I feel like it’s Christmas Eve… the 2022/23 season is almost upon us, and I can’t wait. I think we’re in a much better place now and that should bode well for us when you consider the standard of the opposition we’ll be up against and how the unsettled nature last season affected our results.
It will be almost exactly 10 years since our first league fixture away to Gilfach Goch in Division 1 East and I know many of you will be saying “I was there”. On behalf of everyone that’s been involved over the past decade I’d like to thank you for your stoic support ever since. We’re looking to host a number of events in order to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary and a small working group involving ex-players has been put together in order to suggest ideas. If you have any then please send them in to rgccommercial@wru.wales.
Our anniversary edition home kit seems to have been well received and will be available to pre-order
https://www.eliteprosports.co.uk/rgc-rugby/ as well as a merchandise range along the same theme. You’ll also soon see some snippets of our alternative kit that has been designed via a regional school’s competition so keep your eyes peeled.
I know many of you would like an update on the player comings and goings, so I have outlined them clearly below:
Outgoings
Andrew Williams – retired
Danny Evans – moved away
Harri Evans – retired
Rhys Williams – taking time out to set up new business
Tom Hughes – retired
Will Sanderson – joined Caldy
Zach Clow – joined London Scottish
Incomings
Billy McQueeney (2nd row) – signed on a permanent basis
Brodie Coghlan (hooker) – on loan from Dragons
Cam Davies (scrum half) – signed on a permanent basis
Delwyn Jones (centre/wing) – signed from Llandudno
Ethan Fackrell (back row) – signed from Cardiff Rugby
Promoted from u18’s
Osian Evans (second row/6)
Paddy Nelson (tighthead)
Tal Taylor (back row)
Gareth Parry (loosehead)
Elis Evans (second row/6)
It should be noted that loosehead/hooker Jordon Liney who signed at the start of last season is returning from a year out with a serious knee injury and we’re hoping will be available to us in October/November. We also have a number of younger players who are furthering their education at Bangor University. Our aim is they continue their development here and earn opportunities with the first team in due course. Other players may be brought in, but only if they are the right fit, and add to what we believe is already a very strong squad.
One thing I’m very proud of is that over 90% of our squad are from within the region and nearly all of those players have come through the RGC pathway. This continues to develop and I’m sure we will see some more internationals developed in the not-too-distant future.
We were delighted last year to have four of our u18 women’s team capped by Wales and the search will be repeated again this year with players from across the region invited in for skills centres at both Eirias and COBRA rugby club. Following this a squad will be selected and they will then go on to represent RGC in Regional Age Grade (RAG) games from which the Wales training squad will be selected.
From a staffing perspective our Lead S&C Coach, Will Cusack, recently moved to Leicester Tigers and everyone wishes him the best of luck in his new role. However, I’m sure we have replaced him with another talented individual in the form of Shawn Howard, who has joined us from the NFL Academy and had previously been with Cardiff Rugby.
Hopefully, you will have already seen that season tickets are available priced at £99 adult or £79 concession with u16 free of charge and also includes a loyalty card which a 10% discount in the fanzone, food kiosk and at the merchandise unit on matchdays. Other partner offers will also be added to the loyalty cards as the season progresses. These will be available right up until kick-off on 10th September and come with a guaranteed 12 league and cup games.
I was delighted that we were able to announce a new Principal Partner with the introduction of Oil 4 Wales recently. They are a family run business with a heartfelt passion for rugby and really want to make a difference in our region. In addition, we have extended our agreements with a number of other partners including Cartrefi Conwy, Coleg Llandrillo, Bamber Homes, St David’s College, Llandudno Pier, Aber Falls, Bangor University, Adventure Parc Snowdonia and Wrexham Lager to name just a few.
Conwy County Borough Council continue to be a key partner and you may have seen that an application has been submitted via the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) bid. The proposal includes the construction of a new South Stand with:
•Hospitality, community spaces, changing rooms, medical room, media and meeting rooms;
•Enhancements to the existing North Stand with the removal of one hospitality suite to provide toilet facilities and general upgrade of the stand;
•Moving the TV gantry to the North Stand to feature the South Stand and enhance TV exposure;
•Installation of a 3g pitch
The changes will make a massive difference to RGC and its long-term aspirations as well as the community the stadium serves. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
As costs continue to increase it is important that we are able to consistently bring in new partners and extend relations with others in order to maintain the level of service to you, our supporters, and also to our players. It also means that we are able to keep matchday prices down and offer incentives such as the loyalty card scheme.
As a collective, we are constantly striving to improve what we do in the best interests of those from across north Wales. I hope that those efforts will eventually lead to a sustainable region able to compete at the top tier of the game.
