5th November 2009
Tonmawr backs player/coach Austen Howells must be commended on his astute assessment of players.
Making his debut for the Llanelli Scarlets next Sunday in their LV Cup opener against the Harlequins is Joseph Ajuma.
During the summer Austen was aware that Joe was unattached and recommended him to the club. Joe played for Tonmawr in the Aberavon Green Stars 7s Tournament and the 'Men of Gwent' 7s Tournament at Rodney Parade. Unfortunately for Tonmawr, the WRU premiership criteria stipulates that clubs are only allowed two non-welsh qualified players, therefore the club was unable to offer Joe a position in the squad.
Austen then recommended Joe to former Tonmawr assistant coach Rob Appleyard now head coach of premiership side Llandovery RFC.
This season Joe has set the premiership alight scoring six tries in nine appearances.
Well done Austen and congratulations and best wishes to Joe.
5th November 2009
Two Tonmawr players, Will Price and Elliot Frewen were selected to play for Crawshays Welsh RFC last night (Wednesday) against Cambridge University RFC. The match was one of a number of matches played by the university in preparation for the Varsity match on 12th December at Twickenham. Unfortunately, Elliot due to work commitments was unable to travel to Cambridge and declined the invitation.
2nd November 2009
A Tonmawr player is included in the Barbarians squad to take on the Combined Services in the 12th annual Remembrance Match at Aldershot on November 11 (7.15pm), writes Tony Poole.
Tal Selley, capped by Wales against the USA from the Scarlets in 2005, is one of five Welshmen listed in the squad.
This forms another big honour for the Pelenna Valley club, who are set to provide the famous invitation side with a first player.
The other Welsh players are the Cardiff duo of full-back Craig Morgan and flanker Rhys Shellard along with the Lewis twins – centre James (Coventry) and scrum-half Rob (London Welsh).
Rob Lewis had a spell at Neath before going to Ebbw Vale and on to London Welsh.
In fact the 21-year-old’s are set to make history, as the first twins to represent the Barbarians.
They are set to the follow in the footsteps of their father Steve, who represented the Barbarians against Leicester back in 1979 from the Ebbw Vale club.
Barbarians' squad:
Backs - Craig Morgan (Cardiff & Wales),* David Slemen (Esher), Simon Webster (Edinburgh & Scotland), *James Lewis (Coventry), Tal Selley (Tonmawr & Wales), *Ben Johnston (Nottingham & England), Richard McCarter (City of Derry), *David Blair (Edinburgh), Ross Samson (Edinburgh), *Robert Lewis (London Welsh)
Forwards – *Ryan Grant (Edinburgh), *Rob Dugard (Coventry), Danny Porte (Plymouth Albion), *Tom Youngs (Nottingham), Chris Ritchie (Rosslyn Park), *Tim Schumacher (Leidsche & Netherlands), *Steven Turnbull (Edinburgh), Henry Head (Richmond), John Dalziel (Melrose), *Sean-Michael Stephen (Plymouth Albion & Canada), *Rhys Shellard (Cardiff), Craig Hammond (Nottingham)
* denotes new Barbarian]
30th October 2009
Welcomed visitors to Tonmawr RFC last night was Iestyn Harris and the Wales Rugby League Team. The Team under Iestyn and assistant coach Clive Griffiths's guidance had a run out in preparation for their European Cup qualifying match against Ireland next Sunday. The match is being played at Sardis Road, Pontypridd kicking off at 5-00pm.
30th October 2009
Playing on permit for premiership side Llanelli RFC against Neath RFC tomorrow is tight-head prop Ceri Jones.
29th October 2009
Referee's appointments for November:
First XV:
Felinfoel - Phil Harrhy
Dragons XV:
Pontycymmer- Duncan Donovan
Youth XV:
Pontardawe - Lyndsey Price
Kenfig Hill - Simon Foley
Ystradgynlais - Nathan Johns
Resolven - Mark Jarrett
16th October 2009
Former Wales centre Tal Selley makes his Tonmawr debut tomorrow against Cwmllynfell at the Whitworth Ground, Tonmawr. Also making his dubut for premiership team Pontypool is fullback/wing Gareth John who plays for them on permit.
