Merthyr coach expresses restructuring dismay

AS his players get ready for the first round of the SWALEC Cup this
Saturday, Merthyr coach Craig Dummett is still irked by the Welsh Rugby
Union’s restructuring plans.

Under the WRU’s proposals, which come into effect next season and now
feature a 12-team Premiership, Merthyr will not be in the newly-formed
National Championship, one step down from the top flight.

Dummett, who takes his charges to Tondu this weekend, is disheartened
by the collection of teams that will make-up the Championship, feeling
that the Cardiff Blues region, which Merthyr is part of, is unfairly represented.

After Bridgend and Carmarthen Quins were told by the union they would
be staying in the Premiership, there are now two places free but those
will be filled by Division One West clubs to complete the 14-strong
second tier.

At present, there are five clubs - Bargoed, Blackwood, Ebbw Vale,
Newbridge and Pontypool - from the Dragons region, three from the
Ospreys - Bonymaen, Tata Steel and Tonmawr -  three from the Blues –
Glamorgan Wanderers, Llanharan and UWIC – and one from the Scarlets in
the shape of Narberth.

And the new set-up is already having an effect on clubs like Merthyr,
who are left with little to play for and are losing players to future
Championship teams.

Division One East and West clubs have been invited by the WRU to
discuss the arrangement next Monday and Dummett’s views are clear.

“They picked the teams from their results over the last five years
which is fair if you’ve been up the top,” he said. “But this season
you’ve got the likes of Glamorgan Wanderers and Bonymaen who are down
near the bottom.

“And I don’t think it’s fair that the Blues have fewer clubs in the
Championship as other regions, the balance isn’t right.”

He added: “We’ve stopped paying our players as well, there’s no point.
At the end of the day, if we can’t go anywhere then players will leave
and some have.”

Swalec Cup first round draw; Bargoed v Blackwood, Beddau v Waunarlwydd,
Gilfach Goch v Newbridge, Narberth v Treorchy, Merthyr v Tondu,
Whitland v Carmarthen Athletic

CROCKED Bargoed full-back Chris Mapps has praised the club for helping
him in his recuperation from a broken leg.

The talented youngster sustained the injury during the second-half of
his side’s 23-11 victory over Blackwood at Bargoed Park on November 5 –
his second leg break in the last three years.

Mapps, the winner of the club’s Most Promising Player award last
season, expressed his thanks to the Division One East outfit in a
statement posted on the club’s official website.

“I would like to start by saying a massive thank you to all of Bargoed
RFC, the players, coaches, committee and the supporters for all they
have done for me during my injury,” said Mapps, whose previous broken
leg came while playing for the club’s youth side.

“Everyone at Bargoed has made this injury easier to live with knowing I
have all the support I need at the club that I love and will always
support.