Rugby World: The Champions

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CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION
played for Llanelli. The team won all
22 games and secretary Clive
Richards says: “The nucleus of the
side is our youth team from three
years ago. Our front ﬁ ve had an
average age of 23 or less.”
Outside-half Jason Davies was
the top point-scorer and the club
president, none other than Phil
Bennett, attended many games.
LEAGUE THREE EAST
BRYNMAWR
Captain Damian Hudd
Coaches Carl Martin (head), Hudd
AFTER sliding from National One
to Three in two seasons when they
didn’t win a game, Brynmawr are
recovering, with older heads
returning from higher levels to help
the emerging youth players.
Gavin Knapp, back from university
and a knee reconstruction, had a
good year and rugby secretary
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Double delight: Arwel Thomas wears a
Robert Kershaw says: “Tom
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Vedmore, Anthony Evans, Sipho
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Gareth Jones after Neath’s cup triumph
Nobatano and Alec Teere came out
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of the youth section and did well.”
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KONICA MINOLTA CUP FINAL them for the fourth time in a row TONMAWR pipped Carmarthen for

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ARWEL THOMAS celebrated his during April. The new bonus-point the title, 12 months after being LEAGUE THREE SOUTH-EAST
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100th and ﬁ nal appearance for system suited the All Blacks as they League Two West champions. They BEDLINOG
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Neath by helping them to a 28-22 amassed 15, with Phillips saying: didn’t fulﬁ l the promotion criteria Captain Carl Giles
win over Pontypridd in this ﬁ nal to “We have always scored quite a lot this time, but with their ground Coaches Brian Rees, Roger Heath
complete a league and cup double. of tries and pride ourselves on improvements now ﬁ nished, they (forwards), Steve Giles (backs)
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The former Wales ﬂ y-half, who will having a pretty decent defence.” hope to move up next summer. WITH skipper Giles leading by
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take up a coaching role at the Gnoll Phillips says skipper and No 8 Tongan international Dave Tiueti example, Bedlinog took their second
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next season, converted all four of Beach had an inﬂ uential season, formed a good centre partnership title in succession – and with four
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Neath’s tries, which were scored by “both as a player and captain”, and with teenager Will Price while skipper games still to play. Chairman Lyn
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Martin Roberts, Lee Beach, Gareth adds: “Our scrum was a key factor in Hill had a ﬁ ne season at No 8. Jones says: “It’s a tough league so
King and James Merriman. our success and the attitude of the we didn’t expect to do this well.”
Lee Evans and Tom Riley crossed players was impressive. To lift NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO EAST With an average age of just 23 or
late on for Ponty to add to an earlier yourself every year through a long YSTRAD RHONDDA 24, all the players are products of
penalty try, but it was too late as season is a huge achievement.” Captain Chris Hanly Bedlinog Youth and enjoy socialising
Neath triumphed in the knockout Coaches Alan Roberts (backs), together as well as playing together.
cup for the ﬁ fth time in their history. NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE EAST Michael Grifﬁ ths (forwards)
Thomas said afterwards: “The PONTYPOOL AFTER being relegated last year, LEAGUE THREE WEST
game had a special meaning for me Captain Leighton Jones Ystrad Rhondda are going up with AMMANFORD
as I made my ﬁ rst-class debut with Coaches Gareth Lintern (head), conﬁ dence. “We’ve got a far better Captain Mark Jones
Neath, and to bow out with a second Gareth Jenkins, Jared Lougher squad now,” says secretary David Coaches Aled Grifﬁ ths (head/
cup winner’s medal was perfect.” POOLER are back in the Premiership Carmichael. Former Lion Grifﬁ ths player), Chris Morgan (backs)
Neath paid tribute to scrum-half after winning this title and meeting joined the coaching set-up but SIX 19-year-olds came up into the
Gareth Jones, who suffered a serious the WRU’s promotion criteria. couldn’t upstage Roberts, who ﬁ rst team and prospered, including
neck injury during their loss to Cardiff Lintern instilled a professional made one appearance in the centre ﬂ ankers Rhodri Danter and Shaun
in April, by donning T-shirts with his attitude in his ﬁ rst full season in in May, notching up his 300th game Miles, who joined Ammanford at the
nickname ‘Snid’ on after the win. charge, while captain Jones and for the club and scoring a try! age of eight. Ammanford scored 90
Jamie Jeune had great seasons. Skipper Hanly, Nathan Hughes, tries – 21 more than anyone in their
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP Gary Wilks scored 88 points, ﬂ y-half Neil Walker, Thomas Hetherington league. Matthew Fisher, Gary
NEATH Stuart Lawrence notched 129 and and Gerwyn Davies all excelled. Stephens and Chris Jones all shone
Captain Lee Beach Nathan Preece scored ten tries. in a good team effort. Secretary
Coaches Rowland Phillips (head), “It’s massive for the club to get NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO WEST Calvin Grifﬁ ths says: “Our whole
Gruff Rees (backs) back up,” says Lintern. FELINFOEL ethos is to develop our own players.”
IT’S a good thing coach Phillips Captain Michael Buckingham
believes “winning never gets boring” NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE WEST Coaches Anthony Grifﬁ ths (DoR), LEAGUE THREE SOUTH-WEST
because this was Neath’s fourth TONMAWR Stuart Jenkins, Emyr Jones BP (LLANDARCY)
successive Premiership crown. Captain Robert Hill THERE is a strong Scarlet streak at Captain Richard Scannell
They ﬁ nished 13 points clear of Coaches Jason Hyatt (head), this club as skipper Buckingham and Coaches Anthony Sturgess (head),
Cardiff in second, despite losing to Robert Appleyard, Austin Howells coaches Grifﬁ ths and Jenkins all Daniel Jones (backs)
Rugby World’s club guide returns next season. In the meantime, if you have any stories and/or pictures for the Wales club guide, then please email catherine_king@ipcmedia.com or write to: Rugby World, Ninth Floor, IPC Media, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark St, London, SE1 0SU. Enjoy the summer!
116 JULY 2008 RUGBY WORLD
WALES CHAMPS.indd 116 20/5/08 16:32:22
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