Griffiths keen to take look at the talent of North Wales
Feb 11 2010 by Rob Griffiths, Daily Post
IT’S BEING billed as an exhibition match but in reality tonight’s clash between RGC 1404 and a Presidents XV has the look of a squad trial outing.
RGC 1404 head coach Clive Griffiths’ aim to have the best North Walian players involved in the region’s representative squad takes another step forward with a game against a President’s XV tonight at Bangor (7.30pm kick off).
Griffiths’ North Wales rebels will take the field without the nine Canadian professionals, who have boosted their ranks, against a side selected from over 50 players who want to be part of the squad.
North Wales Rugby Council president Tony Gray, a former Wales national coach, has selected a strong line-up of players from across the whole of the region to take on the North Wales representative team.
While Gray, who before current Wales head coach Warren Gatland was the last Welsh coach to oversee a victory at Twickenham, will be there to see his team play what promises to be a competitive match, he has in fact passed the reins over to Mold and Caernarfon head coaches Eddie Kirby and Ieuan Jones.
“If there are players out there who want to put their hand up and be part of RGC1404, this is their opportunity,” said Griffiths, who was defence coach under Mike Ruddock during Wales’ 2005 Grand Slam campaign.
The Rebels have shown their potential in beating Glamorgan Wanderers 25-10 last weekend on the back of a 22-14 win against a strong Antiassassins team in Chester.
The Presidents game, originally scheduled for January 5, but called off because of bad weather, has meant that some prospective squad members have not had the opportunity to be seen in a competitive game.
It is no secret that the North Wales Rebels need a much bigger squad so that all the top as well as up and coming North Walians have the opportunity to develop until the tutelage of Griffiths and his coaching team of Rudi Meir, Jason Forster and Jon Aby.
In his programme notes ahead of tonight’s match Griffiths said: “Tonight we welcome some of the most talented players in North Wales to do battle in this inaugural fixture. We wish both teams the best of luck.
“Things are progressing well on the RGC 1404 front as the team grows in confidence each week through regular training sessions and matches.
“After a narrow away defeat at the hands of Leicester Tigers Development team the players have responded superbly with back to back wins including an historical victory at Glamorgan Wanderers just over a week ago.
“We now look forward to welcoming three Guinness Premiership teams to Parc Eirias starting with Worcester A team on February 17, then Sale Jets and Leeds Tykes in the weeks following.
“The players on view tonight will be competing for places in the RGC squads for those games so I’m sure we are in for an entertaining and committed game of North Walian rugby.”
Rescheduling this game, at short notice required that it be moved away Eirias Park, a venue that the Rebels shares with a host of other sports.
“We are keen that Eirias Park should continue to be multi-user facility and are happy to work with other organisations to achieve this,” said RGC 1404 team manager Kenton Morgan.
The Presidents XV will turn out in new shirts generously sponsored by Enterprise, a support services company that provides infrastructure Šmaintenance services Što the Špublic sector, the utilities industry and other large organisations.
“We hope that this will be the first of many games for the Presidents XV. We envisage that it will play invitation games in parallel to those of RGC 1404,” added Stuart Waters, North Wales Rugby Council treasurer and Enterprise representative.
Morgan added: “The North Wales public is itching to see its new side and although not at our home ground this will be a preview of the side and an opportunity to support the side.
“There will be an opportunity to purchase replica shirts, to learn about the commercial opportunities with the team, to join the Co-operative Community Interest Company charged with managing the team and to volunteer to assist.”
RGC 1404: S Griffiths, Blackwell, T Hughes, H Jones, L Trevor, J Palmer, A Jones, W Bown, C Williams, M Raikes, R Hopkins, B Roberts, J Moorehouse, I Davies, R Carlton Jones, S McDonagh, M Parry, J Farrell, D James, A Williams, C Davies, A Owen, A Baston, R Owen.
PRESIDENTS XV: G Pawson, J Shirley, J Jones, A Jones, L Gill, L Leung, K Jones, A Lloyd, H Roberts, M Vaughan, H Parry, C Ellis, I Dafydd, D Blackmore, T Gwilym, G Patchett, K Morris, L ap Myrddin, P Graham, N O’Keefe, G Jones, A James, D Owen, D Williams, R Andrews, I Edwards, C ap Myrddin, A Roberts.
