Front Row Rugby by Danielle Green

Front Row Rugby

May 2013

About Treherbert RFC, For Treherbert RFC

What’s life really like in a division 5 club?

Who makes the ultimate Lions squad of all time?

Inside: life and times of a grassroots club!

Pictures: © Rex Features

Lions Tour 2013

Contents Page

Contents Page 3 News from the stands... 4 Focus on: Treherbert RFC 5 Codgers Corner

6 Welcome to Hell!

8 Behind closed doors

12 The Control Centre

That Day, That Game, That Result

15 Behind Enemy Lines Lions are heading 16 The Down Under

18 Celtic Connection 20 Rabo Pro Direct 12 21 Heineken Cup 22 Wales and the World

24 2013 Six Nations Championship 2 Front Row Rugby

The Diary of a Team Manager

Welcome to Front Row Rugby Rugby is always in the news whether it’s about the law changes or just politics between clubs. What we don’t hear about is the grassroots, local rugby that is played day in day out in some of the worst conditions possible and the reason is passion. Front Row Rugby is a magazine that dives straight into the heart of local rugby looking at the teams, managers and everyone that helps to keep a club running. So sit back, relax, enjoy and learn about what it’s like to be apart of a local rugby team. May’s issue of Front Row Rugby is solely focused on Treherbert RFC in the Rhondda Valleys with a bit of professional rugby news thrown in. Thanks for reading. Danielle Green (Editor)

News Round Up

News from the Stands... Making the switch! Matthew Rees

Former Wales captain Matthew Rees has made the decision to go from the Scarlets and head east down the M4 to Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues. The 32 year old joined the west Wales club in 2004 when the four Welsh regions were formed, having formerly played for the now disbanded Celtic Warriors. Rees has become a firm face in the Wales team earning him a place in the 2009 British and Irish Lions, where he won 3 caps. The move comes as younger players are starting to make their mark for the region.

Johnny Sexton

The shock announcement of the departure of Irelands first choice fly half, Johnny Sexton, at the end of the season has left Leinster fans reeling. Since making his debut for Leinster in 2006 the 27 year old has racked up over 100 appearances for the club and is well on his way to reaching 1000 points. Sexton has excelled on the international front, taking the place of veteran fly half Ronan O’Gara. The move to French side Racing Metro has been described as ‘exceptional’ by those in the sport, with many not blaming him for taking the offer which is reportedly £625000 a year. The high priced offer is becoming a regular thing as more and more British players heading across the channel to play in France. Questions still remain as to whether Sexton will still have his place in the Ireland squad next season as 95% of the squad are based in Ireland.

Kahn Fotuali’i

Ospreys scrum half Fotuali’i has rejected a new contract from the Welsh region. The Samoan international joined the Ospreys following the 2011 Rugby World Cup and has become a firm favorite in Swansea. Fotuali’i will join Northampton Saints next season.

Is artificial grass the way forward? The Saracens became the first pro- the pitch could be used more often fessional rugby team in the UK to without the fear of it cutting up. install an artificial pitch at their £24 With a £18000 a year maintenance million ground – Allianz Park. fee it was important that it proved he first game to be held on the to be a success. pitch was a LV= Cup match It was a success. After the first against Cardiff Blues in January. The match was played on 27 January, game was played in front of a all doubters were proved small crowd before being wrong in many dif‘faster, safer and ferent areas. The opened up later in February to a bigger capacity more entertaining’ game was much crowd. faster and there Before the pitch was laid weren’t any injuries, but there were many people who were more importantly the scrummaging skeptical of the idea of not having was a success. Both sets of players and actual grass pitch. Despite this and coaches were quick to praise the Saracens management went ahead the pitch at the end of the game, with the plans for the new stadium, in which no issues arose about the with the mentality that the game condition of the pitch. would become ‘faster, safer and more Who will be next to install the entertaining’. The new pitch would new artifical pitch? Will it be the mean that it could be played on re- Millennium Stadium before the gardless of the weather conditions and 2015 world cup?

The ref’s corner Are television match officials having too much impact on the game? At the start of the season the English Premiship decided that referee will be assited during the game by the TMO’s. It means that they no longer do they just have the job of looking at whether a try has been scored or not, they help out with big decisions at critical times or the game.

But its no just that simple! Only games that are televised will have the use of the technology. One of the main questions that is going around is, what are the point of the linesmen if the ref is just going to ask his TMO? Problems have already arisen from the new format, leading to many being doubtful that the technology will be used in all rugby competitions.

How much do you know? 1. Who did Warren Gatland make captain in his first game in charge in 2008? 2. Who was voted World Young Player of the year in 2001? 3. Alfie is the well known nickname of which former Welsh rugby player? Front Row Rugby 3

Answers: 1. Ryan Jones, 2. Gavin Henson, 3. Gareth Thomas

History

Focus on........

Treherbert RFC A brief history of Treherbert RFC, a club based in the heart of the Rhondda Valleys.

1902

reherbert RFC was founded in 1874 with the advent of the first deep coal mine sank in the Rhondda at 1854 called the Bute Merthyr Colliery. The team played mainly other colliery sides and games took place on the flat piece of ground lying between the Bute Colliery and the river. The team flourished and in 1879 played Cardiff on their ground which was the foundation of a fine relationship between the two clubs. By 1884 Treherbert had established regular fixtures with Cardiff and other clubs. 1902 - 1914 n 1902 the Club was honoured with a Welsh Seniors Trial Match played on their New Athletic Ground. It was there that the immortal Dr. Teddy Morgan gain his first cap. Another new cap selected that day was our own Dai ‘Traw’ Jones the first Treherbert player to be capped. Dai went on to gain thirteen caps for Wales playing in the famous 1905 game against the All Blacks. In 1908 Treherbert decided to join the Northern Union with Aberdare, Merthyr, Barry and Mid-Rhondda. H.Q. was the Dunraven Hotel, Treherbert. In December of that year a crowd of 4000 watched Treherbert lose 6 – 3 to the Australian Rugby League Tourists. The first Treherbert player to be capped at league was David Galloway, Dai ‘Traw’ Jones who had transferred to Merthyr became the first Rugby Union International to play and be capped at Rugby League. He scored one of the Welsh tries at Aberdare in January, 1908 when Wales beat the New Zealand ‘Kiwis’ 9 – 8. The end of the 1909/10 season saw the last game of Rugby League played at Treherbert, reverting back to Rugby Union with fixtures against leading clubs in Wales and England. W. H. Evans was capped four times in 1914 and had it not been World War 1 would have gained many more. His cap/ jerseys are on display in the club. 1923 - 1939 n 1923 Stan Davies was capped from Treherbert in the game against Ireland. At this time fixtures now included Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Llanelli and many more. Treherbert found themselves ‘railroaded’ following the sale of the ground that they played on to Great Western Railway in 1929/30 and went to play at Blaenrhondda. They merged with Blaenrhondda RFC who were struggling at the time and soon became a force to be reckoned with. H.Q. at this time was the Blaenrhondda Hotel known as ‘The Kick’ where for many years the team changed and walked to Blaenrhondda Park to play. 1954 - today n 1954/55 the team reverted back to the name of Treherbert RFC and soon afterwards moved to their present round, Tynewydd Park.

