After claiming the National Plate at Principality Stadium in April, the Specsavers Division One East club is building on on all fronts, and this weekend entered the new 2nd XV Conference East, beating Rhiwbina 51-15 at home. It was a busy weekend in the Powys town with the firsts and youth also at home. Rugby was the winner on Friday night as the youth team hosted Gwernyfed, the local derby endig in a 17-17 draw while Andy Powell’s side secured a 78-15 win over Monmouth.
Numbers are up and club secretary Ron Rowsell believes that’s down in large part to the professionalism Powell has brought to the team environment.
“We’ve had a second team over the last few years and benefitted from strong youth teams – we were in the semi-final of the youth cup last season,” said Rowsell.
“Last year’s success in the Plate has obviously helped too, but more than that, Andy and his coaching team have brought a real purpose and professional attitude to training and matches and the players have really bought into that.
“We are having around 45 to 50 senior players at training now, they are really busy evenings for the club and there’s genuine competition for places. Training is well-planned and organised so the players work hard but they’re enjoying it too.”
Rowsell believes a strong second team is the lynch pin of any good club.
“It’s vital. Youth players don’t often go straight into first team rugby so without a decent second team you can lose them altogether. We are a rural area, there’s only one other club in the area – Gwernyfed – so it’s important we develop players from within our community.
“That requires a strong mini and junior section and a strong platform between youth and senior rugby. We had that before Andy came along but he has certainly brought an extra impetus to what we are trying to do and people throughout Brecon and the surrounding area want to be part of that. We are very much looking forward to testing ourselves against the other strong 2nd XVs in the Conference and using the competition to develop future first team players.”
