Neath Rugby announce 2008/09 squad

2nd June 2008

Neath Rugby announce squad brimming with experience and raw talent ahead of new season.

Neath Rugby's squad for the 2008/09 season has been announced with the majority of the ‘double' squad remaining with the Welsh All Blacks for what hopes to be another successful season.

Number 8 and influential captain Lee Beach will continue to lead from the front and he is joined in the back row by new signing, former Neath under 21s flanker Lee Evans.

Evans, a Cynon Valley product has been an integral part of the Pontypridd team since joining the club in 2003, it is hoped he will bring the same physicall attitude to the Neath Squad.

Another former Neath player who will be duelled to the Gnoll is lock Lyndon Bateman, He is joined by fellow lineout expert Neil Edwards, a Wales A product with bags of playing experience that will benefit the younger crop of players coming through the Neath ranks.

In the backs Neath have snapped up some raw talent destined for big things.

Wales under 18s outside half Matthew Jarvis will battle it out with 22 year old Howard Thomas for the number 10 shirt while fellow under 18s team mate and winger Liam Powell has also signed for the Welsh All Blacks. Dai Evans hopes that he will have a chance to impress after the later stages of last season were cut short due to an injury he sustained on Wales sevens duty . He is a young man with a huge potential.

Pre season training will begin on the 11th of June with a programme already in place to ensure the Neath Rugby squad are in peak condition before the start of our pre-season friendlies which will be announced shortly.

Head coach Rowland Phillips:

"I'm confident that we have the right mix of experienced and young players going into the 08/09 season. The likes of Lyndon & Neil will have a huge impact on the playing development of fellow locks Euros and Ciaron. They have vast experience and the younger squad members can learn from that."

"Obviously some players have been snapped up by other clubs whereas other have called time on their playing careers and I would like to wish them all the best for the future and thank them for their contribution to Neath Rugby."

"What is pleasing is the amount of players who have remained with us despite fellow premiership clubs coming in with big money offers.

I know we have some exciting pre season friendlies in the pipe line which will be announced in the next few weeks."

Quote from Chairman Geraint Hawkes

" I am hugely excited about next season and I am sure that this group of young men will wear the Neath jersey with pride. All these players want to be part of this club and competition for places will be tough.

We have one player over the age of 30 with the average age of the squad being 23.

I feel we have players who have shown great potential and another season with us will propel them to the next level which is regional rugby. I can't wait ."

 

COACHES
Rowland Phillips - Head Coach
Gruff Rees - Backs Coach
Jonathan Bowen - Fitness Coach
Arwel Thomas

TEAM MANAGER

Stuart Evans

Forwards

PROPS

Nicky Downs
Martin Jones
Ross Davies
Craig Mitchell

HOOKERS

Andrew Littlehales
Jim Richards
Gerwyn Price

2nd ROW

Lyndon Bateman
Euros Evans
Neil Edwards
Ciaron Ruddock

BACK ROW

Andy Llewellyn
Gareth Gravell
Lee Beach
James Merriman
Lee Evans

BACKS

Number 9

Gareth Williams
Gareth James

Number 10

Howard Thomas
Matthew Jarvis

Centres

Daffydd Lockyear
Stephen Thomas
Wayne Mitchell

Wings

Kevin James
Matthew Nuthall
Liam Powell
Kristian Phillips
Dai Evans

 

Full backs

Gareth King