After witnessing the first 20 minutes of the game it was looking like a comfortable afternoon for RGC, as they

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1 Dai Davies, Chairman NWRU, pictured right, welcoming Rupert Moon to North Wales any game and soon after the bonus point try came with Afon Bagshaw dashing down the line after some great set up play by Harri Evans. RGC sent the Eirias crowd home with an early Christmas present with their best performance of the season against a tough Bargoed side. The Gogs defended with grit and determination for the opening 20 minutes of the second half including part of it with 14 men after skipper Kelvin Davies was yellow carded but after soaking up the attacks they broke with a superb Afon Bagshaw run from his own line to offload at the timely moment passing to Tom Blackwell to race in. It was a try worthy of winning After witnessing the first 20 minutes of the game it was looking like a comfortable afternoon for RGC, as they were going through the phase play and building from the pack driving Bargoed back time and time again. Mike Jones scored the opening try and with a conversion and penalty from Lewis Barker RGC raced to a 10 Nil lead. Scrum half Josh Leach was involved in a lot of the good things in the RGC attack, and looked like he was relishing the physical challenge and it wasn t a surprise WRU set to host the first North Wales IOG course Clubs in North Wales have been given the opportunity to attend a IOG Course in basic ground maintenance funded by the WRU Recruitment Grant. The course which is scheduled to take place on Sunday 12th January 2014 at Colwyn Bay RFC will be hosted by Len Smith, a leader in the field of grounds maintenance following a long career with working with cricket, football and rugby clubs in both Wales and England. Since giving the opportunity to clubs to send up to 4 volunteers on the course, the WRU has received a fantastic response. At the time of writing, the course is at full capacity. One of those clubs taking advantage of the opportunity is Rygbi Gogledd Cymru. We re always looking for opportunities to train our volunteers commented Rupert Moon, General Manager for the North Wales Development Region. This is a great opportunity for us to provide training for the less visible roles of grounds maintenance whilst also showing our commitment to these important volunteers. The WRU are constantly looking for opportunities to provide volunteer training courses. Clubs interested in future IOG courses are encouraged to Claire Thomas, Club Operations Advisors Volunteer Support & Recruitment, to register their interest. Finally, any club who has any queries or initiaives around volunteer support or recruitment are encouraged to contact Claire via cthomas@wru.co.uk. that he got the 2nd try with a typical scrum half touchdown from the scrum. The game and the referees whistle began to turn against RGC as the visitors got into the game after 25 minutes. The spent most of the remaining tine off the half camped in the Gogs line, with scrum after scrum testing them. The try did come after one of the scrums to make at 10-7 at half time. Gaf i fel Cadeirydd Cyngor Rygbi Gogledd Cymru ag ar ran y Pwyllgor ddymuno Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Heddychol a iach i chi i gyd. Diolch o galon am eich cefnogaeth yn ystod 2013, edrychwn i gyd ymlaen am 2014 lwyddianus a chael digon o fwynhad allan o r gem. Cofion Gorau, Dai Davies With that big second half defence and some great line breaks from Afon Bagshaw and Harri Evans the RGC players knew they had been in a physical encounter and put a marker down for the remaining games of the season. As Chairman of North Wales Rugby Council and on behalf of the Executive Committee can I wish you all a Happy Xmas and a Peaceful and Healthy New Year. Thank you all so very much for your support during 2013, and we all look forward to an enjoyable and successful Dai.