2013 The clubhouse ‘Tydraw’ was officially opened in 1963. With the efforts of committee, members, players and the local authority alike floodlights and a stand were put up on the ground in time for the Centenary Season of 1974 during which most of the top flight clubs were played in mid week games. Treherbert have won many trophies over the years, starting with winning the Glamorgan League in 1902 through to our last success, the Mid-District Cup in 2000. The Mid-District Cup in 1963 which was shared for six months each with old rivals Mountain Ash after the final and two replays ended in drawn matches. Over the years many players have represented Treherbert/Blaenrhondda RFC’s with distinction, some of them going on to play at higher levels. There are far too many to list in this short history. The introduction of professionalism and leagues has seen Treherbert enjoy the highs and suffer the lows of Rugby Union Football. Gradual promotion through the leagues reaching Division 2 East, but three successive relegations saw them playing in Division 5 South East last season. A very credible fourth place in the league and a good run in the Swalec Bowl gave them the best season they have had for a long time. This season the Devils have moved to Division 5 South Central with the fixtures giving them quite a few games with local derby flavour.

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Has anyone made it? W. H. Evans, Dr. Teddy Morgan, Dai ‘Traw’ Jones - 13 Welsh Caps, David Galloway – Rugby League, Stan Davies, Emlyn Jenkins, Rees Morgan Rees, Tom Davies, George Thomas, Will Jones

Pictures © Treherbert RFC

Welcome to...

Feature

CODGERS CORNER

Codgers Corner L-R: Keith Davies, Colin Jones, Phil Lewis and Paddy Tynan

ucked away in the corner of Treherbert rugby club you’ll a pound to play and nobody misses out on a chance for some beer.” find Codgers Corner. Sat on a single padded, red leather Along with the money that they raise from doing the raffle at every bench which stays hidden from the bar that it faces is where home game, every member of Codgers Corner saves £2.50 each week you will find the group of old men having a drink on a Satur- which accumulates at the end of the season. Since the beginning of day afternoon. It may sound like the normal scene from a bar Codgers Corner they have donated a minimum of £1000 pounds but these men are not, they are the Codgers and they sit in every season, which has been used to secure a future for the club. Codgers Corner that is clearly sign posted. But who are these Not everyone could join Codgers Corner, it was by invite only men and what do they do? Danielle Green has been to find out. to a select few. As the four reminisce they joke about how it rufI asked them for an interview but it meant that I had to take fled a few feathers between a few people because they weren’t them out of the comfort zone of Codgers Corner and invited to join the group. “It’s like have a golden ticktake them into the lounge which was much quiet. We are very careful about who we do invite beeter. Reluctantly they moved, finding safety in cause the group means a lot to us”, says Paddy. ‘We ruffled a another corner where they were happy to talk. few feathers with people The conversation then turned to the name, Keith Davies, 72, Paddy Tynan, 76, Codgers Corner, why that name? the four of who didn’t get invited to them started to mumble between themselves until Phil Lewis, 65 and Colin Jones, 75, are all from Treherbert and have been comone spoke up with a smirk and said, “Well… it’s join us’ ing to the club for almost 50 years. Out of because we are… old. Like Codgers and so that the four of them only Keith has played for sort of stuck, and of course as we sit in the corner Treherbert and coached the youth and the senof the bar it became Codgers Corner.” The subject quickiors, all the others have just been supporters of the club. ly switched to what they do in the club, as if they were slightly I started off with what I felt was an easy question, when embarrassed about the name Codgers meaning that they were old. did Codgers Corner start? About five minutes later, after a Over the years a few members of the have died, but the Codgers bit of bickering between them and a brief history of differ- are still going strong. Not so many of them of them pay money into ent events that had occurred around that time I had the answer. their fund as they just cant afford it now that they are retired but that Codgers Corner was founded in 1996; there had originally been doesn’t mean that they have given up on helping the club, far from it. 14 of them at the start. As regular visitors to Treherbert Rugby Club Keith and Paddy are always on the gate during home games, “It they decided that it was time to help out the club financially. “When means that the committee can concentrate on other things during Codgers Corner began in 96, the club was struggling and needed the game. We enjoy watching the rugby so it doesn’t seem like all the help that it could possibly get. We felt it was important that it is a job as such, we just take the money and give out the prowe did our bit”, explains Keith. It was for this reason that they grammes it only takes about 15 minutes of the game.” said Keith. decided to start their own group, like a social club within the club. Coming together happens every Saturday rain or shine, sometimes “We made it clear that we weren’t part of the committee, we there are four of us and sometimes there’s more. “I don’t know about were our own group who wanted to help the club. We donate our everyone else, but coming here every Saturday is the highlight of my money to the club where the committee decides where the mon- week and I look forward to it. It’s great here. Socialising, watching ey will be spent”, said Phil. It wasn’t hard for them to think of a sport and having company is just perfect, I wouldn’t change it for way to raise money. Rugby players like their beer, and if there is the world”, said Paddy, whilst the other three agreed straight away. a chance that they could win a lot of beer for just a pound then At the end of the interview the relief on the four showed, as they they will take up the opportunity. “After every home game we go took a long sip of their pints. It was safe to say that they wanted to around the club selling raffle tickets to anyone in the club. It’s only go back to the safety of their own corner in the bar, Codgers Corner.

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Team Profile

Welcome The sides that

Treherbert RFC

reherbert RFC’s senior team has been through it all in the last few years, from reaching the heights of Division two before falling continuously to Division 5 where they now stand. The last two seasons have seen Treherbert get back on track, the home side were relegated into division five on the back of a season which saw them win only two matches. 2011/12 started the change, the side cared about what they were doing and wanted to succeed and slowly saw themselves move to the middle of Division 5. As the 2012/13 campaign draws to a close Treherbert are gradually moving up the table in search of promotion. Coached by Ian Griffiths and Lee Stone the side is getting stronger and the target for promotion in the 2013/14 season looks promising. The side is young with a number of players coming from the youth side, combining with the regular players who have themselves made it through the club ranks. It seems that rugby is back on the cards at Treherbert RFC with the young players full of passion and dedication on and off the pitch. The sights are firmly set on where they once were – Division 2. After such a hard fall from the top, three seasons of relegation the future didn’t look promising for the team and the club. Now the young players have taken the reins and they don’t like losing. Two seasons in Division five have helped them to rebuild the foundations ready for them to push for promotion in the 2013/14 season.

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Team Profile

To Hell!! make up the Devils Treherbert Youth Team

reherbert youth team have been going for almost the same amount of time as the senior team. With players age 16 to 18 it is the last age grade rugby that they can play, many go on to graduate into the senior side once they turn eighteen. Games are played on a Saturday afternoon with training being held on a Tuesday and Thursday evening. Treherbert are not in the any league at the moment as in recent years there has been a lack of players interested meaning that fixtures cannot be played. Slowly but surely the youth team is starting to reform and with the ever increasing mini sides it will only be a matter of time before the side will be back on track playing regular games. The 2011/12 season saw over half of the youth team graduat-

ing into senior level, with a majority of them fitting into the team for a regular games whether it is with the first team or the second team they are still with Treherbert. Coached by former Treherbert players who have themselves been through every level of the club and with team manager Paul Mears, all the structure is there to welcome the new up and coming players who have decided to tackle rugby. Players are welcome no matter what their skills are, they can be taught as long as the players put in the effort. The 2013/14 season looks to be a more successful one for the youth team with a strong group of players ready to make their mark.

