone who, voluntarily, worked hard to ensure that the club has, again, been awarded the A Licence.”
Ebbw Vale have been drawn away to Cardiff in the second round of the Specsavers Cup. The game will take place on November 9th kicking off at 2:30 pm (to be confirmed).
The draw in full is here:
Many thanks to our brilliant board sponsors who help the club financially and in other ways. Please support them whenever you can.
Here’s your first chance to see the new kit, manufactured once again by Akuma and kindly modelled by Mr Sweet and Mr Haymond. Image courtesy of NCR Photography – diolch yn fair, Neil!
Zorba Delicacies, one of the major employers in Blaenau Gwent, has returned to supporting the club as a playing kit sponsor and partner.
Fatra, a water treatment company, have returned as kit partner on the shirt although supporter and Matthew Shaw was still an active sponsor last season.
Long standing local business and sponsor Paul’s Scaffolding has stepped up their involvement in the Steelmen by becoming a kit sponsor appearing on the shirt and will take enormous pride in supporting a member of their staff in Dom Franchi wearing the shirt.
They are joined by fellow local company B&L Roofing who, after one season as a player sponsor and advertiser on the ground and in the match day programme, have increased their commitment in becoming a kit partner with their logo on the back of this year’s playing shirt.
New sponsor Rolling Classics of Aberbargoed, as the name suggests, sell classic cars but of the modern variety and not classics. We look forward to welcoming Alex and Carly at the club during the season.
A new sponsor to the senior team is Met-Pro who currently sponsor our Mini and Junior sections. A warm welcome awaits them at Eugene Cross Park.
The Steelhouse Rock Festival has continued their sponsorship with a sleeve advertisement in what will be the 10th Anniversary of the Classic Rock Festival that has increased in popularity each year. A big thanks to Matt Read and Mike Evans for their sponsorship, and we hope to see Mike’s dad and former committee stalwart and Secretary Alan at some of our home games.
Not content with his longstanding and busy duties as Club Doctor, Dr. Rhys Thomas will support us even further by advertising his Foot and Ankle Clinic on the sleeve of the kit.
Returning for a second season as a sponsor on the shorts is Roberts Estate Agents. We look forward to welcoming Katie Darlow and her staff to games in the coming season.
A new shorts kit partner is Community Fitness, a local gym and fitness centre set up by Dr. Paul Thomas assisted by former Ebbw back row forward Lee Meredith to provide affordable family fitness in the area. The community approach of Paul and his staff is very much the ethos of the Steelmen and we are delighted to welcome them on board as a kit partner and we look forward to seeing them during the season.
All at the club would like to take the opportunity to thank two local companies who have for many years sponsored our Match Advertising Board above the ground; Jill and Kevan Lines of Lewis and Lines Solicitors, and Mark Skinner of Ron Skinner and Sons Car Sales. Both sponsorships are a significant help in keeping top level rugby in Blaenau Gwent.
Please, whenever you can, support all of our sponsors as they have supported our club.
The following players have signed for the Steelmen after impressing the coaching staff during pre-season training and games.
Harry Harding a rugged open side flanker has joined from Pill Harriers. The 23year old has spent the formative part of his rugby career with the Dragons Academy based at Newport High School. His fearless and committed approach will remind the Ebbw Addicts of recent favorite and former captain Ronny Kynes.
Hooker Mikhail Blake has joined from Cwmbran and will add competition to the position where the Steelmen are very well served. Micky is a strong scrummager and a mobile and aggressive carrier in open play.
Tight Head prop Ellis Evans has signed from Brynmawr having had some Premiership experience last season with Bedwas RFC. Ellis has impressed all with his hard work during pre season training and will look to put pressure on crowd favorite Rob Sevenoaks for the number 3 shirt.
Finally, serving Royal Marine and RTB product Craig Duncan has rejoined Ebbw Vale and will provide competition for the 15 shirt to Dan Haymond with his powerful and pacy running game. Craig will miss the first month of the season, as he will be in Japan for a forces rugby competition
Dragons Initial Draft
The first and major part of the draft process with the Dragons has been completed and the following players have been allocated to Ebbw Vale:
Aneurin Owen – Centre
Rio Dyer – Wing
Euan Rosser – Wing
Joe Goodchild – Wing / Fullback
Carwyn Penny – Fullback / Out Half
Jake Morgan – Fullback
Deon Smith – Wing
Dan Babos – Scrum Half
Max Ayling – Second Row
Max Williams -Second Row
Ben Fry – Back Row 6/8
Chris Coleman – Tight Head
Will Griffiths – Hooker
The following players are in the under 18 group and will be available from January 2020:
Ben Moa – N8
Joe Peard – Second Row
Benji Hoppe – Back Row
Carrick McDonaugh – Wing
Johnny Painter – Centre / Wing
In addition to these the club will retain the ability to utilise the following draft players from last season when they are available:
Daffydd Howells – Wing
Jack Dixon – Centre
The club will also able to call on the services of our legacy players when available:
Jarrod Rosser
Harri Keddie
Josh Lewis
Some names on the list that have Ebbw Vale connections are:
Euan Rosser, brother of Jarrod who starred during our Premiership winning season.
