South Wales Rugby League Conference champions Torfaen Tigers will make their Tetley's Challenge Cup debut in 2014 following their Grand Final win this summer.
They will be Wales' only entrants in the first round of the historic competition and are one of just 44 community clubs that have been invited to participate.
Those 44 sides will form the first two rounds, which will be played on February 1 and February 22 respectively. The remaining winning teams will then face semi-professional opposition, such as South Wales Scorpions and North...
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Principality Premiership Weekend Predictions and Festive Musings
As Noddy Holder put it, ’IT’S CHRISTMASSSSS!’, and after the break for British and Irish Cup action, we return to a full program of the Principality Premiership with all 12 teams in action.
As we reach the half-way point of the season, I thought I would take a look back at some of the events and stories that have led us to this point so far, and unfortunately that also means paying our respects to Pontypridd prop Stuart Williams, who suddenly passed away in October this year.
If last season was a one horse race with the Valley Commandos running...
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Rees takes captaincy role
Former Welsh Amateur champion Chris Rees, who played international golf alongside European Tour winners Phil Price, Stephen Dodd, Bradley Dredge and Jamie Donaldson, is the new captain of the Wales Men's team.
Rees takes on the new role after eight years as a selector and is hoping to use some of his own playing experiences, having come up through the ranks of Welsh golf, to help develop the stars of the future.
Chris King is the new captain of the Wales Boys team, succeeding Leighton Smith, while Rees takes over from Carl Rowe, following...
Monday, 9 December 2013
Swalec Lower League Round Up
Rhiwbina capitalised on Llantrisant’s 14-14 draw at Llantwit Fardre to leap to the summit thanks to a 34-9 home win over Dowlais.
The Squirrels touched down five times to secure a bonus point while Dowlais had to settle for just three penalties from Lloyd Hynes. No 8 David Smith was at the double for the hosts with a brace while Chris Fido, Richard Myers and Nick Howell also went over.
Meanwhile, Abertillery BG heaped more woe on strugglers Tredegar with an 11 try, 67-5 win. Aled Penn and Kurtis Haile both clinched hat-tricks while Jack Goodey,...
Swalec Division One East and West Round Up
There were wins for the top three sides in One East as the title race continues to hot up, with leaders Merthyr and highfliers Heol-y-Cyw and Ystrad Rhondda all winning.
Merthyr showed their mettle as the Ironmen trounced Nelson 57-10 at the Wern to head the table by three points.
Lee Jarvis’ troops helped themselves to nine tries, with Sam Edwards and Ollie Smyth both bagging braces for the hosts, while Josh Flye, Ewan Williams, Martin Luckwell, Osian Davies and Owen Morgan also touched down. Steve Lang added the extras to six.
Meanwhile,...
Swalec Championship Weekend Round Up
North Wales region RGC 1404 were the big winners in the Swalec Championship as they romped to a ten try, 64-7 victory over Llanharan at Parc Eirias.
Chris Horsman’s troops totally outclassed their visitors with tries from Lewis Barker (2), Andy Williams, Josh Leach, Tom Blackwelll, Kelvin Davies, Liam Leung, Harri Evans, Tom Hughes and Huw Grind.
Meanwhile, runaway leaders Ebbw Vale extended their unbeaten run to eleven matches, as they opened up a 14 point lead at the summit thanks to a thrilling 43-24 home win over Bridgend Athletic.
The...
Friday, 6 December 2013
Wales Rugby League to take over the running of South Wales Scorpions
Wales Rugby League, the sport’s National Governing Body, have agreed to take over the running of South Wales Scorpions for the 2014 season after their founder and inaugural chairman Phil Davies decided to step down.
Davies founded the club in late 2009 following the old Celtic Crusaders’ decision to move north and has been at the helm of the only professional rugby league club in South Wales for four seasons in Championship One. Davies is unfortunately unable to continue with the running of the club due to work and personal commitments however...
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Royal Porthcawl named UK Golf Club of the Year
Royal Porthcawl, one of the oldest and most distinguished
clubs in Wales and the venue for next year’s Senior Open, has been named Golf
Club of the Year in the UK.