2 Games to be played on 11th January - kick off 2pm Caernarfon v Denbigh Nant Conwy v Newcastle Emlyn Whitland v Kidwelly Felinfoel v Llangennech Cwmllynfell v Waunarlwydd Amman Utd v Loughor Glynneath v Taibach Kenfig Hill v Trebanos Maesteg Quins v Llantristant Llantwit Fardre v Heol y Cyw Ystrad Rhondda v Merthyr Glamorgan Wanderers v Builth Senghenydd v Rhiwbina Nelson v Rumney Abergavenny v Garndiffaith Risca v Talywain It is our intention at the end of this season to have a re-union function and, also, to establish some form of a Roll of Honour. YN GALW CYN CHWARAEWYR RYGBI TÎM HŶN GOGLEDD CYMRU CALLING ALL PLAYERS WHO HAVE, OVER THE PAST DECADES, PLAYED FOR THE NORTH WALES RUGBY SENIOR TEAM IF you played in the past, or know of anyone who played for the North Wales Rugby Senior team, we d like to hear from you. We re conscious that Kenton Morgan of Ruthin RFC compiled, a few years ago, a database of past players but, unfortunately, his laptop was stolen- and with it disappeared the contact details of some 500 players. So here goes again!! It is our intention at the end of this season to have a re-union function and, also, to establish some form of a Roll of Honour. We see these events as the initial activities in what, we hope, will be an on going series of events in order to ensure that the rich history of North Wales Senior Rugby is not allowed to disappear. It is imperative that the history of a region which played against international touring countries and also won the Wales Inter Counties Cup on a number of occasions should be recorded and celebrated. Thus, if you have played on one or more occasions for the North Wales Senior team, please would you forward the details below to RGC@wru.co.uk Games to be played on 11th January - kick off 2pm Mold v Shotton Steel Llandudno v Menai Bridge St Clears v Lampeter Tregaron v Laugharne Burry Port v Cwmgors Ystrydgynlais v Abercrave Pyle v Bridgend Sports Cowbridge v Nantyfyllon Nantymoel v Treherbert Llantwit Major v Glyncoch Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd v Llandaff Taff s Well v Old Illtydians Abertysswg Falcons v Nantyglo Oakdale v Hartridge Beaufort v Caerleon Ynysddu v Tredegar Ironsides The RGC v Barfgoed pictures in this issue kindly supplied by Alan Skeates We look forward to hearing from you Rupert Moon and all at RGC and NWRC ENW/NAME CLWB/CLUB CYFNOD CHWARAE I OGLEDD CYMRU/ PLAYING ERA FOR N WALES CYFEIRIAD/ADDRESS CYFEIRIAD Ebost/ ADDRESS If you re looking for somewhere to get some fresh air after the Christmas Day festivities, you don t need to look any further than Menai Bridge as their Under 30 s take on the Over 30 s. Kick off is at 2pm

3 The sessions will follow a holistic approach to player development and focus on Nutrition, conditioning, self-assessment and profiling, individual skills and team play. I would like to invite all U14s players within the North East to attend a 14 week series of development sessions following the WRU national guidelines. The sessions will follow a holistic approach to player development and focus on Nutrition, conditioning, self-assessment and profiling, individual skills and team play. The sessions begin on Wednesday February 19th between 6:00pm and 7:00pm at the Barn in Eirias Park. The programme is free of charge. Please remember this opportunity is open to all U14s within the North East. To book onto the program and for further details please click here If you have any further questions please contact me directly at jferrari@wru.co.uk Kind regards Julian Ferrari Welsh Rugby Union Player Development Officer RGC East Mob.Tel: jferrari@wru.co.uk Wales Women s head coach Rhys Edwards has named six uncapped players in an exciting squad for the 2014 Six Nations championship. Blues second row Jade Newman is the only new face among the forwards while Edwards has turned to youth in the backline with teenagers Hannah Jones (Ospreys), Eli Norkett (Ospreys) and Robyn Wilkins (Blues) being handed their big chance alongside speedsters Ffion Bowen (Ospreys) and Laurie Harries (Blues). There is also a welcome return for Scarlets full back Mared Evans who missed last season due to injury. We ve chosen the squad on form at both club and regional level, explained Edwards. It might be considered that we are gambling with two or three of them but all those who have been selected are picked on merit because of their form, attitude and commitment, he added. Jones and Norkett are just 17 while Wilkins is only a year older but Edwards has no qualms about throwing them in at the deep end. It s all about giving some of the promising players experience at the top level. As an example Robyn is the most promising player in her age group and she can play at either 10 or 12 so that gives us extra options. We want to put her in a big game environment during the Six Nations as we also look ahead to the World Cup as well. The recently completed Women s Regional Championship has also unearthed some hidden gems according to Edwards. Who said rugby was a serious game? Another great picture from Mike Wood of Shotton Steel RFC. This picture was taken during the Shotton v Welshpool Swalec Bowl tie last week. We didn t even know Ffion Bowen three weeks ago but she has proved in a relatively short space of time she can finish - and finish well on the wing. She is a young and exciting prospect and a player we hope to nurture through the Six Nations. Wales Women s Six Nations Squad 2014 Forwards Megan York (Blaenau/Gwent Dragons) Caryl Thomas (Bath Ladies/Dragons) Catrin Edwards (Bristol Ladies/Scarlets) Jenny Davies (Waterloo/Blues) Lowri Harries (Neath Athletic/Scarlets) Carys Phillips (Neath Athletic/Ospreys) Nia Davies (Cardiff Met/Blues) *Jade Newman (Llandaff North/Blues) Catrina Nicholas (Llandaff North/Blues) Sian Williams (Worcester/Dragons) Sioned Harries (Llandaff North/Scarlets) Rachel Taylor (Bristol Ladies/Dragons) Shona Powell-Hughes (Neath Athletic/Ospreys) Backs Sian Moore (Bristol Ladies/Ospreys) Amy Day (Llandaff North/Dragons) Laura Prosser (Pontyclun/Blues) Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Ladies/Dragons) *Hannah Jones (Neath Athletic/Ospreys) *Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North/Blues) Rebecca de Fillippo (Bristol Ladies/Dragons) Elen Evans (Waterloo/Scarlets) Philippa Tuttiett (Llandaff North/Blues) *Elli Norkett (Neath Athletic/Ospreys) *Ffion Bowen (Maesteg Celtic/Ospreys) *Laurie Harries (Llandaff North/Blues) Dyddgu Hywel (Bristol Ladies/Scarlets) Mared Evans (Llandaff North/Scarlets) *Uncapped