Finally, if you know someone that hasn’t been to a game before or hasn’t been for a while then bring them along as I’m sure they’ll enjoy the rugby on display before them. Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to meeting many of you throughout the course of the season.
Diolch,
Alun
Newyddion Diweddara y Rheolwr Cyffredinol
I fi mae’n teimlo fel noswyl Nadolig…mae’r tymor 2022/23 ar fin dechrau ac dwi methu aros am hyn. Rydw i yn meddwl bod ni mewn sefyllfa well na flwyddyn diwethaf ac mae hynny’n edrych yn dda pan chi’n ystyru safon ein gwrthwynebwyr a sut wnaeth y natur ansefydlog tymor diwethaf effeithio ar ein canlyniadau
Mae bron a bod 10 mlynedd ers ein gêm cynghrair cyntaf i ffwrdd i Gilfach Goch yn Adran 1 Dwyrian ac rwyn siwr bod nifer o ohonoch chi yn dweud “Roeddwn i yna”. Ar rhan pawb sy wedi bod yn rhan o Rygbi Gogledd Cymru dros y degawd diwethaf, hoffwn diolch i chi am eich chefnogaeth brwdfrydig a ffyddlon ers y dyddiau cynnar. Rydyn ni yn bwriadu cynnal nifer o ddigwyddiadau i ddathlu ein degfed penblwydd ac mae grŵp o gyn-chwaraewyr wedi eu penodi i awgrymu unrhyw syniadau. Os oes gennych chi unrhyw syniadau yna anfonwch nhw i rgccommercial@wru.wales
Ar gyfer ein degfed penblwydd rydyn ni wedi creu cit chwarae arbennig i ddathlu’r achlysur ac mae’r cit newydd wedi cael derbyniad da. Cyn bo hir bydden ni yn rhyddhau manylion ar sut gallwch archebu y cit a marchnadaeth eraill ar yr un thema.
Hefyd, cadwch llygad barcud am gip olwg o ein ail cit a gafodd ei cynllunio gan ennillydd ein cystadleuaeth ysgolion o fewn y rhanbarth.
Rwyn siwr fydd llawer ohonoch moyn gwybod pa chwaraewyr sy wedi gadael ac ymuno a’r carfan, felly isod yw’r rhestr o’r chwaraewyr hynny.
Gadael
Andrew Williams – ymddeol
Danny Evans – symud i ffwrdd
Harri Evans – ymddeol
Rhys Williams – cymrud seibiant er mwyn sefydlu busnes newydd
Tom Hughes – ymddeol
Will Sanderson – wedi ymuno a Clwb Rygbi Caldy
Zach Clow – wedi ymuno a Clwb Rygbi Albanwyr Llundain
Ymuno
Billy McQueeney (ail rheng) – wedi arwyddo yn parhaol
Brodie Coghlan (bachwr) – ar fenthyg o’r Dreigiau
Cam Davies (mewnwr) – wedi arwyddo yn parhaol
Delwyn Jones (canolwr/asgellwr) – wedi arwyddo o Glwb Rygbi Llandudno
Ethan Fackrell (rheng ôl) – wedi arwyddo o Rygbi Caerdydd
Dyrchafiad o’r carfan dan 18
Osian Evans (ail rheng/rheng ôl)
Paddy Nelson (prop pen tyn)
Tal Taylor (rheng ôl)
Gareth Parry (prop pen rhydd)
Elis Evans (ail rheng/rheng ôl)
Hefyd, gobeithiwn fydd ein prop pen rhydd/bachwr, Jordan Liney, a wnaeth ymuno ni ar ddechrau tymor diwethaf, ar gael i chwarae ym mis Hydref/Tachwedd ar ôl derbyn anaf difrifol i’w pen-glin flwyddyn yn ôl ar ddechrau y tymor, ac o ganlyniad colli gweddill y tymor.
Falle fydd chwaraewyr eraill yn ymuno a ni, ond dim ond os gallen nhw ychwanegu rhywbeth i’r garfan rydyn ni yn meddwl sy’n gryf iawn yn barod.
