WELSH ACE SET TO TAKE ON RYDER CUP LEGENDS

Paul Mayo will go head to head with some of golf’s biggest names when he tees up in next week’s ISPA HANDA PGA Seniors Championship at Stoke by Nayland. The former Newport head pro is one of 20 PGA pros who qualified for the £235,000 event via the recent Senior PGA Professional Championship at Foxhills, Surrey. Other Welsh representatives include Glyn Davies from Celtic Manor Resort and Roy Williams of the North Wales Golf Club while Sam Torrance, Mark James and Des Smyth are among the best-known players in action with Torrance and Smyth...

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Cefn Fforest claim Six South Central crown

Cefn Fforest RFC received the Division Six South Central trophy on Friday night after a hard-fought campaign, eventually pipping CIACS to the title. “We’ve had a remarkable season and we were definitely the team to beat in our division,” stated Team Manger Mike Murphy, who has been involved with the club since 1997. Cefn ended the season level on 68 points at the summit with CIACS, with the Gwent side having a better try count despite playing...

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Swansea RFC announce new-look coaching team

Swansea RFC have announced a new-look coaching team for next season, Richard Lancaster will assume control as Director of Rugby and will be assisted by a coaching team of Rhodri Jones, Chris Loader and Ben Lewis. Level 4 coach Lancaster has worked previously alongside Steve Tandy as Bridgend Ravens assistant coach. He has also been Head Coach at Swansea University over the past 8 years through a period of  extraordinary success, as well as leading the Ospreys Under 20s coaching team. Having already been involved at the club this season...

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Swalec Championship, a Season in Numbers

As the second season in the Swalec Championship comes to a finish, we take a look back at the Championship season in numbers.  Where better a place to start than champions Ebbw Vale, who topped the table on 122 points with their only defeat coming on the final day of the season away at Narberth. Despite the final day loss, the statistics prove the Steelmen were head and shoulders about the other teams in the league. The Steelmen scored over a thousand points, helped by their 151 try haul, making Jason Strange’s troops the most potent side...

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Neath and Pontyclun set for Women's Super Cup showdown

The Women’s domestic season will reach its climax on Saturday May 31st with the Super Cup Finals held at Llandovery RFC.  Eight teams have earned the right meet in four finals to decide the leading clubs in each tier of the women’s game. The Vase Final will be contested between two new Clubs to the women’s game as Penybanc  and Haverfordwest  face each other.  Both Scarlets teams began playing competitive rugby this season and have shown signs that they have potential to go a long way as Haverfordwest finished runners-up in...

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Rhiwbina lift Swalec Division Two East Trophy after a season of excitement

After narrowly missing out on the SWALEC Plate in a dramatic Finals Day clash with Merthyr RFC, Rhiwbina have lifted the Division 2 East trophy after a convincing win at home against Abercynon last night. The 57 – 15 victory was a welcome return to winning form for the side. Just two weeks ago, the battle of the champions at the Millennium stadium was meant to be a procession for Merthyr who are a league above Rhiwbina, (nicknamed...

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Llanhilleth Celebrate SWALEC Division Five East Title Win

The Blaenau Gwent side carried off the SWALEC Division 5 East title with a win of 13 – 0, triumphing in all but two of the 20 league games that they’ve played this season including today’s win over Brynithel RFC. It’s been a nail-biting climax to a hard-fought title race. At the start of the match, Llanhilleth were second place to RTB Ebbw Vale – who had played all of their matches. Llanhilleth RFC would need nothing less than a win to...

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Llandudno win Division Two North Title

Two years after being relegated from the SWALEC Division 1 North, Llandudno RFC have bounced back clinching the SWALEC Division 2 North trophy. The squad were presented with their trophy at the club’s annual Welly Day – a Junior Rugby Tournament organised by the club – on Saturday 10th May 2014.  What a difference a year makes for the club who were last season struggling to make an impact and finding their feet after being relegated...

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UNBEATEN HARTRIDGE WIN SWALEC DIVISION 6 SOUTH EAST TITLE

Undefeated Hartridge RFC have lifted the SWALEC Division 6 South East trophy today (Saturday 10th May 2014), after winning their final game against St Julians on Tuesday 6th to secure the title. Hartridge’s league win was sealed midweek in a hard-fought (10 - 38) victory over close neighbours St Julians, which saw them walk away with yet another bonus point. The side have scored a bonus point in every single game they have played this season. There...

