Tonna have enjoyed a tremendous season to date, and are targeting a league and cup double with the club top of National League 3 West Central. And they will get an opportunity to lift silverware when they face Crumlin in the final of the WRU Shield final.
“Like every club at our level getting to the stadium is the absolute pinnace for us,” said team manager Ryan Freeman. “We’ve had our good and bad times, but we are looking forward to this. Getting to play at the Principality Stadium is great for the boys.
“All the boys are really excited. We’ve done quite well and are top of our league.
“We’ve only lost one game this season, and we’ve had a bonus point win in our last eight games. Crumlin also had a good win in the semi-final against Pontardawe so they will be confident as well.”
Tonna could easily be used as a metaphor for all that is good about community rugby in Wales with the vast majority of their squad having come through the club’s junior section. They will also have former Ospreys, Exeter Chiefs, Cardiff, and Wales prop Craig Mitchell in their ranks.
“All our team, apart from one player, have come through Tonna’s juniors,” said Freeman. “There’s not many clubs who can say that. Rugby is everything in Tonna. Apart from Craig Mitchell who has played for Wales hardly anyone has played there.
“I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it. The players really deserve this because they’ve worked so hard, and it has been a tough two years for everyone.
“The excitement from the players is something I’ve never seen before. The first time playing at the Principality Stadium will be very special.”
Tonna are extremely confident in their ability, but are equally as respectful of a Crumlin side who have also enjoyed a successful campaign. One thing Freeman is sure of is they will have to be at their best to come out on top.
“We don’t know too much about them because we haven’t played them in years but anybody who makes the final is going to be a decent team,” he said.
“They are doing well in their league, and they are going to be a good outfit. We are looking forward to challenging ourselves against very good opposition.
“It’s going to be a good game because there’s two good teams involved. We’ve done quite well this season, and are top of our league.
“We’ve only lost one game this season, and we’ve had a bonus point win in our last eight games. Crumlin also had a good win in the semi-final against Pontardawe so they will be confident as well.”
Tonna will be roared on by a vociferous travelling crowd who will travel up the M4 in big numbers this weekend. And the club are confident they will have the best support at the Principality Stadium.
“We’ve got nine buses coming down, and there’s a good 300 coming on the train,” said Freeman. “I think we will be one of the best supported club sides who have played at the Principality Stadium this year.
“Tonna is a close community, and we get good support week in week out. We are taking nine buses so the support in this final will be a different level for us.”
