Coaching structure

Ebbw Vale RFC are pleased to announce their coaching structure for the coming season.

Nigel Davies remains to lead the club’s defence of their Premiership title, secured with a superb performance at Sardis Road in May.

With Ceri Jones having moved on to coach the Dragons, the club are delighted to welcome back former Steelmen prop forward Lee Davies as Forwards Coach. Lee enjoyed a 9-year Premiership playing career that included a 3-year spell at Ebbw Vale from 2003 to 2006 after coming through the Pontypridd U21 set up. Lee played at Bridgend and Pontypridd before retiring with a back injury in 2012. As a qualified secondary school teacher he switched to Coleg Y Cwmoedd 4 years ago to join the rugby academy and he has played a strong role in making the college one of the stand-out performers in the college league. Alongside this, Lee has also coached Cardiff Blues age grade rugby at U16/18 level. Last season he coached Beddau to a sixth placed finish in the Championship. Lee is qualified to WRU Level 3 and is about to embark on his Level 4 qualification.

The club is delighted to welcome Lee back and he clearly fits with the ethos of appointing young ambitious coaches who have an affiliation to the club and an understanding of its culture.

Damien Hudd will assist Lee, and will combine this new role with his continuing playing career. The club will support Damien as he embarks on gaining his Level 1 and 2 WRU coaching qualifications in the coming season. A keen student of the game, Damien is looking forward to his new role and the club is delighted that this is the opening chapter in retaining his obvious leadership qualities for the long-term.

Mike Powell, who performed the Assistant Coach role last season despite the severe leg injury he sustained in October, has moved on to pastures new. We thank Mike for his efforts and the part he played in our title-winning season.

Nick Wakley will once again coach the backs. After joining at Christmas 2014, Nick has developed strongly as a coach and is looking forward to working with a talented back line that seldom receives the credit it deserves. Once again Nick’s expertise has been in demand on the summer 7’s circuit, which is a clear indication of his attack coach ability.

The strength and conditioning role will once again be fulfilled for the 4^th season by former Steelmen scrum half Lewis Roberts. An intern from the University of South Wales, Harry Ashby, will assist Lewis. The club would like to take the opportunity to thank former Steelmen pace ace Ian Jeffries, who heads up this key area of Educational Sport for the University.