As a player Powell played for Wales and the British & Irish Lions while he also represented some of the biggest clubs in the UK. But he believes beating Bonymaen at the Principality Stadium on Sunday would be as good as it gets.
“It’s 100 per cent the biggest game in Brecon’s 150-year history,” said Powell of today’s Plate final with Bonymaen.
“What I achieved as a player in playing for Wales, the British & Irish Lions and the Barbarians was great, but this will be one of the biggest moments in my rugby career.
“To be head coach of my home town club in a cup final is as special to me as anything I’ve achieved in my playing career. These boys have worked very hard to get here and they deserve a lot of credit. It will be a very special moment and maybe there’ll be the odd tear in my eye, you never know.”
Bonymaen are an unknown quantity to Brecon, but Powell is only concerned about his side’s performance. He also has more big game experience to call on with outside-half Dean Gunter having played a pivotal role when Cross Keys won the WRU National Cup with a 32-19 victory over Pontypridd in 2012.
Powell added: “It’s going to be a tough test against Bonymaen. It’s cup rugby and anything can happen on the day. I want my players to go out there and play with a smile on their faces.
“They play in a tough league so they’re bound to be a good side. It’s cup rugby and we will be throwing everything we’ve got at them.”
Merthyr captain Ewan Williams is another Brecon player who has experience of lifting silverware at the Principality Stadium having sealed Plate glory during a three-year stint with Merthyr. But winning the same competition with Brecon would mean so much more to the insurance broker whose father and uncle also captained the side back in the 1980’s.
He said: “ It is going to be a big challenge against Bonymaen because they’re an unknown quantity for us. Where we are situated in mid Wales we hear a lot about the teams based in Gwent and Cardiff but we never really hear much noise coming from the west.
“It’s really difficult to know what their strengths and weaknesses are. I’ve heard whispers that they’ve got quite a big pack so our defence is going to have to be on point.”