The Mini Devils

he Mini Devils are made up of the under morning, travelling in convoy home and away. The un16’s, under 11’s, under 9’s and under der 11’s, 9’s and 8’s play the same opposition with the 8’s. All of the teams play on a Sunday games being played simultaneously, the under 9’s and 8’s playing on half a pitch and the under 11’s playing on the whole pitch. The under 16’s have their own separate fixtures which are also played on a Sunday morning. In recent years there has been a strong rise in the amount of girls who have started to play rugby. Due to rules the girls are not allowed to play in the under 16’s team despite this girls are being encouraged to play for Treherbert. The teams are coached by a select few and with the help of parents and members of the club the turnout keeps on increasing season after season.

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Feature

Behind Closed Doors...

The reality of a divison 5 changing room

How would you describe a rugby teams changing room? Would it The home supporters don’t need a stand to protect them from be something along the lines of, a big spacious room with grand the awful welsh weather which rips through the Rhondda Valindividual high gloss benches, the kind in which each player has leys on a regular basis. Treherbert supporters stand the opposite his own space to gather his feelings before the game? Would the side of the pitch to the shelter, exposing themselves to the horrenmain changing room lead off to another section which hold about dous elements just to support their boys. Ask them why they don’t five or six private power showers, before taking you to a dress- sit in the stands and you’ll get the answer, “It’s closer to the acing room area in which every player can stand in front of a mir- tion and I can walk up and down the pitch when the game moves.” ror carefully blow drying his hair until he looks the business? So, what’s it like inside the changing rooms I hear you say. f any of that is what you think about a rugby teams changing room, ell…it’s small. Very small in fact, and that’s without two sets then you clearly haven’t stepped foot into one of your local grassroots of players, their coaches and all the other staff that come with teams. A division five club changing room is a place in which people them. When everyone is in there it’s cramped with people bashing should experience to understand what the reality of club rugby is like. into each other as they try and navigate their way around the room. At Just step into the dark green glorified portacabin that the start of the day the changing rooms are neat, tidy and clean sits in the middle of Tynewydd Park, it’s the changbut that changes within minutes of people walking in. ing rooms of Treherbert RFC. A club that is poUnlike the changing rooms in the Millennium ‘the benches sitioned comfortably in the middle of division Stadium, Treherbert’s are very basic. Around the are crumbling five south central for the second year, after beroom small benches rigged with rot are attached with rot’ ing relegated time after time in the previous few to the walls. The evidence is there to show that the years. Only then will you get a sense of what its like club has made every effort to try and repair the seats, to play and survive in a lower league club that doesn’t some of which have been there longer than the players have the endless supply of money to keep things up to date. have been alive. If you’re brave enough to sit down, don’t be surThe field itself is situated in the shadow of a mountain. The scen- prised if you get a splinter in a place you rather not. And that’s just ery around the ground is just beautiful, but the pitch is a little run the home sides changing room, the away is much worse with the down and sometimes attracts the odd sheep of the mountain. The benches actually crumbling away with rot as the paint from over stand is set back into the picturesque mountainside but who wants the years peels off at every touch. But then again there isn’t much to watch from there. It has no seats as they have been ripped out, room to sit down when everyone is inside as the benches are piled broken and burnt and the shell of the stand is covered in graffiti, its high with over sized kit bags, as there is no other room to put them. clear that the stand has taken a battering over the years. No longer is Off to the side of the rectangular room, in front of the showers lays the club logo painted onto the front of the stand, at the moment its a treatment bed. It’s the only place in the room where one of the most painted white following a clear up of the graffiti that had been there. important pieces of equipment will fit. As the countdown to the game

8 Front Row Rugby

Feature begins, the shouts for tape echo through the room as Treherbert’s medical man asks “who’s next” and “do you really need treatment for that?” You wouldn’t be wrong in wondering how the players manage to make it onto the pitch with so much tape holding the together. s kick off comes closer every player has his shirt hung on a hook around the room, just like they do in every other professional team. The players may not have a brand new pair of shorts and socks every game, but they do have their shirt freshly washed ‘changing and ready to be worn with pride. rooms are Just before they head to the field a huddle is formed in the absolutely middle of the changing room, freezing’ you can hear the coach shouting “Do your best, concentrate” from outside. But you know it’s time when the whole team shout “C’mon Tre” before they take to the field. You have to be brave to step into the room during this time, not because it’s intimidating, because you are violently hit with the eye watering smell of Wintergreen, which is smothered over most of the players. At the end of the game The players descend on the changing rooms at the final whistle and once again the place is pack to the rafters. The once clean changing room is instantly dirty with the players spreading mud throughout the room, with no way of containing it due to it. The home changing room has four small showers, they are not the power showers that they have in the stadiums across the country but they are warm. Whilst the water may be warm, the changing room absolutely freezing as they have no heating of any form. Its no wonder that the players who live locally often opt to go home for a shower before going back to the club. he smell of Wintergreen may subside and turn into a varied number of deodorants and aftershaves, but the mess just gets worse. It is a wonder how any one manages to get themselves totally clean in the shower as the floor which they walk on is full of dirt and rubbish. It does look like there is more mud in the changing rooms than there is on the

field, making the job of the team manager and committee even harder. Rugby shirts are dumped in a pile in the corner of the room so that the can be collected and taken to the laundrette to be cleaned ready for the next game. Its then time for the big clean up. Even with the players still getting changed, the team manager and some committee members start to clean up what is a lot of rubbish. Sweeping brushes, mops and bleach are all used in the clean up to restore the place to what it was once before. Its up to the committee and the team manager to clean out the two changing rooms that have been used by around fifty people, who have all been covered head to toe in mud. The clean up is no easy task. The glorified portacabin that houses the changing room has another area, it’s a crèche throughout the week and part of the changing room is used. It means that the cleaning has to be of a very high standard, because the young children who attend crèche play on the floors. The clean up task is big and hard ‘it’s a different work because none of the are world’ cleaners, and if they want to continue using the changing rooms they must make sure its clean otherwise the council will ban them from using them. The effort that is put into cleaning out the changing rooms and putting them back to the clean and tidy state that they were in at the beginning of the day, means that the club will not be losing the rights to use the. reherbert RFC are just like any other division five rugby team. Unlike the big teams, whether they are regional rugby teams or the national rugby sides, local grassroots rugby is completely different. In many cases it’s like a different world. One thing that is clear is, that despite the fact that they have very little money to spend on things like changing rooms they still do their best. Day in, day out the rugby clubs up and down the country are doing their best to survive. The clubs may not have the best facilities, changing rooms may be run down and they may have to share space with others. But, the one thing they all want to do is play rugby on a Saturday afternoon.

