12 Jul Bridgend Rugby Pathway Launched
Bridgend Ravens RFC and Bridgend College are delighted to confirm the agreement of a landmark three-year participation arrangement focusing on player development in the borough.
The partnership formalises the longstanding relationship between Bridgend Ravens and Bridgend College Rugby Academy. It has been a fruitful relationship over the years, with a number of players representing the college before going on to play for Bridgend Ravens. Players such as Lloyd Ashley, Matthew Morgan, Tom Habberfield, Luke Morgan and Owen Watkin (both pictured above) have all represented both sides in previous years, with more recent intake of Morgan Strong, Harri Deaves and Travis Huntley also hailing from Bridgend College. The agreement aims to identify and support the rugby growth opportunities within the borough, and in particular at Bridgend College.
In conjunction with the talent identification process of Bridgend College, Bridgend Ravens will support selected students studying at the College with a financial bursary for a selected number of first and second year students. The relationship will also see any players identified as having potential to be semi-professional players from the College being reviewed by the Bridgend Ravens Management Team. A new college kit will be introduced following the theme of the Bridgend Ravens Home kit with students having aspirations to play at the higher lever by achieving their sporting and academic goals
The Dunraven Brewery Field, subject to availability, will also host televised Bridgend College fixtures, providing the college with a high class sporting facility for their athletes to compete at the top end of the College Rugby Pyramid.
In return, Bridgend Ravens will continue to enjoy use of the College’s facilities for pre-season training. The College campus in Pencoed has often been Bridgend’s home for pre-season over the years with the top quality facilities on offer, on the field and off the field, vitally important to the preparations of the Management Team for the rigours of a campaign of Indigo Premiership rugby.
As with previous campaigns and as part of the agreement, the Bridgend College Rugby Academy logo will proudly adorn the sleeve of the Bridgend Ravens Home and Alternative jerseys for season 2023/24 and for the following two campaigns. There will be pathway events, hosted by both Bridgend Ravens and Bridgend College, with full details on these in due course.
The Heads of Terms of the deal were agreed earlier this year between Bridgend Ravens General Manager, Tony Williams and Bridgend College’s Matthew Rees. With full terms now signed, Tony Williams is excited about the partnership. “We have always enjoyed a close working relationship with Bridgend College over the years but we are pleased to formalise terms that allow us to really move that forward on a footing that is hugely beneficial for both parties and for rugby in Bridgend as a whole.
Welsh rugby is at a crossroads at the moment and as we enter a new dawn, we are aware of the need to forge closer links with stakeholders so that rugby in our borough can continue to thrive. This agreement with our friends at the College is the first of a series of exciting announcements of plans that we are bringing forward to ensure that we as a club continue to become successful, not only for ourselves, but for the borough and for the whole of Welsh rugby.”
Matthew Rees, Assistant Principal Learning Curriculum and Student Experience at Bridgend College commented, “We are excited to continue on the journey of developing rugby within the borough and to work with such a prestigious rugby club steeped in history. Working with Bridgend Ravens is an opportunity to develop the next generation of elite rugby players and to support young people with the development of their skills on and off the pitch.”
About Bridgend College Rugby Academy:
Bridgend College Rugby Academy will support you to flourish as a student and player. The Coaches are highly experienced and fully committed to developing you, both on and off the pitch. They will expose you to new experiences and learn to push you out of your comfort zone and increase your level of confidence. You will train 3 times per week as part of the Academy, attend two hours of strength and conditioning per week and have access to physiotherapy advice if required. The Rugby Academy is about passion for learning and playing the sport – if that’s you, click below and find out how to join!
www.bridgend.ac.uk/study-with-
