Bridgend - Preview 06/07

By Zippy
August 29 2006

Preview of the Bridgend Ravens squad to take on the Principality Welsh Premiership in the 2006/07 season, for full details read on.

Prop Craig Voisey
Prop Kevin Jones
Prop Tom Hearne
Prop Rhodri Jones
Prop Lee Davies
Prop Geraint Long
Hooker Andrew Joy
Hooker Ieuan Dobbs
2nd Row Paul Clapham
2nd Row Huw Alford
2nd Row Mike Powell
2nd Row Tom Evans
Back Row Marvin Thomas
B’Row Gareth Williams
Back Row Andrew Williams
Back Row Mathew Hillman
Back Row Mathew Tidball
Back Row Chris Jones
Back Row Adam Whitney (Captain)
Scrum Half Steve John
Scrum Half Nick Griffiths
Outside Half Mark David
Centre Chris Tossel
Centre Leighton Thomas
Centre Roger Davies
Centre Steve Davies
Wing Darren Simpson
Wing Will Kershaw-Naylor
Wing Richard Radford
Full Back Mathew Hutchings
Full Back Gareth David

2006 / 07 Management Team

Director of Rugby Colin Hillman
Team Manager Norman Spain
Head Coach Chris Stephens
Backs Coach Paul Williams
Conditioning Coach Brendan Roach
Assistant Coach Hugh Williams-Jones
Physiotherapist John Rose
Medical Support Richard Evans
Kit Master Kelvin Newton
Team Doctor Dr Ian Harris
Team Doctor Dr Gareth Richards
Club Chaplain Rev Mark Thomas

BRIDGEND Ravens are hoping to pack a punch next season.

Young flanker Adam Whitney has been named captain of Bridgend Ravens for the forthcoming season, after Mike Powell was signed by The Ospreys. Powell has led the Ravens for the past 2 seasons, and will still appear for The Ravens when not required by The Ospreys. Ravens coach Chris Stephens said "Mike will be missed but we wish him well, but he's on a joint contract so Ravens fans will still be seeing a lot of him."

After consecutive third and second-placed finishes in the Premiership, the Ravens will be bidding for the championship they last won in 2002-3 before the advent of regional rugby.

Principality Premiership Coach-of-the-Year, Chris Stephens, believes he can hit the heights with a strengthened Ravens team.

Ryan Howells has left to go to Newport Gwent Dragons with the club's best wishes but the rest of last season's squad remains for the coming campaign and Stephens has recruited several new faces.

Backs include centre Darren Simpson from Carmarthen Quins, wingers Wil Kershaw-Naylor from Newport and Steve Davies of UWIC and Llanelli and, of course, top points scorer Gareth David will be back from his adventures in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Up front, new faces include No 8 Chris Jones from Carmarthen Quins, prop Lee Davies from Ebbw Vale, former Ravens lock Paul Clapham from Coventry, and flankers Matthew Tidball from Maesteg Quins and Matthew Hillman from Bridgend Athletic.

Stephens said: "I think we've recruited well.

"We've addressed some weaknesses and bulked the pack up a bit so I'm looking forward to better things."

That's good news for Ravens' fans because almost every Premiership pack they came up against last season was bigger, which caused problems on occasion.

The Ravens are currently hard at pre-season training under conditioning coach Brendan Roach. Stephens said: "Training is going well and I think the new boys have had a bit of a rude awakening.

"But we'll have to wait and see how everything gels together when we play some games."

The Ravens played all-action, high tempo rugby last season and it looks like being more of the same for the coming season - with perhaps a harder edge up front.

Good luck to the Ravens