Front Row Rugby 9

Diary Entry

the diary of a team manager

Ian Green has the hard task of juggling being a team manager for division five Treherbert RFC with running his own building firm, a role which is usually a full time job. Here is a look at just one week in his diary.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

I don’t think they realise that I know all the tricks in the box. I he quietest day of the week for me, no training, no games have used them all in the past especially when I wanted to get out and no visits to the club. I check up on the all the play- of training. If the excuse is genuine then there is no problem, I just ers to make sure there are no injuries and arrange some like to be informed. physiotherapy for the next training session. I can only hope that there aren’t any injuries as they will have a big impact on a small still get responses from the texts that I sent out yesterday with squad. more questions such as, “is there a game for the seconds?” and “where are we playing, home or away?”. In most cases dependhe whole squad is sent a text to remind them that there is ing on where the game is being played depends on how many will training as normal. When we have the slightest drop of rain turn up. If the game is home then we are more likely to get more they all assume training is off, they forget that we do have players willing to play. We have training again on a Thursday, we have to do it on the field other places to go like the gym in the club. whatever the weather is. You can always guarantee that there will be I go up the field before training to open it all up and knock the more training on a Thursday, as they want to prove that they should floodlights on. I then sit back and wait for the players to turn up, they tend to take their time an often arrive gone seven o’clock be picked for the game on Saturday Although, there is very rarely which is when training is supposed to start. Very few players turn a full team training at one time. We get use to the fact that there is up on a Tuesday, we are lucky if we get double figures. Once they never a full team but it’s still annoying. I watch the training as the finish I have the job of going around cleaning the changing rooms coaches run though what they want and what lineout calls they want to use. I like to help out on a Thursday. As a former forward I like and locking everything back up. to give my opinion and help to pass on what I know to the younger members of the team, I make sure I don’t interfere with what the gain I text the players to find out who is available to play coaches want them to do. and check on the ones I know are injured. I send over 50 When everything is finished I lock up, and then it’s over to the club texts’ out but less than half will reply. It’s really frus- with the coaches so that we can pick the team to play on the Saturtrating! Especially the ones who give excuses, you cant tell the day. Sometimes it becomes a challenge when we have key players coach that your going for a meal and then tell me hat you have who are injured. But we always get there in the end. to babysit.

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Thursday

Diary Entry

Friday

text the team during the day to let them know that they are playing tomorrow, and tell them what time they have to be up the club ready for the game. When I used to play, after training on a Thursday everyone had to go over the club to see the team sheet or we had to phone the club to find out. Mobile phones were just not used it was far more simple. If we are away I have to arrange where people want to be picked up along the route. Really I should tell everyone to meet at the club and then go from there as it would be so much easier. Often I do get the odd text where someone has dropped out. It just leads to a meltdown between me and the coaches as to who we can replace them with. At least we do have a warning and time to phone someone else.

Saturday

away team know where they have to go to change, and await the arrival of the ref and show him where to go. It is important to be nice and welcoming to him! Whilst the team is warming up it is my job to put out all the shirts, the players already have their socks and shorts. I have to fill in the official team sheet and give it to the ref. Every game that Treherbert play I run the line. It’s the closest that I can come to playing now as I am too old. Final whistle. Hopefully it’s a win for us. As all the team head to the changing room, I help some of the committee members to take down all the flags and post padding, putting it away tidily in the sheds we use. I have the ever so pleasant task of cleaning the changing rooms when the players have finished. The changing rooms are quite disgusting, but by the time we have finished they are back to their clean self again. Everything is safely locked away. But, that doesn’t mark the end of my day because I head over to the club and make sure that the away team are fed. It’s in the rules, if you didn’t know. I often help will cleaning up the plates and putting everything away. Only then my job is really over and I can relax with a nice pint and hopefully celebrate a win.

very now and then I get the dreaded drop out in the morning. It is extremely stress full as there isn’t much time to replace them and in some cases there is nobody to replace them. Its mayhem! As we live in Wales and it rains, we often have to do a pitch inspection in the morning to make sure that the pitch is playable. It’s not our choice as the council own the field so whatever they othing really goes on, but I do help with the clubs lottery. say we must do. I have to encourage the team to do the lottery so they can I open up the ground, changing rooms and showers. It is importake the rewards further on in the season. They don’t have tant that I get everything ready from putting out the flags and pads to getting out the training equipment as I await the arrival of the to sell many, just a few it all helps for the future. After that the draw in the evening my job comes to an end, before it starts back up on team. Players arrive so everything must be ready. I make sure that the a Monday.

Sunday

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Q & A’s

The

Control

Treherbert rugby club is kept in order by a the club in order takes countless hours every was able to talk to a few of the important

The Chairman

The Secretary

Name: Neil Skym Age: 56 Position in club: Chairman What do you do as part of your role? I do anything that needs to be done at the time whether it’s doing the cooking for the players after the games, washing up the plates when everyone’s finished or just putting the flags out on the pitch ready for the game. Basically I’m a general dogs body. How long have you been apart of the committee? I’ve been on the committee for about 20 years, during that time I’ve had a number of different roles. At the moment I’m Chairman and I’ve been in this role for about 5 years. Do you enjoy your role? I do in some ways and don’t in other ways. I enjoy the club itself more. It’s because whenever I go out whether it’s for a quite night out with my wife someone always moans about something. I guess it comes with the job title, but I do like being apart of the club and you just get use to it. Why do you do it for free? I like the club and just like the rest of the committee we all work to keep the place open for people to enjoy the facilities. Does the club play a huge role in your family? The club is like and extended part of my family, if you ask my wife she’ll tell you I spend more time in the club than I do at home. My family are involved though, my son was the coach of the youth team, my wife is one of the cooks, one of my son’s plays and I’m trying to get my grandson to play. Do you do more than the job title? Nobody knows what the role is. I just took it on and whatever comes with it I do, even if it is cleaning the toilets when someone’s mad a mess. I just do whatever needs to be done.

Name: Rowley Pryse Age: 64 Position in club: Secretary What do you do as part of your role? I organise the meetings that we have in the club, take the minutes of the meetings and write them up so that they can be put on the notice board for everyone to see. I’m in constant contact with the WRU dealing with any issues that may arise with the players and the club as a whole. It’s basically the general running of the club on a day to day basis that I look after, including the mail that arrives every day. How much time do you spend in the club every week? I’m in the club 5 out of the six nights that it is open sometimes I’m there the full six. But, I do my job in the house as well, sending emails and phoning people. In total I spend about 3 – 4 hours everyday doing work for the club obviously during the season I sometimes spend more time doing things. You can’t really set an exact figure on how long I spend in the club and doing work away from it. How long have you be apart of the club? I’ve been the secretary for three years, I started as vice secretary four years ago but then swapped places because the person had a young family so couldn’t spend as much time in the club. I actually started coming to the club when I was 21 where I played for 5 years before I went onto be the youth team coach, I was also fixture secretary 40 years ago but I took time away from the club before coming back to my role now. Why do you do it for free? I’ve always done it for free, when I started originally nobody was paid as the club couldn’t afford it. I think that if you have the time to do the job then you shouldn’t charge for it. If you don’t have the time then you shouldn’t do the job.

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Centre

Q &A’s

small amount of elected people. Keeping day and these people do it all for free. I members who help run the club.

The President

Name: Vic Townsend Age: 72 Position in club: President What do you do as part of your role? I more or less run the lottery that we have on a Sunday, counting and checking all the tickets before the draw and then checking for the winning tickets after the draw I also deal with all the money that comes into the club making sure the right money goes into the right places. I’m also in charge of all the Saturday night entertainment from booking the bands to collecting the money on the door. Whenever there is a function going on in the club I do whatever I can to help out. How long have you been President of the club? I’ve been president of the club for just over 4 years, but I worked my way up to the top taking on many other roles. I have been fixture secretary, coached every level including the mini rugby teams. Basically I have had a go at every role that is available in the club. Have you ever played rugby for Treherbert? Yes I have played for Treherbert. I started my playing career in the youth team in 1956 and continued on to the seniors. I only retired when I was 49 in 1990, not many other players at the club have had a playing career as long as I have. Treherbert has been the only club that I have ever played for and I wouldn’t have had it any other way because once I had finished playing I went into coaching the teams, now I just like what the games up the field on a Saturday afternoon.

