1

RHYF

ELW

YR L

LAN

ELLI

WAR

RIO

RS

SEAS

ON

201

4 - 2

015

Rhaglen £2 Programme

Viking’s 1st raid Sadwrn 11fed Mehefin 2015

Llanelli WarriorsV

Swansea Vikings RFCCychwyn 2:30 Kick Off

2

Day Date Month Opponents and notesSat 26 July Beach Rugby WalesThu 14 August Blaenau (A) L 76-14Sun 24 August Cae Maen Giants (H) L 61-41Sun 21 Septembe

rSwansea Gladiators (H) DSCS W 34-15

Sun 28 September

Loughor Lifeboat XV (H) W 46-27

Sun 12 October Croeserw RFC (A) L 66-35Sun 26 October Come and Try Development DaySat 15 November Tumble (A) (Wales v Fiji) W27-44Sat 22 November Gwlad, exhibition match (Wales v New Zealand) L 19-12Sat 29 November Burry Port (H) Origin Cup (Wales v South Africa) W 32-25Fri 26 December Past v Present Blue beat Red 13-8Sun 18 January Croeserw RFC (H) L 14-39Fri 6 February Wales v englandSat 7 February Bumble Bee Barbarians (H) H Bomb Cup Won 37-10Sat 15 February Pantyffynnon (A) (France v Wales) Won 25-52Sat 28 February Burry Port Development XV – Won (walkover)Sat 14 March Canton (A) (Cardiff Trip)TBC (Wales v Ireland) Lost 38-27Sat 21 March Cefneithin (A) Anniversary Cup (Italy v Wales) Won 22-27Sat 25 April Betws RFC Won 22-24Sat 2 May 7s & Touch Rugby Tournaments CHAMPIONSSat 23 May Total Flood Solutions Won 21-24Sat 11 July Swansea Vikings RFCSat 25 July Salopian Clan RFC (1st ever match)

For all appearance records and statistics visit www.llanelliwarriors.co.uk

Llanelli Warriors’ Results and Fixtures 2014/15

Next match: Salopian Clan RFC “The Stags” Home July 25th 2:30pm

3

Croeso mawr ichi gyd i clwb rygbi Porth Tywyn, a warm welcome to Burry Port RFC.

Today the Warriors have the honour of welcoming the Swansea Vikings to the Memorial Park. We hope all visitors will enjoy their day here

The Vikings are Wales’ newest team having come into being over the late season and summer and having played just one fixture - a triumph over our old rivals the Swansea Gladiators. We welcome coach Ryan Bath (another old rival) Captain Steven Larcombe and their team for our 1st meeting. Hopefully this will be a regular fixture and return matches for the new season have already been pencilled in.

Officially the Warriors are still playing 2014/15 fixtures and what a season it has been. This will be our 17th contest – the busiest since our 10th season when the tour to New Zealand took us over the 20 mark. It hasn’t just been fixtures with a heck of a lot of other stuff having gone on and still going on – please check the dates. My thanks to the small and very hard working committee and volunteers. To help them please keep up to date with all events, respond to requests promptly and support where you can. Dates are elsewhere in the programme.

Our last proper fixture was Total Flood Solutions in Hendy back at the end of May. An impressive win despite some key absentees and reports were that the Warriors did well on the field, in the food tent and at the free bar! Also good money was raised for Ty Hafan. Since then some hard work has gone on in training and I’m sure that will pay off today. Thanks to Jamie for coordinating not only the regular sessions but also some additional fitness work. All leading of course to the Mixed Ability Rugby World Tournament in Bradford.

Next week though we take a break from rugby with the annual presentation evening: All welcome, it promises to be a great night out.

No room here to go over everything so enough, on with the rugby,

Ymlaen Y Rhyfelwyr

Gwilym

Croeso Mawr

4

Today we welcome the Swansea Vikings RFC – a team so new that this is just their second match, so their history is quite easily covered: formed 2015, 1st match – beat Swansea Gladiators, there’s a bit more to it than that…

The Vikings are an inclusive rugby team – open to men of any sexual orientation, they were set up to cater for gay players who did not feel comfortable going along to their local club.

