There are some intriguing gaps and battles at both the top and bottom of the Principality Premiership, but there are also some interesting clashes in the guts of the league, with teams fighting for the all-important top six positions, which are going to be crucial ground to claim ahead of next season’s reduced 12-team league.

 Today we welcome Aberavon RFC to Stadiwm Zip World for a match that presents an opportunity for RGC to close the gap on teams like Aberavon RFC and Swansea RFC, who both sit ahead of RGC currently. A couple of wins and some results going the way of RGC could see the North Wales side move up a couple of positions, placing them in the top six and wrapping up a reasonably good season for the North Walian side.

The 2018/19 season has been a very challenging season for RGC; there have been a number of key injuries throughout the squad, and our depth has certainly been tested. There have been weeks when we have even struggled to pencil in a 23-man squad, but to be fair to this team, not once have we not turned up and fulfilled a fixture. 

This is testament to the character of the squad and coaching staff; both committed to bringing the North Wales rugby values to life each and every day. OK, the results may not have gone the way we would have wished at times, and yes, we could have won a number of games that we dominated and had control of…but we’re still heading in the direction of that top six position, so things haven’t been all that bad this season.

The challenges have tested our resilience, which has been excellent, and the pressures applied to our resources has also meant that future North Wales talent has had to step up and take up the gauntlet. Young players from our developing Academy have put their hand up this season, and I’m confident that some of these will play an integral part in the next phase of the North Wales rugby journey…so it’s not all bad. 

We should start to look at gaps as opportunities; over the years North Wales rugby has faced a number of gaps, but we have always united and worked hard to close them.

Hopefully, we will close one or two more gaps and maybe open up a few of our own today!

Thank you all for your continued support.

Enjoy the match.

Diolch

Will Morecombe

As both a keen cricketer and someone who doesn't really want a fuss made about the fact that he now has played 100 times for RGC Josh, would probably want the above headline above an article about his prowess with a bat, rather than one marking what is quite a considerable achievement. An achievement made all the more remarkable, when one considers that, as well as training and playing with the Senior Team, he also has to find time for his full-time job as RGC Academy Manager, in addition to being Head Coach for the RGC Under 18s and being father, with all that demands, to an energetic 1-year-old. 

The fact that he has made such a success of all of these roles is testament to his organisational and time-keeping skills.

His versatility similarly stretches to the rugby field where, during his RGC career, he has started at scrum-half, flanker and centre at varying times, and while he might not be as quick as he once was, anyone who has watched him play recently can testify to the fact that he still hits as hard as he ever did.

Josh has certainly come a long way since his RGC journey began, when he was appointed as the Skills Coach at Llandrillo College, but I think all who know him would agree that, while he might not have as much hair as he did when he first started, he is still the same Josh, and RGC is all the better for that.

Colwyn Bay RFC

It’s not often you get to applaud the progress of an old team-mate, but Josh deserves the praise of his club and old team-mates. An abrasive and physical player who gives everything to the team, whether it’s for the Bay in division one, fifteen years ago, or again for the Bay mid-table in division two, or pulling on the oxblood jersey of RGC, Josh leaves it all on the pitch; this is why he’s reached this milestone. Well done Josh. From all at the Bay.

Rachel Taylor – Colwyn Bay Coach 

It’s fantastic to see Josh reach his 100th appearance for RGC. He is a real ambassador for RGC. All at Colwyn Bay RFC wish him all the best. 

Former RGC Scrum-half Alex Schwarz  

Huge congratulations to Josh on reaching the 100 games for RGC. When you consider he’s done that playing scrum half, centre and in the back row, it speaks volumes about what an intelligent rugby player he is. On top of that he’s a fantastic coach and, on a personal level, helped me develop as a player throughout my time at RGC.