The Treasurer

Name: Lynwen Thomas Age: 42 Position in club: Treasurer What do you do as part of your role? I am in charge of all the money that goes through the club. The club and the teams have different areas in which money needs to be spent and saved so I deal with all the bookkeeping and day to day running costs. I am also in charge of the payroll, although there aren’t that many people on it. What attracted you to the club? The club has always been part of my life, my father played for it and introduced me at a very young age. I’ve continued to come ever since and have been a member of the committee for about 7 or 8 years now. Have you had other roles in the club? When I started helping out at the club, I was initially Team Manager of the Youth team, and was then asked to take on the role of Senior Team Manager. But now I am treasurer of the club. What is it like to be the only female in the committee? I don’t really think about that much anymore, I am now treated equally and feel I have proved it’s not just a man’s world anymore. 95% of the time I am an equal, I have learnt there are always going to be times I am treated differently, but that is more so out of respect than anything else. Why do you do it for free? I love the club and want to do what I can to ensure it’s survival. And I really enjoy my role within the club. Do you go over and above your role in the club? I think those of us that love the club always do, but that’s because we want to!

Front Row Rugby 13

Pictures: © Rex Features

Feature

That Day, That Game,That Result

It was the last day of the Six Nations Championship everything had come down to this one day, one particular game Wales V England. The old enemy were on their way to being crowned grand slam champions the only team that could stop them was Wales. International matches are always a big occasion in the Green house and Saturday 16 March was no different. The day as always started off with an ‘international breakfast’, bacon rolls, sausage rolls and a can of beer or in my case a glass of coke. With all of us dressed in our red attire it was time to head to the club to catch the bus down to Cardiff. “I hope the weather brightens up for the game. It’s not fun when you have to walk to the stadium in the rain and watch the game soaking wet.” it came from a group of men huddled in the corner of the doorway as we waited for the bus to arrive. Once everyone was on the bus the topic of conversation turned to the game. Wales only needed to beat England to stop them from getting the grand slam, and they had to beat the by 7 points to win the championship on the last day. As we travelled David Rees said: “I think we can do it you know. I mean we can beat them and take the championship as well. Wales have just been getting better and that England game last week was just awful.” I on the other hand wasn’t quite so sure, it caused a heated debate between David and me. I believed

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that they could win but not by seven points, I would have been happy as long as they beat the English. The Vulcan was Treherbert RFC ‘local’ when we went to internationals, but since the last time we came down it’s been demolished and is now a car park. The Traders Tavern was a slight improvement from the ancient Vulcan that we used to visit, but not much. The whole bus crammed into the pub, with only one seat available I dived to get it as I could see the pub was only getting fuller. The beer flowed as the volume increased, both English and Welsh fans chatting together all looking forward to the game that was coming up. But first it was time to watch the Ireland V Italy match that was being shown on six televisions in the small pub. Every single person who watched cheered as Italy demolished the home side. Could this be the day where the underdog would win? It was time to head over the stadium. The rain had stopped and the sun was trying to come out it didn’t really matter as the roof was shut. Walking through the city centre was like nothing I had ever experienced before. The atmosphere was amazing both sets of

fans were adamant that their side could win. Bread of Heaven was being sung by the fans who were walking the streets and crammed into pubs, all the way to the stadium you couldn’t help but smile. Nerves kicked in the moment I took my seat in the stadium, were Wales able to do it? The anthems were breath taking, I had goose bumps as we sang the anthem with so much louder than I have ever experienced before. Then, the whistle blew the game had begun. The first half came and went with hardly any score so my nerves were still on edge. Wales were ahead but not by much. The second half began and the magic happen, try upon try, belief and passion. Most importantly we had crossed the score line so the championship was ours, we had beaten the English and ended their dream. As the cheers roared around the stadium I could help but notice

the two rows in front of me, one had an old age man in his 60 and in front of him was a young boy about 20. The two hadn’t come together, the only thing that they had in common was that they were Welsh. When the final whistle had gone with Wales winning 30 – 3, they hugged in the stair well, like they had with every try that had been scored. It showed how much the game and the win had meant to both of them they were Welsh and needed to celebrate. We did it! The English fans had been silenced, and the lights of the stadium had been knocked off. Wales had kept hold of the Six Nations Championship for another year. As we all piled back on the bus ready to go home there was one question on everyone’s lips, “how did they do that?” Travelling up the M4 the bus was loud with rugby songs as Treherbert RFC celebrated the win.

Feature

Behind enemy lines

Treherbert rugby club is a very Welsh club in the heart of the Rhondda Valleys. The rivalry between the English and the Welsh is still as strong as it has ever been, but there is one man who is slowly breaking these barriers down. Mick Molloy a very proud English man has become a very prominent member of the club.

n between a group of men sat in the lounge of Treherbert rugby club one man stands out. It’s not because he has never been there before, it’s because he’s wearing a daz white England polo shirt. The most striking part is the fact that Wales had beaten England the day before, in a game where England could have been declared grand slam champions if they had won. “You were going to comment and gloat on the game anyway so it makes no difference if I wear my England shirt or not. So I wore it with pride.” The distinctive Yorkshire accent of Mick Molloy explained. Mick, 67, is the only English man who is a member of Treherbert RFC, not that there is many other English people who go to the club. Well, if there are any other English customers they are not as proud to be or have such strong and distinctive accent. For many years Mick has travelled around the UK for his job setting up home there, but 12 years ago he retired and made the decision to make Wales and more particularly Blaencwm his location to retire. Having started playing rugby league in school before moving onto rugby union, Mick has been involved in rugby clubs wherever he has been, from Leeds to Oxford and then Bedford before he came to Treherbert. Why Treherbert? t’s a small place and it’s the closest team to where I live.” said the Yorkshire gent. Having watched the games on a Saturday afternoon Mr Molloy became more and more interested in the club getting to know the people in and around the place. “There were two men who lived by me, they were involved in the club and with the teams that played. That’s how I started to become part of the club.” With Treherbert being such a small club in the heart of the South Wales Valleys, outsiders are often not welcomed

with open arms and Mick was no exception. “Everyone was a bit suspicious of me, it wasn’t until I started to do more and more with the club that they started to accept me. But now I’m a regular fixture in the bar.” Just like everyone else who is apart of the committee Mick isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He helps out in the with the training sessions on a Tuesday and a Thursday, cleans out the changing rooms after the home games and helps fill up water bottles and puts out the flags on the pitch before home games. Anything that he is asked

to help with he does and if he thinks he can assist in anything he will. How do you fit in? aving been a part of the club for nearly 12 years Mick is a familiar face in the club with his strong Yorkshire accent echoing in every room that he enters. As a rugby club it is full of friendly banter, which everyone falls victim of no matter who they are and where they’re from. “Every time I open my open my mouth you can guarantee that someone will shout something across the room. It’s good banter and all said in good humour.” In one instance when Mick Molloy helped out the club he was asked how he could be repaid the answer, “put an English flag on the ceiling amongst the rest of the flags”. It was carried out but the flag was the size of an a4 sheet of paper, since then the flag has been upgraded to

