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South Wales Argus
22-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Rhys Jenkins and Elliot Frewen leave Newport after title
The Black and Ambers became champions for the first time since 2004 when they became the first side to beat the Steelmen at Eugene Cross Park this season. It was a perfect ending for a pair of modern-day Newport greats in their final outings for the club. Flanker Rhys Jenkins first played for the Black and Ambers in 2010 while on the books of the Dragons, who he played for once against an Ospreys back row that featured Jerry Collins, Marty Holah and Filo Tiatia, and wing Elliot Frewen arrived from Tonmawr a year later. The duo – both members of the club's hall of fame – were named on the bench for the SRC final and got the ending that they craved. CHARGE: Flanker Rhys Jenkins carrying hard for Newport in 2015 (Image: Newsquest) 'It was a win that was a long time in the making,' said Jenkins. 'In recent years we have built every season and after being so disappointed at Llandovery [in the 2024 Premiership final] we finally got over the line.' Jenkins initially cut his teeth with Ebbw Vale in the Premiership along with fellow academy prospects James Thomas and Aaron Coundley but headed to the Black and Ambers after the Steelmen were relegated. The flanker signed to stay with the club when he left the Dragons and finished with 231 appearances over 13 campaigns, several as captain. Jenkins' list of injuries is a long one but there are no regrets for the 34-year-old. 'I played more than 200 games and it flies by, but I wouldn't change a thing,' said the combative flanker from Caerleon, who was called into the action early at Ebbw when Kyle Tayler limped off. 'I didn't want to go out when too smashed up and it's a nice time to finish because I think that I was still playing half-tidy. 'I started at Ebbw Vale in the Premiership and it went full circle when signing off by winning the league there.' Frewen's last appearance didn't quite go to plan. He came on in the second half but didn't finish the game after a huge collision: 'It wasn't the bang that I was intending to go out with!' Frewen was still able to celebrate with his teammates after appearance number 246. ELUSIVE: Winger Elliot Frewen finished his Newport career with 96 tries (Image: Newsquest) 'It's an amazing feeling and hard to put into words after being here for so many seasons and finishing with a league win,' said the 38-year-old. 'It doesn't get any bigger than that and what a way to sign off with a great bunch of boys. We've got closer and closer every year and to go one step further and win it was immense. 'I wanted to win the league and go out on my own terms. I also wanted 100 tries but 96 isn't bad!' Frewen isn't quite ready to completely hang the boots up – news that will make boss Ty Morris' ears prick up in case Newport are ever low on numbers – but his midweek diary will now be full of horse vaulting and gymnastics with Lois rather than training. 'It's about supporting my daughter now,' said the Wales Sevens international. 'She's seven and has clubs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I've had my time.' Jenkins and Frewen sign off but they have left their mark on the Black and Ambers.
South Wales Argus
18-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Newport win Super Rygbi Cymru after beating Ebbw Vale 27-18
The Black and Ambers became the first team to beat the Steelmen at Eugene Cross Park in 2024/25 to win the title for the first time since 2004. Tries by scrum-half Dafydd Buckland, impressive fly-half Jac Lloyd and full-back Carwyn Penny earned the spoils, and they were good value for it against a resilient, proud and determined Ebbw who kept fighting until the final whistle. It was a fitting end to their anniversary year with the added sentiment of paying tribute to Brian Jones, 'Mr Newport', who died last month. Added to the script, Black and Ambers hall of famers Elliot Frewen and Rhys Jenkins pulled on the famous jersey for the last time in this final. It was Newport's day after they suffered Premiership final anguish 12 months earlier and Ebbw Vale will hope to follow their lead in 2026. The Steelmen will be hurting after coming up short