SUMMER CAMPS DESIGN AND PRINT Printers of literature and programmes for WRU, NWRU, North Wales Crusaders, Shrewsbury Town FC and many other sports clubs. Phone 07713 514 375 for a free quotation. KIT AND LEISUREWEAR SUPPLIERS Teejac Sports Ltd Niwbwrch, Pentir, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 4DY Tel: 01248 353 575 - Fax: 01248 372973 Email: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/teejac WELCOME TO www.ovalzone.co.uk Nostalgia Clearing out the attic during the summer? You’re bound to come across some old pictures or programmes from byegone days. If you don’t mind sharing them in a future issue, please email them to [email protected] (if you’re able to scan them) or telephone 07713 514375 to discuss further Gary Email: [email protected] Telephone: 07713 514 375 @ovalzonerugby RGC win plate at Chester 7’s RGC NEWS RGC finished their time on the Summer 7s Circuit by winning the Plate Competition at the Chester 7s Tournament. THINKING OF GOING TO CARDIFF FOR THE FOSTERS A tough group saw them start by beating the ‘ Goats ‘ before losing both their next SEVENS? 2 games against the Akuma Exiles & Red Panda. The RGC Supporters Club are running a bus (leaving Winning their final game against Northum- Eirias at 8am) bria University meant a semi-final against Old Ellesmerians. Please ring Phil Williams on Narrowly edging a scrappy game meant 07773979910 to book your facing Barbados in the Plate Final. Here seat or for further details. the young North Walians produced by far their best performance of the day as they ran out 33 points to nil victors. All in all a very satisfactory end to what has been a very satisfactory Summer. Pre-Season Positives Next week sees the start of pre-season With preseason well under way training in preparation for what promises to be another hard (and hopefully suc- RGC News caught up with cessful) season in the Championship but Academy and Senior Strength Sam Dodge - WRU Biog before the latter commences in September and Conditioner, Sam Dodge there will be one final 7s outing at the Sam graduated from UWIC in 2011 Fosters National 7s Competition at Cardiff The Academy Boys have been back with after studying BSc Sports Condition- Arms Park. us since the start of June and are having ing and Rehabilitation. He is current- 8 sessions a week for the next couple of ly studying MPhil research program months. We are working on all aspects specifically in the field of strength including resistance, fitness and injury and conditioning. prevention. Previously he was with Cardiff Blues We are also implementing the new Academy where he was attached Strength and Conditioning procedures for with the regional championship win- the senior side over the coming weeks. It ning Under 18s side in 2010/2011. is an important time for us, especially with all the traveling and games during the sea- In 2011 he was Assistant Strength & Conditioning coach with the Wales Season Tickets are now available from son this is the chance we have to physi- Under 18s squad. Other roles Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre. You can cally up-skill the players. include lead Strength & Conditioning watch all the home games for £50 or £30 coach with the Welsh Judo Com- concessions. With the Academy players we are looking for that constant development with the monwealth Games Squad and Welsh Tennis High Performance Network. RGC had a great response last season for high training volume in preparation for the season tickets so don’t miss out this year senior sides. as they look to build on what they did on the pitch last season. We have just tested the Academy players and the results are positive with improve- Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre - 01492 ments in size, speed and fitness. I am 577900 to reserve your ticket. working Mark Lewin on the senior side training, and we will be introducing the new testing with them over the next few RGC announce two weeks. Friday night friendlies for August The North Wales regional side, RGC, have announced the dates of a couple of Friday night friendlies in August. RGC will play Bethesda at Eirias on August 15th and Chester away on August 29th with further friendlies to be an- nounced. RGC NEWS Foster’s Sevens champions Pontypridd everyone else to aim for, and some of Bedwas’ Matthew John added: “We won will play Cross Keys in the opening round their players like Alex Webber and Adam the plate last year, the boys played really of this year’s tournament. Report by Liz Thomas were key Wales Sevens players well, hopefully we can continue that suc- Jones during the season. cess. It was great winning the plate but hopefully this