Latest news with #SRCChallengerShield
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Dorian Jones joins Ebbw Vale as player-coach after MLR exit
The 33-year-old will be player/coach for the Steelmen in the coming season, combining pulling the strings with being part of Jason Strange's management team. Jones will provide Ebbw, who have been guided around the park expertly by Evan Lloyd in recent years, with plenty of experience. The fly-half earned a chance with the Dragons after shining for the Steelmen and Cross Keys, going on to make 66 appearances for the Rodney Parade club. Jones, a member of the XV that stunned Gloucester in the 2016 Challenge Cup quarter-finals, had a spell on loan at Worcester and then left in 2018 to test himself in France. After playing for Soyaux Angouleme, Nice, Carcassonne and Agen, the fly-half moved to New Orleans Gold in 2024. Dorian had two campaigns in Major League Rugby but is now returning to Eugene Cross Park, where his grandfather Phil Kingsley Jones, father Kingsley and brother Rhys have also played. RETURN: Former Dragons fly-half Dorian Jones has signed as player-coach at Ebbw Vale 'I'm thrilled to be returning to my hometown and to the club where my senior rugby journey began,' said the prolific kicker. 'I have had the privilege of representing the club at every age group since joining at the age of six. 'I'm incredibly grateful to everyone at the club for the opportunity to return not only as a player but also to begin my coaching career. 'I'm looking forward to working with both familiar faces and new ones as we move onto the 2025/26 season.' FORWARD'S HOMECOMING Ebbw have also announced the signing of lock/flanker Rhys Anstey from Coventry. The 6ft 6ins forward played for Gwernyfed before joining Cardiff's academy and was part of the makeshift side that took on Toulouse and Harlequins in December 2021 when Covid quarantine and injury left the Blue and Blacks down to the bare bones. Anstey signed for Ealing Trailfinders in 2023 and then switched to Coventry in England's Championship last season but the 23-year-old is now returning to Wales to bolster the Steelmen's pack. Ebbw will defend the SRC Challenger Shield when they get their season under way against Aberavon on September 13. Strange's men came agonisingly close to winning silverware twice in 2024/25 but lost the SRC Cup final at Llandovery and then suffered a first home loss of the campaign to Gwent rivals Newport in the grand final.
South Wales Argus
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
SRC: Joe Franchi to captain Ebbw Vale in bid for silverware
Ebbw had a strong campaign in which they lost the Super Rygbi Cymru final to Newport and the SRC Cup final to Llandovery. They will hope to use those experiences to win silverware in the coming campaign and if they do then hooker Franchi will lift it aloft. Head coach Jason Strange has confirmed that the stalwart will continue as club captain. 'It goes without saying it's a huge honour to captain my hometown club for another year," said Franchi. "The boys were a pleasure to captain last year, and our togetherness showed with us reaching two finals and keeping the SRC Shield for practically the whole season. "We've managed to retain a lot of the players from last season and I know 'Chippy' [Strange] has already started to strengthen us in key positions, which is very exciting for the coming season. I'm looking forward to getting back to work with the boys.' Franchi, whose twin Dom plays in midfield for the club, passed 200 Ebbw appearances last season. The hooker went over for a remarkable 25 tries and his exploits around the park led to him being named as the Clive Burgess Man of Steel and the Ebbw Addicts player of the year. Ebbw will defend the SRC Challenger Shield in the coming campaign after claiming it at Llandovery last October and then holding onto it throughout the regular season. The Steelmen host Aberavon on the first weekend of the season on September 14 and then head to Cardiff for an early cracker. That is followed by back-to-back games with Llandovery in a testing first month of the campaign.
