Category Archives: Ebbw Vale Rugby
If you missed Saturday’s big win over Newport, or if you just want to relive some of the key parts of the match day experience, click on over to EVRFC TV where our roving video auteur Chris Peet takes us through a visual account of the day.
Please note, this is not a highlights video, nor is it meant to be. It’s something new we’re trying and we’d welcome your feedback.
Nigel Davies has announced his first Ebbw Vale Premiership team, ready for the season’s opener at the Brewery Field, Bridgend on Saturday afternoon, kicking off at 1:30.
The side is as follows:
Dan Haymond; Owen Williams, Jordan Howells, Dominic Franchi, David Williams; Dai Langdon, Tom Edwards; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Rhys Clarke; Luke Crocker, Ronny Kynes, Harrison Keddie.
Replacements: Joe Franchi, Ian George, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Bartlett, Chris Thomas, Iain Smerdon, Ryan Gardiner.
There are league debuts for new Steelmen Dom Fanchi, David Williams and Luke Crocker. Referring to the pre-season fixtures, Nigel Davies said,”Going up against two teams from the English Championship has been great and taught us a lot about ourselves. Now, we are really looking forward to testing ourselves against the rest of the Premiership again. It will be tough at Bridgend because they are the Swalec Cup holders, have quality in their squad and will be looking for a strong start at home.”
The WRU has today confirmed that experimental laws will be trialled in the Principality Premiership (including the Challenge Cup but NOT the Swalec Cup) for the coming season.
The main changes will be as follows:
Points values
Try – 6 points
Conversion – 2 points
Penalty – 2 points
Drop goal – 2 points
Penalty try – 8 points (no conversion required)
Bonus points
A team scoring 4 tries will gain a bonus point
A team losing but by 8 or less points will gain a bonus point
Front row replacements and substitutions
If, because of a sending off or an injury, a team cannot provide enough suitably trained front row players, the match continues with uncontested scrums. In this case the scrums have to be played with 8 players.
Time regulations
If time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty is then awarded, the referee allows play to continue. If time expires and a player then kicks to touch from a penalty kick anywhere in the playing area, the referee allows the throw in to be taken, and play continues until the next time that the ball becomes dead.
Kick off and restarts
Kick off sanction is a free kick at the centre of the half way line.
The changes will commence in the first round of Premiership matches this weekend.
Ebbw Vale’s team to take on English Championship side London Welsh at Eugene Cross Park on Friday night (kick off at 7:30) has been announced.
Dan Haymond; Owen Williams, Jordan Howells, Dominic Franchi, David Williams; Dai Langdon, Tom Edwards; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Joe Bartlett; Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes, Ethan Doyle.
Replacements from the rest of the squad.
Leading Premiership club Ebbw Vale RFC are delighted to announce their season long support of Mental Health charity, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent Mind.
The club will carry the charity’s logo on the front of its home and away shirt, advertising on its website and in its match day programme. In addition to this the club will support fund raising initiatives via collections and through the provision of free international tickets for use by Mind locally. Finally, the club will also provide a number of free season tickets for use by the charity.
Sheree Williams (representing Mind) was delighted when approached by the Steelmen with the idea of promoting the charity’s work in the community.
“The mission for Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent Mind is to campaign to improve service, raise awareness and promote education and understanding of mental health and wellbeing with a particular emphasis on men’s mental health. The statistics on male suicide are deeply concerning both nationally and within our local communities. The involvement of a high profile rugby club will assist us in our mission and we are looking forward to a successful partnership with Ebbw Vale RFC in the coming season.“
Jon Jones Chairman of Ebbw Vale RFC commented,
“When the opportunity arose for us to support a local charity, the aim was to look for an organisation that would benefit from raising awareness within our community. We felt that Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent Mind needed this, to support the valuable work it does. Male mental health still has a stigma and machismo attached to it that often prevents a person seeking the help they need. If we can help remove these issues and raise awareness in the coming year, it will be as significant as anything we achieve on the field of play. We look forward to working with the charity in the coming months.”
