Bridgend Ravens Supporters Club AGM

Just a reminder to you all that the Bridgend Ravens Supporters Club are holding their AGM at Brewery Field on Thursday 29th July.

The Annual General Meeting will give you all an opportunity to have your say on the future developments of Bridgend Ravens, stand for a post for the forthcoming season and what's more, new coaches Steve Tandy and Gruff Rees will be in attendance to answer your questions.

I know for a fact that they're looking forward to meeting you Ravens supporters, so... just as you do during every season, please continue to offer your great support. The AGM commences at 7.30pm with the coaches arriving at about 8.15pm (after Ravens training), so get thinking of a few questions and you'll be able to get some answers hopefully!

Look forward to seeing you all there...

Ravens open against Bonymaen (Home)

Bridgend Ravens are pleased to announce the full Swalec Division One West fixtures, with us opening with a game against Bonymaen at Brewery Field on 4th September, followed by games against Corus (away) on 11th September, local rivals Maesteg (home) on 18th September while finishing the first month with a trip to Whitland.

The opening round of fixtures are:

UWIC v Whitland
Narberth v Felinfoel
Bridgend Ath v Maesteg
Waunarlwydd v Llangennech
Carmarthen Ath v Corus
Bridgend Ravens v Bonymaen

Pre Season Friendlies include:

Saturday 14th August - Swansea (home)
Saturday 21st August - Rumney (away)
Saturday 28th August - Cambridge (home)

above: New Ravens Head Coach Steve Tandy looks on ...

Our new assistant coach Gruff Rees took some time to talk to us about how pre season is going, the new recruits fitting in and basically keeping us updated about how preperations are for 2010/11.

above: Ravens old and new under the eye of Assistant Coach Gruff Rees

"We are quite pleased with the progress so far - it's been important to us to set some high standards in how we prepare and make sure that training is of a high intensity but is also specific to the type of rugby we want to play. In addition, we are mindful that we want everyone to enjoy what we do, be excited about the challenges ahead and thrive on putting on the Bridgend Ravens shirt.

The players are responding well to Jason Larkman, our new conditioning coach, and I know that Steve is working hard behind the scenes to make sure that everything is in place for the club to push on once again - his enthusiasm and energy will be pivotal in his first senior coaching role and I know that all players, staff and supporters will be firmly behind him."

above: Dan Griffiths being put through his paces in pre season ...

Ravens announce new signings for 2010/11

Bridgend Ravens would like to announce the first of a number of new signings for the 2010/11 season:

Behind the scrum, we welcome to the Brewery Field goal kicking outside half and Newport RFC's record points scorer Dan Griffiths. Having scored 1,551 points in seven seasons for the Black and Ambers, the signing of Dan is somewhat of a coup for the Ravens, and he's plotting a quick return to Rodney Parade in the colours the Ravens. He commented, "The plan is to be back in the Premiership with Bridgend and it would be great to play again in Newport. I have so many great memories from my time with the club but the every time I ran out at Rodney Parade was special. I played in front of massive crowds in France for Bayonne and experienced a bit of regional rugby but I never tired of running out at the Parade."

above: Dan Griffiths being put through his paces in pre season ...

Exciting Wales U18 Scrum Half Tom Habberfield (Bridgend College) will also be arriving, as will Centres Jon Leyshon (from Carmarthen Quins) and Adrian Thomas (from Swansea), along with the return of ex Bridgend Ravens wing Steve Cullen, who returns after a four seasons and 65 games in the Premiership with Glamorgan Wanderers.

New faces in the Ravens pack include prop Jonny Thomas who arrives from Cwmllynfell having previously been on the books of Neath and Back Rower Adam Hillier-Rees (Ospreys Academy). There are also two players returning to the Brewery Field though, namely Second Row Huw Alford, who has put pen to paper to seal a move from Swansea while Back Rower and ex-Ravens Player of the Year Winner Ioan Cunningham returns after a spell at Carmarthen Quins.

In addition to the new signings, we have also retained the services of highly rated youngsters Tom Grabham (Scrum Half), Nathan Edwards (Centre) and Tom Williams (Full Back) while also retaining the signatures of last season's squad members including Rhys Hewitt (Hooker), Rhys Blumberg (Hooker), Kyle Maiden (Second Row), Jon Campbell (Second Row), and Luke Probert (Back Row) to name a few.

New Bridgend Ravens Head Coach Steve Tandy commented, "It is hoped that the new boys will help bring a bit more experience to the back line while also developing the exciting youngsters like the three Toms - Grabham, Williams, Habberfield and Nathan Edwards. Players like Dan Griffiths, Ioan Cunningham, Jon Leyshon, Steve Cullen and Huw Alford are proven and experienced performers in the Premiership and this will only stand us in good stead for the season ahead as we look to get Premiership rugby back at the Brewery."

Hooker Rhys Blumberg said, "There is no doubt that this year, we are after one thing and that is the Division 1 West title. Although last season was disappointing, we were so so close in so many games and now with the new recruits we have made, I'm sure we can change those L's to W's! I for one am looking forward to the season!"

Contract talks are ongoing with a number of other players, news of which we hope to announce soon.

Ravens End of Season Presentation Awards 2010

Players Player of the Year - Mathew Davies (Flanker)
Supporters Player of the Year - Jon Campbell (Second Row)
Most Improved Player of the Year - Jon Campbell (Second Row)
Clubman of the Year - Owen Cotton