The south Wales club beat off the challenge of over 100
other clubs, including Sunningdale, Wentworth and Ganton to win this
prestigious award.
“Porthcawl may be in its 122nd year but the club
shows no sign of aging” Caroline Scoular, head of the judges, said. “Maintaining
traditions while securing a healthy future is tough for all clubs these days.
It is a very fine balance...
Centre magician Regan King returns to rugby in West Wales
One of the Scarlets' most prolific and talented centres will head back to West Wales next season moving from Heineken Cup finalists Clermont Auvergne. The once-capped All Black was a highly prized member of the Scarlets squad for six years and played an important role in helping develop and push forward a number of the region's world-class backs including Welsh internationals Jon Davies and Rhys Priestland. King joined French giants Clermont Auvergne on a three-year contract in 2011/12 and now returns to re-join the region he proudly...
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
British & Irish Cup Round 3 preview
The British & Irish Cup enters the double-header phase where the same two teams face each other on back-to-back weekends in December. In all bar one of the six pools there are top-of-the-table clashes to look forward to, meaning the next fortnight is likely to be make-or-break time for many of the participants.Something has to give in Pool 1 as pool leaders and defending champions Leinster 'A' go up against their nearest rivals Cross Keys. Along with Pontypridd, Cross Keys are the only Welsh side to reach the knockout stages of the cross-border...
Ellis Jenkins October Player of Month
Ellis Jenkins has picked up the Principality Premiership Player of the Month award for October. The Cardiff backrow put in a string of impressive performances at the start of this season to earn the accolade – and also bagged a first Pro12 starting berth for the Blues against Treviso on the weekend.Cardiff were in the top three going into last weekend's round of fixtures with wins in October over Neath, Newport and Swansea. During the month, Ellis also turned out for Pontypridd in their win over London Welsh in the British & Irish...
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
BUCS Women's Rugby: Swansea Uni 0-20 Cardiff Met 2nds
Cardiff Met 2nds secured safe passage through to the second
round of the BUCS Trophy with a comfortable 20-0 victory over Welsh rivals
Swansea at Sketty Lane.
Cardiff Met’s Amberley Ruck was the star of the show as the
scrum-half bagged four well-taken tries in an inspirational performance.
Swansea were unable to string more than a few phases together
all match and spent the majority of the game on the back foot, as the visitors
controlled the territory and possession.
The match started in a scrappy fashion with handling errors
preventing...
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Division One East Round Up - 23rd November
Merthyr were in sensational form at
home to Glamorgan Wanderers yesterday afternoon running in nine tries from all
over the pitch to win 59-6.
Coach Lee Jarvis had a run out for
the Ironmen and had a great game at outside half pulling the strings in the
backline and putting his centres and wingers through gaps with ease.
Iwan Williams and Chris Davies both
scored twice for Merthyr along with scrum half Martin Luckwell, Owain Morgan,
Matthew Trowbridge, Cameron Gardener and replacement Ollie Smyth as they
extended their lead at the top...
Division One West Round Up - 23rd November
Glynneath won the battle at the top
of Division One West against Waunarlwydd triumphing 30-25 and extending their
lead over their rivals in the process.
Despite former Tata Steel coach Rob
Hill in charge of the Black and Whites for the first time, they could not end
Glynneath’s unbeaten record in One West despite leading 20-3 at half time
Jordan Griffiths, Kier Burrows and
James Parry all scored for the table toppers in a superb second half comeback.
Jack O’Riley once again boosted his
growing profile by finishing with an individual...
Swalec Championship Round Up - 23rd November
Leaders Ebbw Vale picked up yet
another bonus-point victory in their 43-3 hammering of Beddau at Mount Pleasant
Park and extended their lead at the top of the Swalec Championship in the
process.
The Steelmen scored seven tries in
another comfortable afternoon with powerful No.8 Spencer Gibson, Jordan Howells
and influential skipper Damien Hudd all scoring twice along with David James.
Jason Strange’s men remain unbeaten
in the league and remain on course for their long awaited Premiership promotion
in a case of ‘when’ not ‘if’.
Second...
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