The first reaction I had on announcing the fixture was - “aren’t all teams of mixed sexuality” which is certainly true, anyone who has played rugby for more than a few games is likely to have played against and/or alongside gay players. However when you look at how few professional sportsmen have come out, it is obvious there that is still massive stigma. Gareth Thomas didn’t ‘come out’ until he had retired and Nigel Owens is still the subject of homophobic remarks. The fact that the Vikings sessions have been so popular with 30+ players turning out and 200 plus members on facebook shows that they are fulfilling a need. Counter that with the fact that the Vikings are only the 2nd Welsh inclusive team (after Cardiff Lions), the 11th UK team and the 64th globally. (I pass 10 clubs when I drive to play for Betws from Llanelli).

So the Vikings aims are to offer rugby to a section of society who feel marginalised and not catered for – that’s an aim very much in tune with what the Warriors are about.

We often talk at the Warriors about how good rugby is as a sport: a vehicle for inclusion, a family, a great social element, and respect for any one prepared to play, the essence of a team game. How especially important this is in Wales where sometimes NOT being a rugby player is strange. I would hate for any of my friends or family to be put off from playing because of something beyond their control and if the Vikings club is the way to help people play the sport then so be it. Hopefully one day there will be no need for a ‘special’ team and the Vikings will just merge into the landscape of West Wales rugby.

Whatever people’s views for 80 minutes today this will all be forgotten as everyone becomes, first and foremost a player.

We welcome the Vikings today, wish them all the best for their next fixture against Wessex Wyverns and for the rest of the season. We especially look forward to the return matches later in the term. (Gwilym Lewis)

Ymlaen y Llychlynwyr Abertawe

Today’s opponents: Swansea Vikings

Follow the Vikings on twitter @SwanseaVikings

NEW MAIN SPONSORS

5

Today’s Sponsors;

Match Sponsor:

Match Ball Sponsor;

Man of the Match Sponsor:

Sponsorship packages are available for every budget. Llanelli Warriors RFC appreciates

Rhyfelwyr Llanelli Warriors SQUAD 2014/2015

Llanelli Warriors Squad 2014/15Richard Evans 1 Prop Will BrowneSteve Rees 2 Bachwr Jason JenkinsMark Lewis 3 Prop Colin TalconAndrew Davies 4 Clo Darren PollittJohn Horwood 5 Clo Rob HughesLee Rowlands 6 Rheng ol Rhyd WilliamsGwilym Lewis 7 Rheng ol Richard TaylorLiam Tobias 8 Simon JenkinsJamie Evans 9 Mewnwr Craig JamesLuke Jenkins 10 Maeswr Dean GilasbeySimon Day 11 Asgellwr David CarpenterAdam Fussell 12 Canolwr Ben WinstanleyAlun Stephens 13 Canolwr Dion M-LewisRyan Morgan 14 Asgellwr Ben KitsonTony Whittaker 15 Cefnwr Ivan AlbrightonJon Yeomans Ailedd Mike JamesTudor Murphy Ailedd Mat SymesAled Richards Ailedd Luke ReesNathan Murphy Ailedd Paul JJ DaviesLuke Jenkins Ailedd James Jefferys

6

With no previous matches we feature our game earlier this season against the other Swansea team we play – The Gladiators who the Vikings have also defeated. Ryan featured for them as well, he must really hate the Warriors!

Warriors record fine win over old rivals 21/9/2014The Llanelli Warriors hosted their oldest rivals the Swansea Gladiators at Burry Port on the weekend and managed an impressive victory. The fixture is now in its 20th year and this 22nd meeting was as highly anticipated as any of its predecessors.

The Warriors demonstrated its current health with a big squad assembled and in the glorious sunshine this certainly played its part. The Warriors started brightly and newly appointed Captain Andrew Davies looked especially pumped up and had a fantastic game, dominating the lineout grabbing a try and slotting two conversions in a live wire first half. Jamie Evans settled nerves with an early try, flanker Nathan Lawson scampered over and a neat break up the flank by Gareth Ladd and Gwilym Lewis got Davies over for a very healthy lead.

The Gladiators got back through veteran Victor Rekar who stormed over from a tap penalty to break the flow. There was an intriguing battle in the line out where two of the originals, Warriors John Horwood and Gladiators semi-retired Stuart Jones strived for possession 20 years on from their first meeting.

The perfect conditions meant a lot of running rugby and there was a try for each side through Anthony Randall (Warriors) and Paul Davies (Gladiators) as the ball was thrown around the field, keeping the sizeable crowd entertained. Defences also stepped up as well though with Rob Hughes, Ryan Morgan and Darren Pollitt all putting in some good hits for the home side.