Fact File:
Taliesin "Tal" Selley (born 20th April 1980, Pembroke Dock, Wales) can play either on the wing or at centre.
After 5 seasons at the Llanelli Scarlets he signed a 3 year deal with the Ospreys where he played in the historic victory over Australia. He has played on loan at the Cardiff Blues and the Newport Gwent Dragons . Tal is the first player to play for all the Welsh regions. He joins Tonmawr from English Championship side Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C. (The Bees).
Tal toured with Wales to Argentina, South Africa, USA and Canada and scored a try on his senior international debut for Wales in 2005 versus USA in Hartford, Connecticut.
For the past 4 seasons he has been a regular for Wales on the IRB Sevens circuit. He is Wales' Top Try scorer and also the countries Top Point scorer in IRB Sevens History. He played in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Tal is now a World Champion, when despite "all the odds" (80-1) Wales triumphed in Dubai in March 2009 and were crowned Champions of the World. Tal also had the honour of being named "2009 Player of the Tournament", an award previously won by Dallaglio (1993), Jonah Lomu (2001) and Waisale Serevi (2005).
25th September 2009
Ryan Bayliss makes his debut on permit tomorrow for Llanelli in their match against Pontypool. Also making his premiership league debut is last season's youth player now with the Ospreys Academy 17 year old Daniel Davies who is on the replacements bench for Aberavon in their match with Swansea.
12th September 2009
Referee's appointments for October: -
First XV:
Corus - David Williams
Bridgend - Phil Fear
Cwmllynfell - Gareth Saunders
Builth Wells - Phil Connett
Narberth - David Bodilly
Dragons XV:
Pyle - Lindsey Price
Pencoed - Anthony Bwye
Tondu - Jeff Hawcutt
Youth XV:
Taibach - Kevin Foley
Morriston - Keith Thomas
Gorseinon - Keith Thomas
Kenfig Hill - ?
9th September 2009
Congratulations to centre Will Price on his selection to the Wales Sevens Training Squad for the forthcoming IRB Sevens World Series. Paul John’s squad start their preparations next month with the first leg of the competition kicking off in Dubai during December. Will has benefited from being an integral part of Tonmawr RFC’s Sevens Squad who have enjoyed an unprecedented summer of sevens success. First up was winning the Benidorm International Sevens Competition in Spain followed by retention of the Richard Barry Memorial Trophy at Aberavon Green Stars RFC. Will was also one of nine Tonmawr players who represented the Welsh Wizards at the ‘Men of Gwent’ Sevens Tournament at Rodney Parade finishing runners up to holders Newport RFC.
2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series schedule
Dubai, UAE - 4-5 December 2009
George, South Africa - 11-12 December 2009
Wellington, New Zealand - 5-6 February 2010
USA - 13-14 February 2010 - venue TBC
Adelaide, Australia - 20-21 March 2010
Hong Kong - 26, 27, 28 March 2010
London, England - 22-23 May 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland - 29-30 May 2010
On the subject of Sevens it was disappointing to read the Aberavon RFC account of the Green Stars tournament on their website. The writer accuses teams of being unprofessional. The article to say the least is unprofessional in its criticism of other clubs, refereeing standards and not forgetting the weather! The on the day coach needs to be reminded that Tonmawr beat Aberavon twice during the course of the tournament; twenty six points to nil and twelve points to ten in the final.
Nevertheless, Tonmawr has enjoyed a long close relationship with Aberavon which has seen many Tonmawr players wear the Aberavon jersey with pride. Currently, in the Aberavon squad are former Tonmawr players Anthony Edwards and Chris Lewis together with Ospreys players Ashley Beck and Matthew Jarvis. Also, lets not forget the player who ‘was a catalyst in Defence and his attacking skills proved exceptional also, he deserved the man of the tournament’ last season’s Tonmawr Youth player Dan Davies who recently joined the Ospreys Academy.