Rydw i yn falch iawn i ddweud bod dros 90% o ein garfan yn dod o fewn y rhanbarth ac mae bron i gyd o nhw wedi dod trwy rhaglen Rygbi Gogledd Cymru. Mae hyn yn parhau i ddatblygu ac rwyn siwr cawn ni weld mwy o chwaraewyr rhyngwladol yn cael ei ddatblygu yn y dyfodol agos
Rydyn ni yn wrth ein moddau ennillodd pedwar o ein chwarewyr o’r tîm dan 18 fenywod cap i Gymru ac gobeithiwn fydd yr un peth yn digwydd eleni wrth i chwaraewyr o ar draws y rhanbarth yn cael eu gwahodd i ganolfannau sgiliau yn Eirias a Clwb Rygbi COBRA. Yn dilyn hyn, fydd carfan yn cael ei ddewis ac fe fydd y carfan hyn yn cynrychioli Rygbi Gogledd Cymru mewn gêmau Gradd Oedran Rhanbarthol ac o’r gêmau hynny fydd carfan hyfforddi Cymru yn cael ei dewis
Yn ddiweddar wnaeth ein Hyfforddwr Arweiniol Cryfder a Chyflyru, Will Cusack ymadael ni a ymuno a Teigrod Caerlŷr ac mae pawb yn dymuno pôb lwc i Will yn ei rôl newydd. Food bynnag, rwyn siwr rydyn ni wedi penodi unigolyn talentog arall i gymrud lle Will, sef Shawn Howard sy’n ymuno a ni o Academi NFL ac yn gynt o Rygbi Caerdydd.
Mae tocynnau tymor nawr ar gael, £99 am oedolyn, consesiwn £79, gyda dan 16 yn cael mynedfa yn rhad ac am ddim. Mae’r tocynnau tymor hefyd yn cynnwys cerdyn teyrngarwch gyda gostyngiad o 10% yn y Fanzone, Bwth Bwyd ac ar y stondin marchnadaeth ar ddydd y gêm. Bydd na cynigion eraill yn cael eu ychwanegu i’r cardiau teyrngarwch wrth i’r tymor parhau. Fe fydd y tocynnu tymor ar gael hyd at y cic gyntaf ar 10fed o Fedi ac mae’r tocynnau tymor yn sicrhau 12 gêmau cynghrair a cwpan
Roeddwn i yn wrth fy modd i gyhoeddi Olew Dros Gymru fel Prif Bartner. Mae nhw yn busnes teuluol gyda angerdd galonog am rygbi ac mae nhw moyn gwneud gwahaniaeth yn ein rhanbarth. Hefyd, rydyn ni wedi parhau ein cytundebau gyda partneriaid eraill gan gynnwys Cartrefi Conwy, Coleg Llandrillo, Bamber Homes, St David’s College, Llandudno Pier, Aber Falls, Prifysgol Bangor, Adventure Parc Snowdonia a Wrexham Lager.
Mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy yn parhau i fod yn partner allweddol ac falle bod chi wedi gweld bod cais wedi gyflwyno drwy’r Cronfa Codi’r Gwastad. Mae’r cynnig yn cynnwys adeiladu Eisteddle De newydd gyda:
•Lletygarwch, mannau cymunedol, ystafelloedd newid, ystefelloedd meddygol ac ystafelloedd cyfarfod
•Gwelliannau i’r Eisteddle Gogledd gan gynnwys cael gwared o focs lletygarwch i ddarparu cyfleusterau toiled
•Symud gantry y teledu i’r Eisteddle Gogledd i nodweddi’r Eisteddle De ac i wella amlygiad teledu
•Gosod maes 3g
Fydd y newidiadau yn gwneud gwhaniaeth mawr i Rygbi Gogledd Cymru a’i dyheadau tymor hir, ac hefyd i’r cymuned mae’r stadiwim yn gwasanaethu. Bydd rhagor o wybodaeth yn cael ei rhoi pan fydd e ar gael.
Wrth i gostau cynhyddu mae’n bwysig bod ni gallu gweithio gyda partneriaid newydd yn gyson a ehangu perthnasau gyda rhai eraill i gynnal lefel y gwasanaeth rydyn ni yn rhoi i chi ein cefnogwyr ac i ein chwaraewyr. Mae hefyd yn meddwl gallwn ni cadw y prisaiu ar ddydd y gêm yn isel ac hefyd cynnig cymhellion fel cerdyn teyrngarwch
Fel cyfun rydym yn ymdrechu’n barhaus i wella yr hyn a wnawn ni er lles pennaf y rheini o ogledd Cymru. Rwyn gobeithio bydd yr ymdrechion hynny yn arwain yn y pen draw i ranbrath cynaliadwy gyda’r gallu i gystadlu ar haen uchaf y gêm
Yn olaf, os ydych chi yn adnabod rhywun sy heb ddod i gêm o blaen, neu sy heb dod am amser hir, yna dewch a nhw gyda chi achos rwyn siwr bydd nhw yn mwynhau y rygbi sy o flaen nhw. Diolch am eich cefnogaeth parhad ac edrychwn ymlaen i gwrdd a nifer ohonoch yn ystod y tymor.
31 Aug 2022