(Image courtesy of ncr photography.)
Applications are invited from season ticket holders for tickets for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament to be played in February/March 2016
To apply, please use the link to ‘International Tickets‘ on this website. Please quote your season ticket number as shown on the reverse of this season’s (2015 – 2016) season. If you haven’t yet got your new season ticket you can still request tickets and when you collect the ticket state that you have applied for 6 Nations tickets.
Applications must be received by 4th September 2015.
For the first time since St David’s Day, 1969, London Welsh visit Eugene Cross Park this Friday 28th August, for a friendly fixture against the Steelmen, kicking off at 7:30pm. This is our last pre-season friendly and should be a great game; don’t forget London Welsh were in the English Premiership last season so it will a real test for our team who would appreciate your vocal support.
Entry costs will be:
Adults £10
Concessions £7
Season ticket holders free
If you haven’t bought or collected your season ticket yet you can do this on Thursday 27th between 6pm and 7pm from the clubhouse. If you prefer to wait until Friday, season tickets will available to buy or collect outside the main gate before the match
The club shop will be open on Saturday 22nd August between 11.00am and 12.00pm
The shop will also be open on Thursday 27th August between 5.30pm and 8.00pm
For the match against London Welsh on Friday 28th August, shop opening times will be:
5.30pm until 7.15pm
9.15pm until 10.00pm BestesOnlineCasino – wie auswählen? – Created with VisMe
The Ebbw squad for Saturday’s friendly fixture at Pontypool is as follows:
15 Daniel Haymond
14 Owen Williams
13 Jordan Howells
12 Dominic Franchi
11 David Williams
10 David Langdon
9 Thomas Edwards
1 Ian George
2 Joseph Franchi
3 Keagan Bale
4 Joseph Bartlett
5 Rhys Clarke
6 Luke Crocker
7 Ronny Kynes
8 Harrison Keddie
Subs.
Ross Jones
Rhys Buckley
Luke Leddington
Ethan Doyle
Ben Papp
Cameron Regan
Carl Lewis
Iain Smerdon
Ryan Gardiner
Ashley Sweet has withdrawn as he was due to have an operation to remove his appendix. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Luke Crocker, who joined from champions Pontypridd in the close season, makes a first start for the Steelmen as he returns from Dragons 7s duty, along with Owen Williams and Harri Keddie.
Ebbw Vale RFC have been overwhelmed by the response of the local community to their requests for children to be mascots at their home games next season.
Within 24 hours of releasing the request on the club website and through social media, every game has been allocated with two mascots being selected for each match.
Mascots at each of the games will receive:
A framed picture taken with the club captain
A replica shirt (which they will keep as a memento)
A club beanie hat
A match day programme which will include their name and picture.
There will be no cost to the families of the mascots.
A club spokesperson said, “We are looking at ways to improve our community links all the time. These children are the future of this club both on and off the field and we are delighted that there has been such a rapid response from parents and families for their children to be involved. I’m sure that they all will enjoy the experience of leading the Steelmen onto the field this year.”
All families will be contacted about their game allocation on Sunday 16th August.
Head Coach Nigel Davies has announced his first match day squad as Ebbw head off to Moseley on Saturday afternoon.
Dan Haymond, Steffan Jones, Patric Lewis, Jordan Howells, Ryan Gardiner; Dai Langdon, Chris Thomas; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Rhys Clarke, Cameron Regan, Ethan Doyle.
Bench: Keagan Bale, Ian George, Joe Franchi, Luke Leddington, Joe Bartlett, James Hall, Tom Edwards, Dominic Franchi, David Williams, Ronny Kynes.
There are club debut starts for Steffan Jones, Patric Lewis of the Dragons Academy, Ryan Gardiner and Ethan Doyle. Looking to make debuts from the bench will be James Hall, David Williams and Dominic Franchi – whose twin Joe is also keen to get back into full action following the completion of his university studies.
