Pre-season is the opportunity to work on the little things, as during the season it is Saturday to Saturday, and focusing on improving as a team.

In the pre-season we can isolate players, and work on individuals and the development of each player.

Like the supporters, we are keen to get to the start of the season and see if we have managed to bring it all together and be cohesive on the pitch.

We have focused on some key areas, such as discipline. Looking at the stats from last season, we gave away some soft penalties, which were unforced - such as going forward in the scrum. That could be down to the bind, or losing footing, so we have worked with the props on conditioning and, to a man, they are in a better place than last season, and our set piece will hopefully benefit from their efforts.

In the backs, we have a number of new partnerships, so it has been about building the relationships in the backline.

From my perspective, I have had the 2 years of ring-fencing, which has given us the chance to build the foundations for the brand of rugby we want to play, and we now take it on this season.

It will be interesting to see if other teams do the same this season, or rip up the coaching manual and do whatever it takes to stay in the Principality Premiership.

We are lucky to have the facilities at Eirias with the indoor barn gym, but getting out and playing at Ruthin today is something that we will benefit from. The boys will have played rugby at Denbigh, Nant, Wrexham and across the region, and I think it is something we should do more of in the future, if we are given the opportunity.

As always, thanks for your support and enjoy the game.

Diolch

I first met Bill, as we all at RGC knew him, when our 2 sons played together in the North Wales Under 17 team. More by chance than anything, we ended up as the Management Team, firstly for the RGC Under 18 Team in the Regional Age Grade Championship, and then the RGC Senior Team, as it made its first tentative steps in the WRU League Pyramid system. In all the time that we worked together we were never to exchange a cross word, something which I think says more about Bill's qualities of tolerance and good-humour than it does about me, and it was the latter that helped make many a long coach journey back from South Wales appear much shorter than it actually was. 

Those early days in the Leagues weren't straightforward, but Bill never batted an eyelid at whatever was thrown at us, on and off the field, always full of encouragement for both players and coaches alike, never seeking the limelight, but always doing whatever was needed to keep the show on the road. Even after leaving RGC he followed closely the progress made by the team, and was as thrilled as anyone when promotion to the Premiership was finally achieved. 

Typical of the man, he fought his cancer bravely and without any hint of self-pity. I think I can speak for all of us who were lucky enough to know him at RGC when I say that we are all the better for that experience, and all the worse for his passing on. The Bill Parrys of this world are few and far between. Our thoughts are with his widow, Mags, and children, Tom, Huw, Megan and Gareth.    

Will Morecombe                   

Coach Dave Roberts: “After the success of last season, we are delighted to announce our squad for this season. It is a big ask to come together and train for a short period of time and then play all games in quick succession, but it is a challenge that the girls are relishing. The attitude and effort in training have been fantastic, and it is a pleasure to welcome a number of new faces to the squad this season.”

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The Island has a population of 600,000.

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