in a terrific campaign that featured 13 wins on home soil. Newport's title triumph was a long time in the making and featured two near misses, so Jason Strange will urge Ebbw to just keep on building. PACKED: The crowd at Eugene Cross Park (Image: Gareth Everett) Both sides made a nervy start with Ebbw keen to make the most of the wind at their backs – at least it was initially on a sunny but blustery afternoon – as they attacked the clubhouse end. The Steelmen were carrying hard and got reward for their early pressure when Evan Lloyd knocked over a penalty in the ninth minute. The hosts tried to extend their lead through their trusty lineout drive but Newport held firm and forced an error from the resulting carries. They got the reward for that when Jac Lloyd levelled from the tee in the 20th minute and the visitors then built up a head of steam. Newport had lost flanker Kyle Tayler to an early injury and then Ebbw saw captain and hooker Joe Franchi limp off, a blow that was swiftly followed by the opening try in the 29th minute. The Black and Ambers did a quick 'one-two' at the front of a lineout in the 22, hammered away and then scrum-half Dafydd Buckland spotted a gap and dotted down. Lloyd converted but then, after a rapid attack from a quick tap, failed to judge the wind with a penalty and it remained 10-3 as half-time approached. CHARGE: Ethan Phillips carries hard for Ebbw Vale against Newport (Image: Gareth Everett) Ebbw's Lloyd got a long but central effort spot-on to make it 10-6 but Newport got a huge score with the final play of the half. They worked space down the left and David Richards, with two strong carries, got them within inches. Arguably they made hard work of it – and Ebbw must've been close to winning a penalty after trying to get over the ball – but eventually the fleet-footed Lloyd danced over and converted himself for a 17-6 lead. Ebbw had turned around a 21-5 deficit against Llandovery in the semis and a huge line break by Ryan Jenkins got them hunting a response five minutes after the restart only for the attack to be ended by a knock on in the 22. No bother, an almighty scrum earned them another crack and scrum-half Gruff Tough's cross-kick was gathered by Ewan Bowden for a try down the left that made it 17-11, with Evan Lloyd failing with the touchline conversion. However, the Newport response was immediate with full-back Carwyn Penny gathering a boomed clearance, chipping over the top and then benefiting from a nasty bounce and hesitation to gather, just about stay up and dive over down the right. Jac Lloyd's conversion was a peach and the visitors had stretched their lead to 24-11 with half an hour to go. Yet back came Ebbw courtesy of a nightmare moment for wing Iestyn Galton, who tried to force an offload after being too casual in his 22. The loose ball was snaffled by the hosts and lock Curtis Gregory went over from close range, Evan Lloyd making it a seven-pointer. It was manic stuff and Newport were able to stretch a score clear on the hour through the boot of Jac Lloyd, 27-18 their lead. The Black and Ambers thought they had their clincher when a hack ahead led to Jac Lloyd flicking the ball to Galton, who went under the sticks. However, TMO footage – in play for the final – showed it had gone forward. That was followed by shanked, ambitious long penalty effort by the Newport fly-half as it remained nip and tuck. The clock was not Ebbw's friend and the Black and Ambers knew the importance of good discipline to keep the home side out of their 22 as the game entered the final 10 minutes. However, a scrum penalty and then an offside led to the Steelmen having a shot at a five-metre lineout with 73 gone. That led to influential lock Josh Skinner seeing yellow after the first attempt was illegally stopped, then ref Ben Breakspear gave another penalty that was sent to the corner. Newport held up Ebbw over the line and dissent led to a penalty rather than a drop out. The Steelmen kept coming but this, finally, was to be a black and amber afternoon. Ebbw scorers: tries – Bowden, Gregory; conversion – E Lloyd; penalties – E Lloyd (2). Newport scorers: tries – Buckland, J Lloyd, Penny; conversions – J Lloyd (3); penalties – J Lloyd (2). Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU).