Returning former players, familiar to Steelmen supporters, are Ian George and Tom Edwards.
The game kicks off at 3pm
It’s not all about the new boys on EVRFC TV; this time, one of the senior players, Ross Jones, shares his thoughts about pre-season, the forthcoming friendlies and the importance of starting the league season well.
You can watch Ross’s video here.
EVRFC team mascots for the season 2015/16
With the new season only a few weeks away EVRFC are looking for children (under 16) to be mascots at games for the upcoming season at Eugene Cross Park.
Children chosen will receive:
A framed A4 photograph taken with the team captain
A replica shirt to wear as mascot (and keep as a memento of their day)
An EVRFC beanie hat
A match day programme
If you are interested in your child, grandchild, niece or nephew being a mascot at one of the games at ECP next season, have a look at out fixture list, decide on the game you would like them to be mascot at and then email:
ebbwaddicts@mail.com
with the following details:
Your name
Child’s name
Contact phone number
Preferred Game or Games
You will receive a confirmation email and be contacted by either Andrew Phillips (Media/Club Safeguarding Officer) or Ian James (Club Secretary)
EVRFC TV’s roving reporter has tracked down new recruit Steffan Jones, a Psychology graduate (like all the best people!) who has joined the Steelmen for the new season. Find out what our new wing had to say when he spoke to EVRFC TV this week.
This time it’s not so much a new player as someone returning to the club. Loose head prop Ian George was an integral element in the Ebbw team during the reign of Alex Codling and is renowned in Wales and beyond for his prowess as a scrummager and his work rate around the field. Find out how pre-season is going and what Ian is looking forward to, now that he’s back with the Steelmen.
EVRFC TV have been interviewing our new arrivals.
This time it’s your chance to find out a little more about centre Dominic ‘Dom’ Franchi, who has joined his hometown club from Newport.
You can see the interview here.
EVRFC TV’s 2nd programme features an interview with new signing, David Williams. You can watch it here.
It is with sadness that we find ourselves recording the passing of another stalwart of the club, Ernie Lewis who died on Saturday 25th July, aged 91.
Roy Lewis writes: “Ernie Lewis was our outside half at a special time for the club. The 1950s brought success and recognition and after finishing third in the 1950/1 Welsh Championship, we won it the following season under George Gwynn. We played 39 games, won 31, drew 2 and lost six, with Ernie topping the century in points scored for the third season in succession, an achievement in days when scores were low. His haul of 198 points made him the highest scorer in Welsh rugby in 1951/2, and set a club record that stood for 23 years, until it was broken by his son, Steve.
He did not give up the game when he finished playing, and became a first-class referee. He refereed France v Australia in 1971 in Toulouse and faced a hostile crowd which went wild when he awarded a penalty to the Aussies after their captain Greg Davies was punched and suffered a broken nose. The Wallabies won 13-11 and police escorted them from the dressing rooms to their bus.
On a much happier occasion Ernie was touch-judge at Cardiff when what some consider the greatest game of rugby ever was played there – Barbarians v New Zealand in 1973 – and had the remarkable honour of being the closest man on the pitch to Gareth Edwards as he scored THAT try.
Ernie often came to watch his old club play and was able to see first Steve, then his grandsons Iestyn, James and Robert wearing the same colours. He was immensely proud that all four represented Wales at age group levels. Ernie played a major role in the club’s success in the 50s and 60s when four Welsh Championships were won. A native of Abertillery he later joined them and, when a 29 year school-master, played against the 1953 All Blacks for Abertillery/Ebbw Vale.”
Everyone at Ebbw Vale RFC extends our deepest sympathy to his family.
The funeral will take place at Gwent Crematorium, Croesyceiliog on Tuesday, 4th August at 2pm.