a larger one, but it showed the humour that the club had between the English if they didn’t like Mick then it would never have been put up at his request. As a committee member and a part of the community Mick has been welcomed into the club with open arms, but when the internationals come along he is still English. When England play… stand up and sing God Save the Queen, just like everyone else in the club who stands up to sing the Welsh national anthem.” Of course there is some banter flying across the room when he stands up alone to sing the anthem but as Mick says; “If this was football it would never have happened.” For all the internationals that are played Mick is in the club watching with everyone else, supporting England when they play and supporting Wales when they play, just not when they are playing England. “I really don’t understand why, when England play it doesn’t matter against who the Welsh do not support the English. It’s very strange because I support Wales when they play any except England, it’s just the way that it is here.” That game ick had been travelling home from holiday when the game was on so didn’t have any clue of the score until he stepped out of Bristol airport to be greeted by a group of Welsh fans sing Hymns and Arias. “I guess it wasn’t going well” he mumbled, “I’m gutted. I can’t even talk my way out of it, it was a hammering.” The absolute beat of 30 – 3, wasn’t going to be silenced by Treherbert rugby club and it was what Mick had to face when he walked into the club. Although he didn’t shy away from the beating, he turned up today wearing his England top ready to take the banter which he says, “They will not forget. It will be brought up forever more.”

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Lions Selection

The Lions are

he time has arrived once again for the British and Irish Lions tour to commence. The lucky few players chosen to represent the British and Irish Lions will head down under to face the might of the Australian Wallabies. Head coach Warren Gatland has selected Sam Warburton to lead the 37 man squad to Australia, with the ambition of winning the series for the first time since 1997. The selection of Sam Warburton as captain was announced by Gatland on 30 April in Syon Park after team manager Andy Irvine revealed the touring squad. Warburton had been the favorite to take the captain with betting having been suspended days before the announcement. In total there was fifteen Welsh players who had all, apart from Dan Lydiate who was injured, featured in the Six Nations showdown against England at the Millennium Stadium. Only Matt Stevens one of ten English players does not play internationally having recently retired, he joins the other nine Irish players and three Scottish players selected. Some questions were raised over the omission of England captain Chris Robshaw and Ireland’s captain Rory Best but overall critics believe that this squad can do the job. One noticeable absentee is Johnny Wilkinson, despite a superb performance in the semi finals of the Heineken Cup he opted not to be selected from the tour. Australia last played the Lions in 2001 which was a whitewash for the visitors, the whitewash continued on to 2005 tour of New Zealand. Despite the close fought series to South Africa in 2009 where the team narrowly lost the second test before winning the third test, the Lions last won a series in 1997 that was also in South Africa. The tour that happens every four years is the pinnacle of any player’s career. Players are selected from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales with only the best selected to face teams from the Southern hemisphere. The 2013 tour marks 125 years since the

Lions team began, clocking up 30 tours to the Southern Hemisphere along the way. The month long summer tour will see the squad play 10 games. Starting off with a friendly against the Barbarians in Hong Kong before jetting off to Australia where they will face the Wallabies three times, along with games against the provinces’. The tour will be the fourth for Ireland’s most capped player Brian O’Driscoll, making him the most experienced member of the travelling party. It is rumoured that the tour will be the last time that he plays professionally before he retires. In his career he has been captain for Leinster, Ireland and he also won the role of Lions tour captain in the 2005 visit to New Zealand. The squad 37 man squad that that has been selected by Warren Gatland to take on the challenge to beat Australia: Backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Alex Cuthbert (Wales), Sean Maitland (Scotland), George North (Wales), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Manu Tuilagi (England), Owen Farrell (England), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Conor Murray (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales), Ben Youngs (England). Forwards: Dan Cole (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Matt Stevens (England), Mako Vunipola (England), Dylan Hartley (England), Richard Hibbard (Wales), Tom Youngs (England), Ian Evans (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O’Connell (Ireland), Geoff Parling (England), Tom Croft (England), Toby Faletau (Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Sam Warburton (Wales).

British and Irish Lions Tour FIxtures 2013 1st June 2013

V Barbarians

Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong

5th June 2013 V Western Patersons Stadium

Force

Suncorp Stadium

Reds

Country

15th June 2013

V HSBC Waratahs

Allianz Stadium, Sydney

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22nd June 2013

V Qantas Wallabies

25th June 2013

V Melbourne Rebels

AAMI Part Stadium, Melbourne

Hunter Stadium, Newcastle

Canberra Stadium, Canberra

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

8th June 2013 V Queensland 11th June 2013 V Combined

18th June 2013 V ACT Brumbies

29th June 2013

V Qanats Wallabies

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne

6th June 2013

V Qantas Wallabies

ANZ Stadium, Sydney

Possible Lions XV 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Leigh Halfpenny Tommy Bowe Brian O’Driscoll Manu Tuilagi George North Jonny Sexton Mike Phillips Toby Faletau Sam Warburton Jamie Heaslip Paul O’Connell Richie Gray Adam Jones Richard Hibbard Gethin Jenkins

Lions Selection

Heading... Down Under! Members of Treherbert RFC have come up with a team that they believe is the Ultimate Lions team. Some people may agree with this team whilst others will not. Jason Leonard Position: Prop Nationality: English International Caps: 114 Lions Tour: 1993,1997, 2001 “Solid and reliable scrummager”

Martin Johnson Position: Lock Nationality: English International Caps: 83 Lions Tour: 1993, 1997, 2001 “A very motivated leader”

Richard Hill

Keith Wood Position: Hooker Nationality: Irish International Caps: 58 Lions Tour: 1997, 2001 “A very agile and motivating hooker, a good leader of the pack”

Willie John McBride

Position: Lock Nationality: Irish International Caps: 63 Lions Tour:1962, 1966, 1968, 1971,1974

“Aggressive no nonsense second row”

Mervyn Davies

Position:Flanker Nationality:English International Caps: 71 Lions Tour: 1997, 2001, 2005

Position: Number 8 Nationality: Welsh International Caps: 38 Lions Tour: 1971,1974

“Good all round back row forward”

“Brilliant number 8, Merv the Swerve”

Phil Bennett Position:Fly Half Nationality: Welsh International Caps: 29 Lions Tour: 1974, 1977 “Dynamic and skilful fly half, light on his feet”

Brian O’Driscoll

David Buckham Position: Wing Nationality: English International Caps: 42 Lions Tour: 1971 “Fast and powerful winger”

Gerald Davies

Position: Centre Nationality: Irish International Caps: 125 Lions Tour: 2001, 2005, 2009

Position: Wing Nationality: Welsh International Caps: 46 Lions Tour: 1968, 1971

“Skilful and creative play maker and a strong leader”

“Fastest winger in the west, excellent finisher”

Pictures: © Rex Features

Tom Smith Position: Prop Nationality: Scottish International Caps: 61 Lions Tour: 1997, 2001 “Strong and technical prop”

Andy Ripley Position: Flanker Nationality: English International Caps: 24 Lions Tour:1974 “Athletic openside flanker”

Gareth Edwards Position: Scrum Half Nationality: Welsh International Caps: 53 Lions Tour: 1968, 1971, 1974 “Outstanding, world class scrum half”