time we can qualify for the Foster’s National Sevens draw - big first “There is no doubt the standard is going knock-out rounds of the main competition. game for RGC to be higher this season and a lot of clubs Hopefully we can take advantage of the will put a lot of emphasis into their prepa- Welsh Students’ youth and lack of experi- Foster’s Sevens champions Pontypridd ration for this event this year. ence and go from there but they will be fit, will play Cross Keys in the opening round that’s for sure. of this year’s tournament, which will be “We know that the likes of Alex Cuth- held at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on bert and Justin Tipuric cut their teeth on “This tournament is ideal for people who Sunday 24 August. the sevens circuit and this tournament want to go higher in rugby and it’s a great provides an opportunity for new talent to shop window for those who want to play Runners-up Llandovery face Cardiff in come to the top.” more sevens in the future as well. It’s a Round 1, while semi-finalists Aberavon good way to get your name out there for and RGC 1404 play Newport and Llanelli Rugby World Cup Sevens winner Lee the season to come.” respectively. Beach, who has joined Neath from New- port, is looking forward to the challenge. Tickets are on sale now for the day long Bedwas, who lifted the Plate at the event at just £10 for adults, £5 for Under inaugural event last summer, have drawn “Sevens is a fantastic way to develop 16s and £20 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 Welsh Students. players and we have a lot of youngsters children). To purchase tickets, go to www. in our squad so it will be good to see how wru.co.uk/fosterssevens or call 0333 321 The rest of the draw sees newcomers they get on. We have drawn Carmarthen 9989 (Ticketmaster) or 02920 230130 Cardiff Met play SWALEC Championship Quins who have a number of experienced (Ticketline). winners Ebbw Vale, Bridgend face fellow Sevens players in their ranks and I for one Ospreys club Swansea and Neath play hope I won’t have to face my former world Tickets are also available to personal Carmarthen Quins. cup team mate Lee Williams on the day! callers from the WRU shop, 8 Westgate Street, from Ticketline, 47 Westgate Street Elliot Jones, of Cross Keys said, “We “Sevens is a great spectator sport - some and from participant clubs. lost twice to Pontypridd at the end of last of the IRB tournaments like Hong Kong year, in the Cup final and the Play-Off final and Wellington are amazing tournaments and they will be tough opponents here as to be part of - and hopefully more and e champions. However, we want to prepare Welsh supporters will see that and get well and have a good crack at this. behind this event again this year.” “Although we are probablly better known for our driving line-out, we have some talented backs too and everything is set up for a great day out for all involved, the fans included.” WRU National Performance Manager Gethin Watts said, “Last year’s first event was very successful, and everything is in place to grow the tournament from here. “There are several objectives of the Fos- ter’s Sevens. There are the obvious rugby benefits of showcasing more talent, raising awareness and the profile of sevens; but it’s also a day of celebration for the clubs, a great way to kick off the season for the teams and the fans and a chance for eve- ryone to see the new talents associated with the clubs and a carnival of rugby for everyone to enjoy. “Pontypridd were the flag bearers last year, they really laid down a marker for The Captains/Vice Captains for the 1st & 2nd Team for the 2014/15 season are as follows: 1st Team: Captain - Matt Hulse Vice Captain - David Haydock 2nd Team: Captain - Dugie Gemmill Vice Captain - David Roberts Prop Cai Griffiths the side to it’s highest league finish in returns to Ospreys The Club would like to thank out the Clubs history. going Captain Dan Jones for all his from London Welsh hard work over the past two seasons, Also departing his official role as Vice during which he lead the 1st Team to Captain is Geraint Madoc-Jones, Prop Cai Griffiths has returned to Ospreys promotion into SWALEC Division 1 a stalwart of the Club Geraint will after being released by Aviva Premiership North. always be a leader on and off the club London Welsh. Report: BBC Wales. field. We count ourselves lucky to Picture: Getty Images He also skippered the side to win the have such experienced, dependable The 30-year-old Bangor-born tight-head North Wales Intermediate Cup and players within our ranks at Clwb Rygbi made 123 appearances in two previous during the 2013/14 season captained Dinbych.