Swansea fly half Dion Mitchell-Lewis looked comfortable pulling the strings and kept the Gladiators coming whilst Ryan Bath and Adrian Williams kept the physicality high. They tended to have the better of the 2nd half with Barney Jones getting a great score and Amys Sausage wrong footing the defence.

The Warriors had the last word though when a dummy run from Simon Day helped open up the blind side for Jamie Davies to cross out wide.

As the concept of integrated rugby, including players with learning difficulties, is picked up across the UK and Europe it should be a source of local pride that the two oldest protagonists originated on either side of the Loughor Bridge and can produce such an exciting, entertaining and quality rugby match.

Previously: Llanelli Warriors 34 Swansea Gladiators 15

All Match Reports: www.llanelliwarriors.co.uk. Follow on twitter @gwilwarriors

7

iary of a arriorFriday July 17th Presentation Evening £5 includes food &

entertainmentMonday July 20th Curry Night £10 at Masala

RestaurantSaturday July 25th Salopian Clan RFC Their 1st fixture

Saturday August 1st Beach Rugby Wales Swansea BaySaturday August 8th Fugby at Seaside FC Memorial Match

(Wales v Ireland)Wednesday August 12th Hawaiian Disco Venue to be confirmed

Monday August 17th – August 21st

Mixed Ability Rugby World Tournament

Get Deposits in NOW!!!

Saturday August 29th Ireland v WalesSaturday September 5th Wales v ItalySunday September 20th World Cup begins Wales v Uruguay

So that’s the main dates: players please vote for your player of the year, should be a good night with plenty of bling to give out. It’s been a great season let’s celebrate it.

Curry nights have been both popular and great at raising money. Everyone was very complimentary about the food last time out so should be good again. £10 is good value for money!

As if today’s visitors the Viking’s weren’t new enough, on July 25th we welcome a brand new (unified) team – The Salopian Clan. Mixed ability rugby has moved into Shropshire and we again will help make some history.

The new season officially begins on August 1st when the Warriors return to Beach Rugby Wales where we are pooled with Porth B and another side. As well as the Fair Play Shield match with the Gladiators.

On August 8th we hope to play another Football/touch rugby match against Seaside FC in memory of teenager Cameron Jervis who died recently. Wales take on Ireland later on.

The August disco is set to be on the Hawaiian theme, there are some venue issues (again) so please keep an eye out for the latest news.

Then (finally) we have the MAWRT! 12 teams – one prize.

8

9

PLAYER PROFILES

James Jeffery: Full back

Dynamic full back1. Sponsor

Ben Kitson: Wing

1st season1. Sponsor

Simon Day

Burry Port flyer1. Sponsor JB ARTEXING

Tony Whittaker: Wing

Most capped wing1. Sponsor

Ryan Morgan: Wing

Twinkle toed speedster1. Sponsor

David Carpenter: Wing

Strong running1. Sponsor

Ben Winstanley: Centre

Reliable mid field rock

Chris Andrews: Centre

2nd generation Warrior

Adam Fussell: Centre

‘Asda’ score oftenSponsor Sponsor Sponsor‘Big’ Al Stephens: centre

The old man of the backs

Dion Mitchell-Lewis centre

Mid field grunt

Lee Rowlands: Full back

Most capped back

PLAYER PROFILESMark Lewis: Prop Huw Jenkins: Prop Colin Tacon

10

PLAYER PROFILES

Andrew Davies: 2nd row

Captain Bambi3. Sponsor

Darren Pollitt: 2nd row

Salomon like3. Sponsor

Rhydian Williams: 2nd row

Tower of Power3. Sponsor

John Horwood: 2nd row

Most capped Warrior3. Sponsor

Liam Tobias: No8

Adding bulk3. Sponsor

Simon Jenkins: No8

Power pack3. Sponsor

Gwilym Lewis: Flanker

Rugby brain

Richard Taylor: Flanker

2nd generation Warrior

Craig James: Scrum Half

Latest ShedSponsor Sponsor Sponsor

Ivan Alrighton: Full back

Solid back

Dylan Harris: Wing

Speedy

Derrick Morgan: Referee

The Sight

PLAYER PROFILESEric Horridge: Hooker Harri Anston: scrum half Nathan Murphy: centre