Jeremy Guscott Position: Centre Nationality: English International Caps: 65 Lions Tour: 1989, 1993, 1997 “Exciting play maker, very skilful”

JPR Williams Position: Full Back Nationality: Welsh International Caps: 55 Lions Tour: 1971, 1974 “Strong tackler, excellent in defence and attack. Best full back to ever play”

Front Row Rugby 17

Feature

Celtic

“All you need is a kilt, kit and a bagpiper to get on the bus!” F

Every year depending on where the Wales V Scotland game is being, held a double decker bus will travel the eight and a half hour journey either up to Dundee or down to Treherbert. Once the long and tiring journey is complete the sides are welcomed with open arms into the community. The Scots spread themselves across the numerous B&B’s and in the homes of the people who they have built up friendship with over the years. In Scotland the Welsh take up home in their usual Hilton Hotel, the place that they have stayed in year after year a location in which they know where the clubs and bars are and how long it will take them to get there. However in future visits to Dundee they will no longer be able to take up home there as the hotel is set to be knocked down, a new base needs to be found in time for the 2015 visit.

ebruary, the month that the annual Six Nations Championships start with fans from each nation travelling away to catch a glimpse of their heroes on the pitch. It’s a tradition for men in Wales to travel to Ireland and Scotland for the away games and the Irish and Scottish return the favour the following year. The capital cities are the place where people descend filling up bars and clubs to find the cheapest drinks. But when the Scottish are down you’ll find a stray few in the Rhondda Valleys.

A club based in east of the Scottish Highlands on the banks of the River Tay more than 60 miles from the capital city, it seems an odd place to travel for a rugby fixture which is held in Edinburgh. Just like Treherbert which is deep within the Rhondda Valleys miles from the city centre and a far cry from the modern infrastructure of Cardiff.

What’s there?

reherbert RFC, the place where a long standing tradition is being played out. Scottish side Stobswell RFC make the long journey down to Treherbert from Dundee all in the name of friendship. It is a friendship that has last 42 years based on a love of rugby.

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Why Dundee? Why Treherbert?

here is a simple answer why the two clubs travel so far away from the destination of the main game and it is to play a game of rugby between themselves. On the Friday before every Wales V Scotland international, Stobswell RFC take on Treherbert RFC in a battle to claim the Da-

Feature

Connection

When in Treherbert

t is not hard to miss when the Scots are in town for around five days you’ll see numerous men walking around in their tartan kilts, different colours but all dressed in the traditional Scottish outfit. Many of the men don’t change out of their kilts making the most of the hired outfit. During the Friday night games there is always a bagpiper there to cheer on the players. It is a spectacle that you would not see anywhere else on a cold February night. During the 2012 game the snow was actually falling as the game went on, but determined as ever the bag piper played on with sound echoing in the streets around Tynewydd Park. Not one supporter left the ground as the game went on, freezing cold but happy tapping to the tune of the piper. Many may ask what it takes to get on the bus to come down to Treherbert , but you only have to look at each man who gets off the bus both young and old to see as long as you have a kilt on and there

is a bag piper there then the trip can go ahead. Never has the touring Stobswell side come to Treherbert without a bag piper, one year they paid for a man who wasn’t anything to do with the club to come with them just so they had a bag piper. When Stobswell come to town Treherbert pull out all the stops to make them feel welcome, every night there is something going on in the club and during the days trips are organised for them to go on. In recent years the visitors have gone into schools in their kilts to give a speech about Scotland which every school child has been fascinated with especially when the bag piper starts to play. If there was any doubt that Stobswell were not in town the residents of Treherbert only have to look out of their windows on a Saturday morning to see the visitors having a lift to the club on the back of a milk float.

The future…

ever has a friendship looked so strong, the games between Stobswell and Treherbert may be getting more competitive but the friendship remains exactly the same. The hotels have already been booked for when Stobswell visit in 2014 and plans have already began for Treherbert’s visit back up north the following year. Treherbert took a staggering 75 people to Scotland on their visit this year, so it is safe to say that another 40 years of friendship looks bright.

vid Milne Memorial Cup. It is a fixture that started of as a friendly with a number of veterans taking to the field for a ten minute cameo, a sort of I was there game. In recent years the game has become more competitive with both sides brining a full strength team to the field with no room for the veterans. Treherbert have been the most victorious out of the two sides but in 2012, it was the visitors who claimed victory and took the cup home the winning streak didn’t last long. In some of the coldest, windiest and wettest weather Treherbert claimed a 17 – 0 victory on Scottish soil sending them back to Wales victorious and with a national side on the verge of the championship.

Front Row Rugby 19

Regional News

RaboDirect Pro12

As the regular season draws to an end the Play Off places for the RaboDirect Pro 12 have now been confirmed. Top of the table Ulster will take on the Scarlets at home in Ravenhill and Leinster will take on Glasgow at the RDS. It is all still to play for, so who will make it to the final on May 25?

Club colours: Red and White Home ground: Ravenhill Finish in table: 1st History of club: The Irish side are once again back in form. Over the last three seasons the club has returned to the top of the league and are now feared by all. With players such as Tommy Bowe return the squad is getting stronger and games are becoming harder to win. The side has overtaken Munster in the league an are slowly but surely making their presents felt on the European rugby stage. Key Player: Irelands world class winger Tommy Bowe has returned this season having been playing for the Ospreys. Bowe has been injured in the season but is back fighting for his place and he is the only Ulsterman to secure a place in the 2013 Lions tour to Australia.

Club colours: Red Home ground: Parc y Scarlets Finish in table: 4th History of club: The Llanelli Scarlets as they were once know were lucky to secure a place in the Play Off’s after being badly beaten on the last day of the regular season. The side were unable to progress beyond the pool stages of the Heineken Cup. Fourth place in the RaboDirect has helped them become the best side in Wales this season with the Ospreys only one place beneath them. Key player: Young Wales George North ahs been able to use his strength to get the Scarlets in the Play Off’s whilst securing his own spot in the Lions squad. Whilst such a talent in the team, he has been sold to Northampton for next season which has created a lot of debate across Welsh rugby.

Club colours: Navy and Blue Home ground: Scotstoun Stadium Finish in table: 3rd History of club: Since they became part of the RaboDirect league in 2006/07 the Warriors have slowly but surely made their way through the table. The 2011/12 was the first time that they qualified for the Play Off’s finishing in fourth place but they were unable to go any further. The 2012/13 season has seen them go won further and finish in 3rd place all that awaits them is an away match against Leinster to see if they are able to reach the final. The Warriors are one of only two Scottish teams that are able to complete in the RaboDirect league, Edinburgh are very close to the bottom of the table. Key player: Sean Maitland, the Australian born Scottish international has burst onto the scene in the last season. Despite only have five caps for his country the skill levels that he has shown for the Warriors has gifted him a place a surprise place in the Lions squad.

Club colours: Navy and Black Home ground: RDS, Dublin Finish in table: 2nd History of club: the Irish side have been in the final of the RaboDirect a number of times, twice they have lost at home to the Ospreys in the final. The team contains six of Irelands nine players who have been selected for the Lions tour. The side have mad it to the Amlin Challenge Cup Final which will be held on the 17 May at their home the RDS against Stade Francais. Key player: Brian O’Driscoll Irelands most capped player. As the season drew to a close it was speculated that the player would retire from the sport at the end of the season. However, a Lions call up and a final to look forward to the hard hitting centre will have a lot to consider, many believe that he wont go.

