Ebbw Vale RFC

Rugby team
teamname = Ebbw Vale RFC
fullname = Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club
nickname = The Steelmen


location = Ebbw Vale, Wales
country

founded = 1879 ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp11 ISBN 978-0708307663]
ground = Eugene Cross Park
capacity =
president = Mark Powell
coach = flagicon|Wales Will Thomas
league = WRU Premier League
season = 2007/08
position = 5th [ [http://www.wru.co.uk/985_12428.php WRU Official website] ]
url = www.ebbwvalerfc.co.uk
pattern_la1=_blackshoulders|pattern_b1=_thingreensides|pattern_ra1=_blackshoulders
leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=000000|socks1=FF0000|
pattern_la2=| pattern_b2=__blacksleevelinesandsidesthick

pattern_ra2=| leftarm2=B0E0E6| body2=B0E0E6| rightarm2=B0E0E6| shorts2=FFFFFF| socks2=B0E0E6

Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in Ebbw Vale in South Wales. The club presently plays in the Welsh Premier Division and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3877085.stm |title=Wales' regional rugby map |author=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=2004-07-08 |accessdate=2008-05-20]

History

Evidence of rugby union being played in Ebbw Vale was noted around 1879. Ebbw Vale RFC applied for and achieved Welsh Rugby Union (then known as the Welsh Football Union) membership between 1893 and 1894. ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp101 ISBN 0 7803 0766 3]

In 1927 due to falling gate receipts, caused by the increasing attraction of rival sports such as football, Ebbw Vale staged a rugby league game on their pitch, the Welfare Ground. The WRU reacted strongly and threatened Ebbw Vale RFC with expulsion from the league. This was seen by many as an overly aggressive stance to a club that was desperate for aid not sanctions. By 1932 the gate at Ebbw Vale rarely reached twenty shillings, despite a catchment area population of 40,000. The club was forced to resort to public subscriptions. ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp227, pp268]

Like most clubs in Wales, rugby union was a forgotten luxury during World War II; but by the mid 1950s Ebbw Vale RFC was once again becoming a prosperous club. Although seen as one of the most successful clubs on and off the playing field throughout the 1950's, Ebbw Vale was under-represented in the Welsh national team. ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp365]

Ebbw Vale's shirt sponsor is international industrial gas company Air Liquide. Their shirts are made by rugby equipment manufacturer Kooga. Their current President is Mark Powell whilst their Chairman is Marcus Russell, famous for being the manager of popular Britpop band Oasis.

Colours and badge

Their home colours of green, white and red represent the colours of the Welsh national flag with the second-choice shirt coloured light blue. The club's badge like many other clubs in Wales has a red dragon on it. The dragon is standing over a golden gate or drawbridge, over the dragons head is a semi-circle with the club's motto of "Iach Gorff Iach Meddwl". This semi-circle is part of a bridge shape which is coloured in the club's and Welsh colours of red, green and white. All of this is incorporated into a shield shape with the club's name Ebbw Vale RFC embroidered on the bottom.

Club's motto

The clubs motto is "Iach Gorff Iach Meddwl" Welsh for "Healthy Body Healthy Mind". This may be a sign of the clubs aim to try and improve the awareness of local people and to promote healthy lifestyles. However this may also mean that during the 19th century when the middle classes brought rugby union to the area, one of their mottos and one of societies motos was muscular christianity, which also means healthy body healthy mind.

Club honours

* Snelling Sevens 1958 - Champions

Notable former players

* Nathan Budgett (12 international caps)
* Clive Burgess (9 international caps)
* Byron Hayward (2 international caps, 1998)
* Deiniol Jones (3 international caps)
* Graham Jones (3 international caps, 1963) ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp467]
* Kingsley Jones (10 international caps, 1996-98)
* Arthur Lewis (11 international caps, 1970-73) ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp468]
* Graham Powell (2 international caps) ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp470]
* Paul Ringer (8 international caps) [ [http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Personnel.aspx?pr=100693 Newport Dragons website] ]
* Peter Sidoli
* Richard Smith (1 international cap)
* Iestyn Thomas (30 international caps)
* Paul Thorburn (37 international caps, 1985-1991)
* Denzil Williams (35 international caps, 1963-71) ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp473]

Notable former coaches and management staff

* Leigh Jones (coach)
* Richard Hill (backs coach)
* Mike Ruddock (2000-03, coach)
* Byron Hayward (coach)
* Alex Codling (coach and forwards coach)

Games played against international opposition

External links

* [http://www.ebbwvalerfc.co.uk/ Official Site of Ebbw Vale RFC]

Notes