Category Archives: Ebbw Vale Rugby
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.
Ebbw’s match at Parc-y-Scarlets this Saturday will kick off at 12:30 pm. This will enable people travelling to the game from Ebbw Vale to have enough time to return to EVRFC for big screen coverage of the Wales v South Africa Rugby World Cup quarter final, which kicks off at 4pm.
Club Secretary Ian James said, “We really have to thank the management at Llanelli RFC, and the match officials of course, in agreeing to our proposed kick off time change.”
The Steelmen 23 to take on Cross Keys at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday afternoon, kicking off at 1:30 pm, shows several changes from last week. Adam Jones makes his first start of the season at centre, as does Ryan Gardner on the wing, while Rob Seveonaks gets the nod at tight head and Rhys Clarke steps in for the injured Ashley Sweet.
15 Daniel Haymond, 14 David Williams, 13 Nathan Preece, 12 Adam Jones, 11 Ryan Gardner; 10 Iain Smerdon, 9 Thomas Edwards; 1 Ross Jones, 2 Mathew Williams, 3 Robert Sevenoaks; 4 Damien Hudd (captain), 5 Rhys Clarke; 6 Harrison Keddie,
7 Ronny Kynes, 8 Ethan Doyle. Bench: 16 Joe Franchi, 17 Ian George, 18 Gethin Robinson, 19 Joe Bartlett, 20 Luke Crocker, 21 Chris Thomas, 22 Jordan Howells,
23 Chris Levesley.
If you missed Saturday’s home win over Cardiff (it was 34-22 in case you haven’t heard) there’s a chance to catch up with a flavour of the whole matchday experience, including plenty of on-field action, on our very own youtube TV channel. If you were there, why not relive the memories?
Click on this link to go to EVRFC TV.
Ebbw Vale entertain old friends and rivals Cross Keys next Saturday afternoon, October 10th.
Make a note of the early start though – the game will kick off at 1:30 pm, because of the Wales v Australia match later on that day. Set your alarm!
Ebbw are ready to welcome Cardiff to Eugene Cross Park on Saturday afternoon, determined to put behind them last week’s reverse at Llandovery.
The team is: 15 Daniel Haymond, 14 David Williams, 13 Jordan Howells, 12 Nathan Preece, 11 Thomas Watkins; 10 Iain Smerdon, 9 Thomas Edwards; 1 Ross Jones, 2 Mathew Williams, 3 Gethin Robinson; 4 Damien Hudd (captain), 5 Ashley Sweet; 6 Harrison Keddie, 7 Ronny Kynes, 8 Ethan Doyle. Bench: 16 Joseph Franchi, 17 Ian George, 18 Robert Sevenoaks, 19 Joseph Bartlett, 20 Rhys Clarke, 21 Christopher Thomas, 22 Chris Levesley, 23 Steffan Jones.
You can take a look at the Steelmen’s preparations in training this week on EVRFC TV.
After the excitement of Saturday night’s gargantuan encounter with England, please join us in watching Wales v Fiji on the big screens in the clubhouse this Thursday from 4pm.
There will be a film crew in attendance relating to RWC2015 and highlighting the part rugby clubs play in Wales so the more we can get supporting the better!
There are changes to the starting line up for Saturday’s visit to Llandovery, for what Head Coach Nigel Davies has called his side’s toughest challenge so far. “Llandovery are a very good team and play a very good brand of rugby,” said Davies. “They play from all over the park and have some really dangerous runners. We’ve won our first three games but have only just done enough. I want us to go to Llandovery and express ourselves a bit more.”
Jared Rosser makes a first start at full back, having impressed as a replacement on the wing against Neath, and Nathan Preece, recovered from injury, slots in alongside the in-form Dominic Franchi. Ian George and Rhys Buckley pack down in the front row, Joe Bartlett comes in for Damien Hudd at lock and Ronny Kynes is back at openside. Ashley Sweet captains the team.
Last week’s Man of the Match, Steffan Jones, will be looking to add to the brace of tries he bagged in the victory, especially as he has the treat of visiting beautiful rural Carmarthenshire on his birthday.
The team is:
Jared Rosser, Steffan Jones, Nathan Preece, Dominic Franchi, Tom Watkins; Iain Smerdon, Luc Jones; Ian George, Rhys Buckley, Robert Sevenoaks; Joe Bartlett, Ashley Sweet (capt), Luke Crocker, Ronny Kynes, Harrison Keddie.
Bench: Joe Franchi, Ross Jones, Luke Leddington, Rhys Clarke, Cameron Regan, Chris Thomas, Dan Haymond, Jordan Howells.
The latest episode of EVRFC TV is ready for you to watch on our youtube channel.
It’s not a a ‘rugby highlights’ programme as such, although there is quite a bit of action in there, but it’s more a flavour of the day at last Saturday’s home match with Neath. Here’s the link.
Following last Saturday’s bonus point win over Newport, Head Coach Nigel Davies makes 8 changes to the starting line up for tomorrow’s home match against the Welsh All Blacks, Neath.
David Williams moves to full back, with Tom Watkins moving to the left wing to accommodate Steffan Jones on the right. Iain Smerdon and Luc Jones come in at half back and, up front, there are first starts of the league season for Rob Sevenoaks, Ashley Sweet and Cameron Regan.
David Williams, Steffan Jones, Jordan Howells, Dominic Franchi, Tom Watkins; Iain Smerdon, Luc Jones; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Robert Sevenoaks; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Luke Crocker, Cameron Regan, Harrison Keddie.
Bench: Joe Franchi, Keagan Bale, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Bartlett, Ethan Doyle, Chris Thomas, Jared Rosser, Dan Haymond.
Neath have not had the best of starts to the season, losing narrowly at home to Newport then conceding 40 at Carmarthen – though they did score 22 themselves. However, they are always formidable opponents and any team coached by Patrick Horgan and Gareth Llewellyn will always represent a serious challenge. Ebbw’s coaches and players know they’ll need to be at their best to win this one. Have a look at them in training this week in the latest episode from EVRFC TV.
There’ll be some familiar faces in the Neath squad tomorrow; as well as our former coach Patrick Horgan, look out for ex-Steelmen Aaron Bramley, Aaron Coundley, Marc Jones and Jonathan Griffiths.