Ronny wins two awards

Ronny Kynes has been named as the Welsh Rugby Writers’ Association’s “Premiership Player of the Year” for 2015-16. Beating off fierce competition from 12 other Premiership regulars, Ronny took the top prize, ahead of Llandovery’s Rhodri Davies. Everyone associated with Ebbw Vale RFC send warmest congratulations to the only current player in Wales to have a move named after him!

Ronny will receive his award at the 42nd annual dinner of the Welsh Rugby Writers, at Cardiff RFC on Thursday, September 1. He’ll be in the company of another back row forward with strong links to Eugene Cross Park, as Taulupe Faletau will be presented with the award for Welsh Player of the Year.

Hot on the heels of the above announcement comes the news that Ronny has also been named as Principality Premiership Player of the Month for April.
Ronny, a cult hero at Eugene Cross Park for his energy, work-rate all around the park and ‘Catch and Kynes’ move, has been turning heads all season, and particularly since the New Year. His performances in March helped Ebbw clinch three out of three league wins, and with two more wins in April they grabbed the third place position. Ronny puts the Steelmen’s consistency down to the togetherness in the squad built up over the last five or six years.
“There’s a brilliant environment at Ebbw Vale. I’ve been here five years and we have a consistent squad in training week in week out. Jason (Strange) did a lot of good work and Nigel (Davies) has done a great job since coming in last year too.
“I have to thank the forwards for doing all the hard work, I just take the glory when it comes to the ‘Catch and Kynes’ scores!
“We never doubted we could do well in the Premiership. Last year was a fantastic achievement to reach the final and we wanted to go one better this year and win. We left it late but luckily we found some consistency in the last couple of months and made the play-offs.
“Sunday will be tough at Llandovery, especially after they’ve won the Cup last week but we’re looking forward to it all the same.”
Natalie Stevens, Principality Building Society’s Ebbw Vale branch manager, said: “Ronny has had a great season for Ebbw Vale, helping them to another strong season in the Principality Premiership. He has scored some fantastic tries and we wish him and Ebbw Vale all the best for next season.”

Ronny Kynes factfile

Born: 18.8.86, Caerphilly
Club: Ebbw Vale
Position: Flanker
Education: New Tredegar Primary, Rhymney Comprehensive
First club: New Tredegar juniors and youth, first senior rugby at Tredegar before signing at Ebbw Vale
Occupation: Bricklayer
Inspiration: My father Billy ‘Irish’ Kynes. My parents have always supported my sport from the age of five or six, they still come to every game now and have kept me on the straight and narrow
Most admired rugby player: Richie McCaw
Most admired sportsperson: David Beckham