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Bridgend Ravens are a semi-professional rugby union club based in Bridgend, South Wales. The original Bridgend side, Bridgend RFC, were merged with Pontypridd RFC for the 2003-2004 season to become one of five Welsh regions in the recently restructured Celtic League. The resulting club, the Celtic Warriors, had a relatively successful first season on the field, finishing fourth in the league, however, poor crowd attendances and a debt of £300,000 led to the WRU buying the club out and disbanding them at the end of the season. Bridgend RFC continued as a semi-professional club playing in the Welsh Premiership, which they had won for the first time the season prior to their merger with Pontypridd RFC. Bridgend continue to compete in this league but with less success. They finished 12th in the Premiership last season, above Llandovery and the relegated Maesteg.
The name Bridgend RFC is owned by the former owner of the Celtic Warriors, Leighton Samuel. In order to concentrate on the Celtic Warriors, Samuel decided to withdraw his financial backing of Bridgend RFC.[3] Fans and businessmen of the area resurrected the team, naming it Bridgend Ravens. The name comes from the nickname of the former Bridgend RFC club, who were known as the Ravens. The club currently play in the Welsh Principality Premiership, and have had mixed success in their short life. They play their matches at the Brewery Field that they now have to rent from the Celtic Crusaders Rugby League Club owned by Leighton Samuel.
On July 1 2007 it was announced that ex-Wales prop Peter Rogers had signed for the Ravens.[4] He didn't play for the Ravens for long as family commitments ended his short stay with them.
[edit] Current Squad
| Nat. |
Position |
Player |
|
 |
PR |
Rhodri Jones |
|
PR |
Lee Davies |
|
PR |
Peter Rogers |
|
PR |
Phil Price |
|
PR |
Greg Dix |
|
PR |
Ryan Bevington |
|
PR |
Lloyd Elliott |
|
HK |
Ieuan Dobbs |
|
HK |
Scott Baldwin |
|
LK |
Tom Evans |
|
LK |
Mike Powell |
|
LK |
Kyle Maiden |
|
LK |
Nathan White |
|
FL |
Mathew Tidball |
|
FL |
Dale Newell |
|
FL |
Huw Wythe |
|
FL |
Marvin Thomas |
|
N8 |
Ioan Cunningham |
|
N8 |
Gareth Williams |
|
|
| Nat. |
Position |
Player |
|
N8 |
Jonathan Jones |
|
N8 |
Rory Pitman |
|
SH |
Lee Ronan |
|
SH |
Rhys Webb |
|
SH |
Jon Hooper |
|
FH |
Mark David |
|
FH |
Matthew Jones |
|
CE |
Gareth Howells |
|
CE |
Geoff Hobbs |
|
CE |
David Bishop |
|
CE |
Chris Tossell |
|
CE |
Leighton Thomas |
|
CE |
Paul Smith |
|
WG |
Chris Weightman |
|
WG |
Dan Connolly |
|
WG |
Richard Radford |
|
FB |
Gareth David (Captain) |
|
FB |
Gareth Knox |
|
[5]
[edit] Management Team, Coaches and other staff
- Head Coach - Paul Williams
- Forwards Coach - Andrew Millward
- Assistant Coach & Team Manager - Huw William-Jones
- Conditioning Coach - Ioan Cunningham
- Physiotherapist - John Rose
- Assistant Physiotherapist - Gareth Davies
- Medical Trainer - Richard Evans
- Kit Master - Kelvin Newton
- Director of Rugby - Colin Hillman
- President - J.P.R. Williams
- Chairman - Derrick King
- Director - David Rees
- Club Secretary - Norman Spain
- Business Advisor - John Dalton
- Business Advisor - Peter Woods
- Marketing Advisor - John Mitchell
[edit] Season Results
[edit] Bridgend Ravens
- 2007/2008 - 12th (of 14) Principality Welsh Premiership; Quarter-final of Konica Minolta Cup (knocked out by Pontypridd RFC 41-11)
- 2006/2007 - 11th (of 14) Principality Welsh Premiership; Semi-final of Konica Minolta Cup (knocked out by Cardiff RFC 23-16)
- 2005/2006 - 2nd (of 14) Principality Welsh Premiership; Round four of Konica Minolta Cup (knocked out by Neath RFC 11-3)
- 2004/2005 - 3rd (of 17) WRU National League; Semi-final of Konica Minolta Cup (Knocked out by Llanelli RFC 20-10)
- 2003/2004 - 7th (of 16) WRU National League; Semi-final of Konica Minolta Cup (Knocked out by Neath RFC 29 - 14)
[edit] Bridgend RFC
- 2002/2003 - 1st (of 9) in WRU National League; 7th (of 8) in Pool B of Celtic League; Semi-Final of Principality Cup (Lost to Newport 27-23)
- 2001/2002 - 9th (of 11) in Welsh/Scottish League; 6th (of 8) in Pool A of Celtic League; Quarter-Final of Principality Cup (Lost to Llanelli 46-24)
- 2000/2001 - 5th (of 11) in Welsh/Scottish League; Quarter Final of Principality Cup (Lost to Neath 23-21)
- 1999/2000 - 9th (of 11) in Welsh/Scottish League
- 1998/1999 - 6th (of 8) in WRU National League
- 1997/1998 - 7th (of 8) in WRU National League
- 1996/1997 - 8th (of 12) in WRU National League
- 1995/1996 - 5th (of 12) in Heineken League
- 1994/1995 - 5th (of 12) in Heineken League
- 1993/1994 - 6th (of 12) in Heineken League
- 1992/1993 - 6th (of 12) in Heineken League
- 1991/1992 - 4th (of 10) in Heineken League
[edit] Celtic Warriors
- 2003/2004 - Celtic Warriors 4th (of 12) in Celtic League
[edit] Notable Former Players
Note: The following players play(ed) for Bridgend RFC or Bridgend Ravens. For Celtic Warriors players, please see the Celtic Warriors article.
[edit] References
Maama Molitika
John Thiel