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Newport lift Super Rygbi Cymru title at Ebbw Vale
Newport have been crowned inaugural Super Rygbi Cymru champions after beating Ebbw Vale 27-18 at Eugene Cross Park. The Black and Ambers led 17-6 at the break and maintained the initiative to inflict the Steelmen's first home defeat of the season. Evan Lloyd put the hosts in front with an early penalty, but after fly-half opponent Jac Lloyd replied, Dafydd Buckland went over for a lead Newport held onto until the final whistle. Jac Lloyd, brother of Wales and Scarlets' Cardiff-bound 10 Ioan Lloyd, broke through for his own touchdown in a man-of-the-match display. Wing Carwyn Penny was next to cross before Ebbw Vale hit back through Ewan Bowden and Curtis Gregory added a second touchdown before Jac Lloyd put the outcome beyond doubt with a penalty. Cardiff finished top of the table during the regular season, but lost out in the play-offs that ended with Newport travelling to Ebbw Vale in the final. Super Rygbi Cymru competition launched by WRU
South Wales Argus
09-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Newport aim to repeat Arms Park win at Cardiff in SRC semis
There was a win apiece in December and the Black and Ambers would dearly love a repeat of their regular season triumph in the capital. They held on for a 27-20 success but the Blue and Blacks got their revenge when they clung on for a 36-30 success at Spytty Park just days later. The teams will know the other team in the inaugural SRC final when they get under way after the Bristol versus Bath fixture at Principality Stadium led to a Sunday semi-final. Newport make the short trip to Cardiff in fine form after finishing the regular season with four straight wins to pip Llandovery to third – potentially important should the Drovers beat Ebbw Vale – and they followed that up with a 40-25 quarter-final victory against Aberavon. Newport will hunt another win at Cardiff Arms Park (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) Head coach Ty Morris makes two changes with stalwart Jon Morris coming in at outside centre for David Richards, who is a replacement, while up front Ollie Drake is in for Garin Harris at tighthead. Club legend Rhys Jenkins gets the nod to be cover in the back row while there is a boost alongside him on the bench with the return from injury of hooker Wade Langley. Cardiff feature strong-running Mackenzie Martin at number eight - his duel with Newport talisman Ben Roach will be fascinating - but are without Wales Under-20s backs Steff Emanuel and Tom Bowen. Cardiff: Joe Goodchild; Elijah Evans, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Jason Harries, Dewi Cross; Lloyd Lucas, Ethan Lloyd; Marc Thomas, Alun Rees, Tom Harper, Craig Hudd, Sean Moore (captain), Aled Ward, Nathan Hudd, Mackenzie Martin. Replacements: Gavin Parry, Cam Tyler-Grocott, Christian Brooke, Evan Rees, Benji Williams, Ethan Phillips, Joe Williams, Luke Pollock. Newport: Carwyn Penny; Lloyd Lewis, Jon Morris, Chay Foster-Smith, Iestyn Galton; Jac Lloyd, Dafydd Buckland; Tom Devine, Tyler Olding, Ollie Drake, Max Williams, Josh Skinner, George Young, Kyle Tayler, Ben Roach. Replacements: Wade Langley, Tom Workman, Nathan Evans, Rhys Jenkins, Josh Reid, Luke Crane, David Richards, Elliot Frewen.
South Wales Argus
28-04-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Brian 'BJ' Jones celebration of life service announced
Mr Jones, who was affectionately known as 'BJ' and Mr Newport due to his long affiliation with the club, died aged 89 earlier in April. Jones made 330 appearances for the Black and Ambers and was a member of the sides that beat Australia in 1957 and New Zealand in 1963. That famous win against the All Blacks, their only defeat of a 36-game tour, completed a hat-trick of successes against southern hemisphere sides for the centre after he also beat South Africa with the Barbarians in 1960. His family have announced a celebration of his life will be held at the city's St Woolos Cathedral on Friday May 2 at 11 am. A notice announcing the service said: 'Black and Amber colours and club ties will be welcomed.' Mr Jones, from Cwmcarn, played for Wales against Ireland and France in 1960, while he was involved at Newport from 1953 as player, captain, coach, committee man, chairman, ambassador and most recently president. His family described him as: 'Beloved husband of Jacqueline and the best ever Daddy, Gramps and Father-in-Law to Lisa, Caitlan and Stephen.' The service will be followed by cremation at the Gwent Crematorium, Croesyceiliog and the family has said donations, in lieu of flowers, can be given at the service for NSPCC Cymru. The service will be live streamed on the cathedral's YouTube channel and via the Gwent Crematorium. Newport RFC paid tribute to Mr Jones ahead of its recent fixture against Ebbw Vale that was played at Rodney Parade where he had led the club with distinction. The family announcement said Mr Jones 'passed suddenly and peacefully on April 6 at the University Hospital Wales, Cardiff' surrounded by his family.