2nd September 2009
Referees appointments for September: -
First XV
Bonymaen - Sean Brickell
Llangennech - Martyn Lewis
Whitland - Wayne Davies
Bridgend Ath - Colin Kirkhouse
Dragons XV
Llantwit Major - Huw Gingell
Bridgend Ath - Richard Brace
Llanharan - Huw Gingell
Kenfig Hill - Nathan Johns
1st September 2009
Tonmawr retained the Richard Barry Memorial Trophy played at the Little Warren Ground, Port Talbot home of Aberavon Green Stars. In the final Tonmawr beat Aberavon 12 - 10 to take the title. A converted try by Dan Roberts and a try by Elliot Frewen gave Tonmawr a 12 - 0 lead, but tries by Ricky Thomas and Aaron Bray brought Aberavon back to within 2 points. Sound defence and control was enough to see the holders home.
In the pool stages Tonmawr beat Aberavon (26 - 0) Pontypool Amigos (57 - 7) and Bridgend Ath (46 - 0) and in the semi-final Aberavon Quins (47 - 7)
21st August 2009
Fitness Testing/Team Building itinerary 29th & 30th August 2009
Saturday 29th August 2009
Meet at club 9-00am
Fitness testing at Gym - squat/bench press/pull ups
Refreshments at club
Leave club for Rhossili Bay
Arrive at Rhossili for surfing lesson (13.00)
Arrive back at Tonmawr - pitch tents on training ground (18.00)
BBQ & Refreshments
Sunday 30th August 2009
Breakfast at Blancos Hotel
Sevens Tournament at Aberavon Green Stars
19th August 2009
Tonmawr RFC defend the Richard Barry Memorial Cup at Aberavon Green Stars on 30th August 2009. Sixteen teams have entered the tournament which is sponsored by Blancos Hotel, Port Talbot. Competing teams: Aberavon, Aberavon Green Stars, Aberavon Harlequins, Baglan, Bridgend Ath, British Navy, Briton Ferry, Bryncethin, Corus, Glynneath, Haka (Marie Curie) Naval Club, Pontrhydyfen, Pontypool Amigos, Taibach and Tonmawr.
9th August 2009
Nine Tonmawr RFC players were selected in the 12-man Welsh Wizards Squad playing in the Men of Gwent 7s Tournament at Rodney Parade on Saturday (8th August 2009). The Welsh Wizards reached the final losing to the tournament holders Newport RFC 20 points to 7.
Tonmawr players: Andrew Gwynne, Ben Davies, Ejike Ozoigwe, Will Price, Gareth John, James Donovan (Captain), Darren Richie, Adam Lester & Austen Howells.
Results: Welsh Wizards 17 Newport RFC 17; Welsh Wizards 43 Newbridge RFC 0; Welsh Wizards 42 Dragons Academy 0; Welsh Wizards 24 Blackwood RFC 0 Welsh Wizards 7 Newport RFC 20 (Final).
3rd August 2009
Original opponents Bedlinog RFC have withdrawn from the friendly fixture due to ongoing work at their ground. Fortunately, Tonmawr RFC were able to secure a fixture with premiership club Pontypridd RFC at short notice. The match will be played at Sardis Road on 15th August 2009.
29th July 2009
National Knock out Competition 2009/2010
The WRU Board has agreed to amend the knock out format for the 2009/2010 season so that three separate competitions will be run.
1. The Bowl competition will commence in October and will be for Clubs in Divisions 4, Divisions 5, Divisions 6 and Division 2 North of the National League.
2. The Plate competition will commence in November and will be for Clubs in Divisions 2, Divisions 3 and Division 1 North of the National League.
3. The Cup competition will commence with a preliminary round in December and will from January involve Clubs in Divisions 1 and the Premier Division.
Round 1(preliminary round)
To be played the weekend of 12th December 2009
BRIDGEND RFC v TONMAWR RFC
NARBERTH RFC v BRIDGEND ATH RFC
BUILTH WELLS RFC v NEWBRIDGE RFC
LLANGENNECH RFC v LLANHARAN RFC
WHITLAND RFC v YSTRAD RHONDDA RFC
BEDLINOG RFC v TREDEGAR RFC