FINAL

25 May 2013

20 Front Row Rugby

Regional News

Heineken Cup Dublin 18 May 2013 FINAL The Heineken Cup is drawing to a close and now we know who will be taking the stage at the Aviva Stadium on May 18. Toulon and ACM Clermont Auvergne, top of the table in the Top 14 both sides know their opposition. A new champion will be crowned after 80 minutes of pure rugby between the two stand out teams of the tournament.

V ASM Clermont Auvergne

RC Toulon

Home Ground: Parc des Sports Marcel Michelen Club Colours: Yellow and Blue

Home Ground: Stade Mayol Club Colours: Red and Black

Achievements: Top 14 champions in 2010 and runners up 11 times European Challenge Cup winners in 2007 2012/13 Season: Winners of the Top 14 championship

Achievements: Top 14 runners up in 2012. European Challenge Cup runners up in 2010 and 2012. 2012/13 Season: Finished runners up to Clermont in the Top 14 championship.

Road to final: Won every match in against Pool 5 opponents convincingly, unbeaten run continued in the quarter final match against Montpellier.

Road to final: Toulon finished top of Pool 6 after only losing one game in the group stages against Montpellier. The French side were soon back on track beating Leicester Tigers in the quarter finals.

Semi Finals: Played a hard fought game against Munster in Montpellier, came away with a 16 – 10 victory. It was only the second time that the team had reached the final four, unlike their opponents who had been there 10 times in which they won the Heineken Cup twice in 2005/06 and 2007/08.

Semi Finals: it was a battle of the fly halves with England’s old and new coming face to face as they clashed at the home of English rugby – Twickenham. Despite a close encounter it was the control and boot of Jonny Wilkinson that sealed the win for Toulon against the Saracens.

One to watch: Lee Byrne – the Welsh full back has been left out of the national team over the last few seasons. He has been making a big impact in the Clermont team since joining from the Ospreys

One to watch: Jonny Wilkinson – The semi finals saw the former England fly half back to his best. The performance in the semi’s earned him a place in the 2013 Lions tour to Australia but he turned it down to concentrate solely on Toulon.

in 2011.

Front Row Rugby 21

International News

Wales

From hero to zero

In 2011 Wales narrowly missed out on the chance to play in the World Cup final in New Zealand. The success that they achieved got the fans back home on their side, with the belief that they could achieve great things after. The young team returned home with the passion and belief that they could achieve more, and this was the case as they concentrated on the 2012 Six Nation. They won it, clinching the Grand Slam on their way. Wales rejoiced at the end of the season. The players were hero’s, who could do no wrong and many believed that this was just the start of things to come. Run on 12 months, the fans no longer have faith in the team or the management. In the Autumn tests Wales lost all for matches, lowering them in the world rankings causing them to land in the group of death for the 2015 World Cup. The Welsh decent into failure continues, but will they be able to win the fans back and get back on track before it’s too late? The answer is yes. Winning the Six Nations in a spectacular showdown against England showed that Wales does have what it takes to win.

Where’s Warren? As you watch the Welsh news you may notice the lack of Warren Gatland in press conferences when it comes to the Welsh rugby team.

The Reason

Gatland is the head coach of the Lions tour, which is setting of to Australia in June. It means that he is unable to carry out his job as Wales’ head coach. He has temporarily passed the role of head coach of Wales to Rob Howley for the whole of the 2012/13 season. The choice of coach has raised a few eyebrows in the rugby world. It is clear that Howley is needed as part of Gatland’s coaching team but since he has begun his job in charge there has only been losses. Although the role of British and Irish Lions head

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The price of 80 minutes What could you buy with £80? A few video games, a new outfit or a seat at the Millennium Stadium to watch a game of rugby. It seems that ticket prices have soared to an all-time high, when it comes to watching Wales play rugby. The average price of a ticket is £70, which has many fans wondering is it worth it especially when they aren’t winning. The WRU have come out and said that the prices will be frozen next season, with some of the prices being reduced. The price of the Scotland Six Nation tickets will be £25 - £70, whilst tickets for the Italy game will be £25 - £65. However the tickets for the highest ranking team that Wales will play in the Six Nations, France, will remain the same with prices as high as £80. Can the price of £80 ever be justifiable when it comes to watching a game of rugby? If you work it out, you are paying a pound for every minute of the game. For that price you’d expect the team to win every game that they play. The lack of wins of the recent months leads to the questions of what the money is being spent on, because it’s not the players and it’s certainly not the pitch.

coach is such a big honour for anyone selected, there has been talk about whether it is the right time for Gatland. The man himself is a brilliant coach, there is no doubting that. But, is now the right time? He has a Wales team who need him and who look like they can’t do without his bold and strict coaching. The Welsh team are falling apart at the seams. Nobody can blame Gatland for taking the once in a lifetime job, but it looks like the WRU have made the wrong choice in letting him go mid-way through his contract. Nobody can hold the forte whilst he is away!

International News

the

World

Where do the home nations stand in the irb world rankings? As the Autumn internationals drew to an end, in December, so did the chance to grab a high IRB World ranking ahead of the 2015 world cup draw. For the top 12 teams who automatically qualify for the world cup, the higher the ranking then the better the draw. However, it didn’t go according to plan for the home nations.

Where did they end up?

England managed to get the highest position of the home nations at 5th place. The English missed out on the top tier of the draw to France. Although they did beat New Zealand, who are current world cup holders, in the Autumn Test series it wasn’t enough. Ireland managed to comfortably stay in 6th position and in the second tier of world rugby. The Autumn Series were a mix of losses and wins but did not effect their positioning. Wales took the biggest hit in the world rankings. Despite being grand slam champions in 2012, it wasn’t enough as they fell to an Autumn international white wash. The four losses meant that Wales fell to 9th in the world rankings and into the third tier of rugby, meaning that they face a tough pool for the world cup. Scotland join Wales in the third tier after they managed to secure 12th place and the last automatic place in the world cup draw.

Is England ready? The 2015 rugby world cup will be help on England, but is the country ready to hold such a big sporting event. The tournament kicks on the 18 September and ends at the home of English rugby, Twickenham on 31 October. Although that the venue for the final has been confirmed, it is the only fixture that has been set. When the original bid was made to

The

Draw POOL A

POOL B

Australia England Wales Oceania 1 Playoff Winner

South Africa Samoa Scotland Asia 1 Americas 2

POOL C

POOL D

New Zealand Argentina Tonga Europe 1 Africa 1

France Ireland Italy Americas 1 Europe 2

hold the World Cup a number of possible venues were submitted. The proposed venues included Old Trafford and St James’ Park, which are football stadiums. Concerns were raised as Kingsholm was the only venue on the list that was an actual rugby ground. The possible venues are scattered across England so that fans will be able to get to a game near them.

Since England won the bid to host the World Cup they have only confirmed one other venue where games will be held, the Millennium Stadium which wasn’t even on the original list. As the games get closer the IRB will confirm the exact games and where they will be played. Until then, there is a lot more rugby to be played.

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2013 Six Nations Championship in pictures

Pictures: ÂŠ Rex Features