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YSTRADGYNLAIS RFC WIN SWALEC DIVISION 5 SOUTH WEST TITLE IN THRILLING FINALE

Ystradgynlais RFC have secured the SWALEC Division Five South West trophy in what has been a thrilling culmination to the season in the division.   The Blues sealed their win in a nail-biting 12 – 18 away win against league runners up Birchgrove RFC with the winner of that match later being crowned champions. Ystradgynlais then extended their winning run with a 42 – 5 away win at Crynant RFC today (Saturday 10th May 2014).    Swansea...

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Scarlets secure new assistant coach from New Zealand

The Scarlets have announced that Auckland Rugby's Head Coach Wayne Pivac will join as Assistant Coach at Parc y Scarlets next season to further strengthen the rugby set-up in West Wales. Pivac who has been involved with Auckland Rugby for an impressive 15 years (since November 1998) also led Fiji as Director of Rugby for the national side from 2004-2006 coaching both the 15's and 7's including through a World Cup. During his time with Fiji, the Sevens team won the 2005 Rugby World Cup.He was Head Coach of Northland Rugby Union earning them...

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Giant Vosawai to join the Blues

Back row giant Manoa Vosawai is to add his considerable power to the pack at Cardiff Blues after the Italian international agreed a deal to move to the Arms Park.Powerful Number Eight Vosawai has put pen to paper on a contract that will see him move to Blues from RaboDirect PRO12 rivals Benetton Treviso this summer.The exciting Fijian-born back row, who has won 14 caps for Italy, becomes the latest recruit ahead of next season.Blues have also signed New Zealand international lock forward Jarrad Hoeata, Exeter prop Craig Mitchell, Scarlets flanker...

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Welsh Cup: Aberystwyth 2 TNS 3

A magnificent second half comeback led to Welsh cup heartbreak for Aberystywth as Saints showed their pedigree to land a league and cup double for the second time in three years. But it was a desperately close call after the golden boot of Chris Venables threatened to end Saints’ double dreams and lift the cup for Aberystwyth for the first time in 114 years. Venables struck an early double blow to put the Seasiders on the road to one of the biggest upsets in the 127 year history of the competition before Saints hit back in a thrilling finish...

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Risca RFC celebrate Swalec Division Three East Title

Champions Risca RFC have been presented with the SWALEC National League Division 3 East title in front of a large crowd at their final training session of the season. The Cuckoos sealed their title triumph on the last day of the season at the end of a gripping battle for the top spot with rivals Blaenavon RFC in Division 3 East. It ended with only one point separating the two teams and Risca RFC took the spoils with 88 points. Risca RFC continued...

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Felinfoel defeat Kidwelly to clinch the Llanelli and District Challenge Cup

In what can only be described as an excellent advert for grass roots rugby, Felinfoel beat Kidwelly 21-17 at Burry Port Memorial Park on Friday night in the final of the Llanelli District Challenge Cup competition which is sponsored by the Llanelli & District Rugby Supporters Club.  ‘Foel, who won the first ever final as far back as 1920 and who last won the Cup in 2008, were forced to dig deep late into the second half as Kidwelly...

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Referee boost for Auction Evening‏

A fund raising Auction Evening for the Gorslas Welfare Association has received a big boost after international rugby referee, Nigel Owens, donated a signed shirt to help raise funds. “We are delighted the Nigel has supported the event by donating one of his jerseys. All the funds we raise will go towards the community activities in the village organised by the Welfare Association, which include the Carnival and Fair in September as well as...

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Swalec Cup, Plate and Bowl Predictions

Swalec Cup Pontypridd v Cross Keys 5.25 pm Pontypridd will be hoping to retain the trophy they won 12 months ago and will undoubtedly start as favourites, but, just as in 2012, the Gwent opponents pose a very real threat. The sides are tied at one game all in the head to head in the league this year and I think it could go either way on Sunday. Paul John’s side will be keen to get over the heartbreak of their agonising loss on try count to Leinster A last weekend and what better way than to claim the Swalec Cup? Everyone has been talking about...

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