Ben Moa who is the son of former Ebbw Vale and Tonga prop forward Winni Moa.
Another well known name is Joe Peard whose father Mike was an excellent second row for Newbridge and whose granddad is former referee and current assessor Les who is often seen enjoying a balmy winter’s day in Ebbw Vale!
We’ve had numerous enquiries regarding the funeral of Owen Cunliffe, an ever present and popular supporter of the Steelmen during the seasons when his grandson, Wes, was with us. The Ebbw Addicts’ Angharad Simpson has been informed that it will take place on Thursday 5th September at 1:30 at Green Meadow golf club, Cwmbran. Wes and the family would love people who knew them during his days at Ebbw to attend.
The club is delighted to announce David Spears Commercials as a sponsor for the 2019-20 season. Marketing Manager of the commercial vehicles company, James Spears said, “We’ve always thought of it as important for us as a business to support local organisations. Knowing how important rugby is in our area it’s great to be able to team up with Ebbw Vale RFC for the 19-20 season. For a team based less than 3miles from our head office, which has seen much success in recent years, it’s great that we’re able to build a corporate relationship.”
Chairman Jonathan Jones is very pleased that such a long standing and prominent local business has backed the club and is looking forward to welcoming David, James, their staff and customers to Eugene Cross Park in what will be a competitive and thrilling season.
Ebbw Vale RFC are delighted to welcome Scott Parnell to the club as shirt sponsors for the 2019/20 season. With the excitement building around a new looking premiership and the league featuring again on BBC Wales it will be an exciting time to promote the Scott Parnell brand on the club’s shirt, raising the company’s profile within Wales. The TV coverage that BBC Wales bring to the league also helps the club attract high calibre companies such as Scott Parnell.
Leanne Horrigan, Director – Scott Parnell Wales said, “Scott Parnell are proud to be a sponsor of Ebbw Vale Rugby Club for this forthcoming season. As a London based company recently establishing a new division in the South Wales valleys, we are keen to grow our roots and relationships in Wales and delighted to give something back to the community. We are very much looking forward to getting involved with the club and wish them every success this season. There’s an exciting year of rugby ahead!”
“At Scott Parnell we provide a one-stop shop for all your groundworks and civil engineering requirements, while offering friendly, independent advice on how to find the best product for your schedule and specifications. Specialising in landscaping, drainage and geo-technical supplies, we are also experts in water management schemes and utilities and stock a huge range of building materials suitable for all projects – be it residential, roads, commercial or in the leisure industry. So whether you’re undertaking a major redevelopment, building a handful of new houses or constructing a new state-of-the-art leisure complex, we have the supplies, expertise and knowledge you need to lay a solid foundation for your project. Check out www.scottparnell.com
Scott Parnell Wales office
Unit 10, Hirwaun Industrial Estate
Nr Aberdare
Wales
- CF44 9UP
Tel: 01685 708970
Ebbw Vale RFC are proud to announce Great Annual Savings (GAS), the club’s new energy partners, as sponsors for the upcoming 2019–20 Indigo Group Premiership campaign powering the Steelmen.
As well as becoming the club’s new official energy partner, a move which saw GAS’s team of industry-leading procurement specialists negotiate new and improved energy contracts for the club, the two have also announced a strategic partnership aimed at reducing the energy costs for local Welsh businesses. Aidan Angus, Business Solutions Manager at GAS, said, “We’re passionate about sport. We have strategic partnerships in place with sporting organisations and clubs around the UK, including Ebbw Vale Rugby Club. As well as being a sponsor, we re-invest a portion of the revenue we generate through the relationship back into the rugby club, doubling down on the value of our relationship. We’ve already done some great work with The Steelmen and we look forward to working together further this season.”
The energy cost savings experts have found a kindred spirit in Ebbw Vale Rugby Club, with both sharing a passion for supporting their local communities. Jonathan Jones Ebbw Vale RFC Chairman said, “We are delighted to announce another major partner to the club in Great Annual Savings (GAS), and are looking forward to working together to not only promote the GAS brand via the Indigo Group Premiership, which is once again covered by BBC Wales and a fantastic draw to sponsors because of the TV coverage, but also to look at working with businesses in our area on helping to save them money on their energy bills. There are some major businesses in Ebbw Vale and we would love to help save them money on their energy and potentially support the club in return by doing so.
More on Great Annual Savings can be found here