South Wales Argus
09-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Joe Franchi: Ebbw Vale need best game to beat Llandovery
The Steelmen host Premiership champions Llandovery in the semi-finals on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 12.15pm, S4C) with the prize of either facing Cardiff at the Arms Park or hosting Newport a week on Sunday. Ebbw, SRC Challenger Shield holders, crucially earned home advantage for the play-offs by finishing second in the regular season behind the Blue and Blacks. Jason Strange's men were given a tough time by Carmarthen Quins in the quarters last weekend but got the job done 45-35. Courtesy of a draw bracket that strangely puts first against third and second versus fourth, they now face a Drovers side who are hunting a third title on the spin and who beat them 39-7 in March's SRC Cup final. Crucially, this time it's on Ebbw soil and that gives Franchi & Co a real shot avoiding the same fate as last season, when overpowered by Newport at Spytty Park in the last four. THROW: Ebbw Vale captain Joe Franchi at the lineout (Image: NCR Photography) 'We had a good regular season when finishing second and want to go a bit better than last year by getting into the final, and then hopefully get some silverware,' said hooker Franchi, a Premiership title winner with the Steelmen in 2016. 'We have kicked on and are in a better place than last year after some good additions to give us an extra edge. 'We've played Llandovery three times already this season and are 2-1 up but we are under no illusions about what it will take. 'They are probably the best attacking side in the league so we will have to be on our mettle defensively. 'We back ourselves at home and our unbeaten run gives us confidence but I'd say it will take our best performance of the season to get the victory and move on to the final.' It's fair to assume that Franchi will be at the heart of the effort against the Drovers after a remarkable try-scoring season. The hooker has so far chalked up 25 scores – perhaps the 'Catch 'n' Kynes' that helped Ebbw to the title nine years ago will be renamed. ANOTHER: Joe Franchi went over for a hat-trick for Ebbw against Carmarthen Quins (Image: NCR Photography) 'There's only one Ronnie Kynes! I'm driving the bus this year and we work so hard on our maul,' said Franchi. 'It's not just a case of sticking our heads in and seeing what happens, there is a lot in the process and the work has shown with the tries scored by me and Ieuan [Morris, his fellow hooker who is on 10]. 'It's a great weapon and one that we will try to use on Saturday but you can't be one-dimensional at this stage of the season. We have other tricks up our sleeve but always have the lineout drive to go back to.' Franchi's twin Dom returns to the XV at inside centre while full-back Morgan Richards and wing Ieuan Evans also start, with no changes up front. Ebbw Vale: Morgan Richards; Ieuan Evans, Ethan Phillips, Dom Franchi, Ryan Gardner; Evan Lloyd, Gruff Tough; Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi (captain), Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Jack Pope, Sion Parry, Ryan Jenkins. Replacements: Ieuan Morris, Morgan Williams, Adam Court, Cam Regan, Lewis Young, Rory Harries, Cameron Davies, Ewan Bowden. Llandovery: To come
South Wales Argus
02-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Ebbw Vale hope home advantage is key in Super Rygbi Cymru
The Steelmen host Carmarthen Quins in the quarter-finals of the play-offs on Saturday night (kick-off 7.30pm). Ebbw Vale Cricket Club's second XI encounter with Usk thirds means that it's a late start, but Jason Strange's men will aim to deal with any Quins doosras. They will head into next season with the SRC Challenger Shield that they won at Llandovery and defended on home soil. That stretched their Eugene Cross Park unbeaten run back to the last-gasp March, 2024 loss to Newport. Ebbw finished second behind Cardiff to ensure that they are guaranteed a home semi-final if they avoid an upset this weekend. Then they would either head to Cardiff Arms Park or host another rival in the final. TIGHT: The Ebbw Vale squad (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) 'Our goals for the season were to get to the cup final and finish in the top two for a home quarter-final and possible semi, so it's been a fantastic season so far,' said Strange. 'I've learnt from my rugby league experience [with St Helens and Warrington in Super League] that home advantage is so important. 'That's particularly the case for us because we haven't lost at Eugene Cross Park in 14 months so that gives us a great chance to reach the final, but we still need to be good on the day. 'We've put ourselves in this position through hard work by a lot of people, especially the players. The club is connected again, on and off the field. 'We are in a strong position because we are well supported, there is a lot going on in terms of ground development and our team is really strong.' Ebbw have steadily grown since the return of Strange, who laid the foundations for the 2016 Premiership title triumph along with Neil Edwards. Last season they were beaten by Llandovery in the Premiership Cup semi-final and heavily by Newport in the last four of the play-offs. Ebbw made it through to the final of the SRC Cup in March but were overpowered by the Drovers in the second half at Church Bank. 'You have to lose one or two to win one or two,' said Strange. 'Every experience is a good one, whether you win or lose, as long as you take the learnings.' Form suggests that this weekend is a case of avoiding a banana skin before tougher tests but the Quins showed their resilience with a win up north against RGC in the wildcard round. 'We've had tough games against them, even though we won all three,' said Strange. 'They have a strong set piece and a good kicking 9. 'They definitely have something about them and we respect them, but it's down to us doing what we do well.' Avoid a shock and Ebbw will be able to get on with planning a semi-final, which will lead to more negotiations with the cricket club. The second XI are pencilled in for a clash with Ponthir on Saturday, May 10. 'Hopefully they can be understanding because it would be really big for the area,' said Strange. 'It's a big rugby town and the economic benefits are massive, but first we need to focus on Saturday.' Influential fly-half Evan Lloyd is back to pull the strings for Ebbw after missing the narrow win against Swansea to end the regular season. That means that Ethan Phillips can return to midfield while Ryan Gardner is back on the wing in place of Harry Rees-Weldon. The Wales Under-20s wing will be travelling to South Africa with the Dragons after a try-scoring debut against the Ospreys last weekend. Ebbw Vale: Matt Jones; Ewan Bowden, Ethan Phillips, Cameron Davies, Ryan Gardner; Evan Lloyd, Gruff Tough; Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi (captain), Adam Williams, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Jack Pope, Sion Parry, Ryan Jenkins. Replacements: TBC.
