Ebbw Vale have lifted the SWALEC Championship trophy today (Saturday 5 April 2014), securing their promotion into the Principality Premiership.
Having sealed their title triumph with a 50-7 home win over Beddau, scoring eight tries in the process, the Steelmen carried off the SWALEC Championship with 103 points, winning all 21 league games that they’ve played this season. It is the fourth time in four years that they have topped the table, first SWALEC League One East and then the SWALEC Championship.
The match was a milestone for tighthead prop Robert Sevenoaks, who has started every game this season and No 7 Ronny Kynes who has scored 16 tries this season.
Ebbw Vale has increased their membership by 10% and has enjoyed record crowds at Eugene Cross Park this season.
Ebbw Vale Club Captain Damien Hudd said: “It’s a massive day for us. We’ve worked so hard for this for the past four years and it’s finally paid off. Being promoted makes a big difference to valleys rugby and it means a lot to us”.
Head Coach Jason Strange added: “I’m a big believer that you end up where you’re meant to be eventually. My number one objective when I re-joined the club was to get us promoted. It’s taken four years but we’re there now. I’m delighted for the players who have sacrificed so much to get us to where we are today and I think we’ve proven that we deserve our place in the Premiership”.
WRU Board Member Ken Hewitt said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for Ebbw Vale and it’s especially positive for north Gwent as the club acts as a catalyst to attract youngsters to the game. The brand of rugby that they playing at the moment and the players that they are developing have already secured success in terms of support in the area”.
SWALEC is the national community partner of the Welsh Rugby Union and sponsors both the SWALEC Leagues and SWALEC Cup, Plate and Bowl competitions. SWALEC Finals Day, which sees six clubs battle it out in the Cup, Plate and Bowl competitions, will take place on Saturday 3rdMay at the Millennium Stadium.
Jonny Petrie, head of sponsorship strategy at SWALEC, added: “Our strong partnership with the WRU and its clubs goes back a number of years and we’re very pleased to be doing more for grassroots rugby in Wales through our sponsorship of the SWALEC Leagues. It has been another strong season for Welsh rugby as a whole and we have seen some impressive performances at club level. Many congratulations to CLUB on claiming the title.”
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