The WRU has published details of the new Challenge Cup competition, designed to fill the Saturdays when the British and Irish Cup takes place. Ebbw Vale are in the Gwent group with Bedwas, Cross Keys and Newport. It is not yet clear how the semi-finalists will be determined, as there are three groups, but all will be revealed eventually, no doubt.
Ebbw’s fixtures are:
Nov 14 Cross Keys A
Nov 21 Newport H
Dec 12 Bedwas A
Dec 19 Bedwas H
Jan 16 Newport A
Jan 23 Cross Keys H
The eagle-eyed amongst supporters will realise that Ebbw and Bedwas will now meet each other on three successive Saturdays, a bit like a Test Match series.
Hot off the press!
Sep 5 Bridgend A
Sep 12 Newport H
Sep 19 Neath H
Sep 26 Llandovery A
Oct 3 Cardiff H
Oct 10 Cross Keys H
Oct 17 Llanelli A
Oct 24 Carmarthen H
Oct 31 Pontypridd A
Nov 7 Newport A
Nov 28 Aberavon A
Dec 5 Bridgend H
Dec 26 Bedwas H
Jan 2 Neath A
Jan 30 Llandovery H
Feb 13 Cardiff A
Feb 20 Cross Keys A
Mar 5 Llanelli H
Mar 12 Pontypridd H
Mar 26 Bedwas A
Apr 2 Carmarthen A
Apr 23 Aberavon H
We were very saddened to learn, this week, of the death of Jonathan Williams, following a long illness. Jonathan played for us as a fit, physical and intelligent hooker in the late 70s and early 80s and was captain in 1981-82. He went on the California tour in 1980 but, although captain in 1982 , he was unable to go on the tour to Canada. However, typical of the man, he worked very hard in the preparations. Roy Lewis, who knew him well, said, “Jonathan was one of the nicest men I have ever met.”
We send our deepest sympathies to Jonathan’s family.
The funeral will take place on Thursday 23rd July, at 3pm in St.Mary’s Church, Abergavenny.
Ebbw Vale RFC now has its own TV Channel on YouTube. Currently, it features an interview with new Head Coach Nigel Davies and a look at pre-season training as the boys are put through their paces on Cae Canol. There’ll be new short programmes posted twice every week featuring interviews with players, coaches and management as well as the build up to matches and home match highlights.
You can watch here as well as subscribing to EVRFC TV for regular updates.
19 year old David Williams, a fast and skilful ‘back 3’ player arrives at Ebbw Vale having spent the last four seasons at the Leicester Tigers Academy. During this time he featured twice in the prestigious JP Morgan Sevens for the full Tigers squad, as well as featuring in age group trials in England. A talented all round sportsman, David has also played football at County level as well as being a county champion at hurdles for four years.
David will be moving to the Ebbw Vale area at the end of July and is currently commuting to attend pre season training. Although a native of Leicester, David is Welsh qualified through his father who is originally from Pontypridd and he is coming to Wales to look to develop his rugby career and make a breakthrough into professional rugby over the next few seasons.
Mike Powell has joined Ebbw Vale RFC as Assistant Forwards Coach working in tandem with Ceri Jones. This is Mike’s first coaching position having retired due to injury at the end of last season. 38 year old Powell first came to prominence as a Second Row with Pontypool and went on to feature for Bridgend and the Ospreys (playing in the team that beat Australia) before crossing the border from his Caldicot base where he enjoyed long spells at London Welsh and Moseley in the English Championship enhancing his reputation as a highly skilled forward and model professional. Mike is delighted to be linking with the Steelmen and working with the a renowned pack as he makes the transition from playing to coaching.
It must also be mentioned: he lives next door to Paul ‘Wally’ Walbyoff!
Welcome to our new website! EVRFC has gone through its 5th iteration since it first appeared in 1999; our new website has more photos, graphics and information, but has kept the same approach to regular updates, and news published whenever there’s news to publish. Let us know what you think of the website here.