Dee was part of the last Gwent side to play in the final and has never forgotten the feeling of winning the title. Since then he has gone on to win 29 Welsh caps, win a Grand Slam, play at the World Cup and become a seasoned professional player at the Dragons.
Now the ‘Class of 2020’ will get their shot at emulating the heroes of the past when they take on reigning champions Coleg Y Cymoedd at the House of Pain in a game which is live on the S4C website and Rugby Pawb Facebook page from 7.30pm, with highlights on Rygbi Pawb on Wednesday at 10.30pm.
Cymoedd will be seeking their fifth win in six years in what is their eighth final in a row. They also hold bragging rights over their rivals having beaten them in the build-up to the final.
“Scotty Matthews has asked me to go down and talk to the boys before the game. I will try and share a bit of my experience with them and I’ll certainly be rooting for them,” said Dee.
“It’s brilliant to see them back in the final and I hope they can win it again. Gwent rugby struggled last year with a few teams going down from the Welsh Premiership to the Championship, so it’s good to see youngsters coming through again.”
Current Pontypool skipper, Matthews, was captain of the Gwent side in which Dee played seven years ago and is now one of the coaching team at the college working under former Wales outside half Matthew Jones. Other notable names from the 2012 line-up were Wales back row international Ollie Griffiths, Jack Dixon, James Benjamin and Ethan Davies.
“Looking back, it was a good time in my early career and really got me ready for what was to come after. I hope that’s the case with the current boys,” said Dee.
“It was a good grounding and it got me ready for going into a professional environment. It gave us a taste of what being a professional rugby might be all about.
“I always knew in my head that was what I wanted to do. But there were others who were still to make their minds up and it allowed some to decide maybe it wasn’t for them.
“It was a tight-knit and healthy environment in which to grow a team. Paul Young was our coach at the time and we all respected him and got a lot out of him.
“He was very committed and asked a lot of players. We gave it to him and that was a big part of the reason we went on to win the Cup.”
“To start that rugby programme from scratch, as Paul did, and win the Cup within three years was a fantastic achievement.”
The race to occupy the top two spots went right to the wire, with Sir Gar and Cardiff & Vale College missing out after Gwent hammered Llandovery 39-15 to clinch their place in the final.
That victory featured four tries from speedy Wales U18 wing Carrick McDonough, just one of a handful of players expected to follow Dee through the Dragons academy team to the senior regional side.
WHAT THE COACHES SAY
LEE DAVIES – COLEG Y CYMOEDD
“We are preparing for a huge challenge because we know Coleg Gwent will be very well coached and hugely motivated. For my players it is all about how they manage the occasion.
“It’s good for us that the game is being played at our home venue for the third year in a row, but it is all about doing justice to ourselves on what will be a big stage.
“Having beaten them once this season, and qualified for the final by beating our biggest rivals Coleg Sir Gar in Llanelli last week, we have to beware the England scenario at the World Cup. We can’t afford to have played our final a week too early.
“We are only in our ninth year of a rugby programme, but we are starting to see the fruits of our work. Dillon Lewis, Jarrod Evans, Seb Davies and Tom Williams have all gone on to play for Wales and we have high hopes of Shane Lewis-Hughes following them shortly.
“Half-a-dozen of our players have full time Academy contracts with Cardiff Blues and 26 of our squad are in the Blues U18 programme. There are also lots of former students playing in the professional and semi-pro game.
“But it isn’t all about rugby. We are offering 28 different A levels to our students alongside a number of vocational courses and education is equally important in what we do.”
MATTHEW JONES – COLEG GWENT
“We know we will be going in as the underdogs and, after so many season of seeing a Cymoedd v Sir Gar final, the million dollar question for us is how do you beat Cymoedd? They have a great rugby programme and can boast another strong team this season.
“It is great to have a change in the final this year and we will definitely be going to Sardis Road to win. This has been a long time in coming for Coleg Gwent and we’ve got the chance to do something special.
“It was a great team back in 2012 and one of our coaches, Scott Matthews, was captain that season. He would love to bring back the title and to give us all something fresh to talk about.”
TEAMS
Coley Y Cymoedd: Cameron Winnett; Steff Davies, Macauley Rowley, Ryan Wilkins, Cavan Davies; Tyler Morris, Harvey Nash; Harrison Chapman, Corben Evans, Travis Green, Rhys Anstey (captain), Cai James, Alex Mann, Ethan Fackrell, Ryan Jenkins
Reps: Efan Daniels, Ellis Fackrell, Rhys Barrett, Rhys Dauncey, Dylan Williams, Morgan Roach, Cameron Samuel, Mitchel Jones
Coleg Gwent: Dylan Edwards; Olly Andrews, Jonny Paynter, Morgan Lloyd, Carrick McDonough; Joe Westwood, Che Hope; Joe Cowell, Connor Chapman, Lui Hewlett, Lloyd Thomas, Joe Peard, Joe Rees-Weldon, Sam Scarfe, Bevan Jay
Reps: Liam Lewis, Caleb Phillips, Jack Powell, Kyle Bailey, Brandon Tutton, Owain Paddfield, Rocky Barnett, Ben Gomez
PREVIOUS FINALS
2010/11: Coleg Sir Gar 20, Coleg Gwent 19
2011/12: Coleg Gwent 17, Coleg Sir Gar 16
2012/13: Coleg Sir Gar 18, Coleg Morgannwg 16
2013/14: Coleg Sir Gar 25, Coleg Y Cymoedd (formerly Morgannwg) 22,
2014/15: Coleg y Cymoedd 13, Coleg Sir Gar 3
2015/16: Coleg y Cymoedd 44, Coleg Sir Gar 24
2016/17: Coleg Sir Gar 27, Coleg Y Cymoedd 23
2017/18: Coleg y Cymoedd 29, Coleg Sir Gar 10
2018/19: Coleg y Cymoedd 28, Coleg Sir Gar 19