4 Gatland extends Wales contract until 2019 renegotiation which was workable, meaningful and ambitious in terms of our expectations. I have great respect for Warren and I know how he lives and breathes rugby and is totally devoted to achieving success for a nation he now calls home from home. He makes a lot of sacrifices to ensure he knows everything there is to know about the talent available to him and the other selectors and we can rest assured that the future of the Welsh team will now remain in safe hands. The Welsh Rugby Union is pleased to announce that Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland is to remain in post for an extra four years until after the conclusion of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. This is the second extension of the contract between the WRU and the New Zealander who was originally appointed as Head Coach of Wales in That initial contract covering 2007 until 2011 was extended in 2010 until after the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Today s further renewal will ensure Gatland will be the first coach to take Wales to three World Cup competitions. The announcement is being made as Warren Gatland is celebrating his success in receiving a clutch of major accolades about his world class prowess as a Head Coach. On Sunday he was made the BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year just a week after being named the Wales Sport Awards Coach of the Year while days before that he was named UK Coach of the Year at the Sports Coach UK national Awards. Warren Gatland will now continue to coach the senior Wales squad for the next six years working alongside the WRU Performance and Development teams to ensure a robust player succession plan continues to identify and nurture the international stars of the future. have ensured that the systems now in place will continue to develop for the future of the international game in Wales. The announcement has been timed to ensure the Wales coach can focus completely on preparing his squads for the intense international fixture schedule which lies ahead of RWC 2015 and the planning through to It is so important that we achieve continuity at the highest level which is why we have negotiated our Wales international touring fixture schedule right through until It also ensures long term continuity at the highest level of the game in Wales to build on Warren Gatland s six years experience at the helm of the Welsh international game. WRU Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, declared: I am pleased and honoured to be able to announce that Warren Gatland will remain Head Coach of Wales until after the Rugby World Cup in He has undoubtedly proved that he has the rugby expertise, the passion and the commitment to prepare and inspire our teams to play with the utmost skill and pride for the jersey. We now have a meticulous and professional coaching structure in place which Warren must take credit for creating. By signing him for a further four years we The contract we have negotiated contains a significant element which is based on success and we are all working towards the same goal. The continuity of excellence is a supremely important factor in the preparation and development of elite, international sports teams in this day and age. Of course we considered all the scenarios available, but it became increasingly and abundantly clear that the best option for Wales is Warren Gatland. The process which led to this moment began in earnest more than a year ago and it has taken an incredible amount of hard work and negotiation to make sure we got this right for Wales and for Warren. We operate in an extremely hard nosed environment and there was never any doubt that we had to achieve a In recent years we have created one of the best elite training facilities in the world at the WRU National Centre of Excellence with some of the finest strength, conditioning and medical experts in the game. We will never stop developing and improving our systems and structures and I know Warren will continue to play a central part in that process over the years ahead. My respect for Warren s ability as a coach is unquestioned and over the years of getting to know him I have come to look upon him as a genuine and honourable man who I am proud to count as a friend. He has put in place a coaching and backroom structure which is seen as a template for the future and his continued control of its development is a massive bonus for Wales. The Wales team is now renowned worldwide for its compelling and engaging rugby with all opponents fully aware that Wales pose a potent threat in any game. During the RBS 6 Nations tournament Warren Gatland will become the longest serving coach of Wales. His first new challenge after this announcement will be the RBS 6 Nations tournament which kicks off against Italy at the Millennium Stadium on the first of February Warren Gatland said: I am proud and delighted to have been chosen by the Welsh Rugby Union to take charge of Wales teams for the next two Rugby World Cup tournaments. I have chosen to stay in Wales because of my confidence in the players we have, the coaching structures we have developed and the succession plan of talent we now constantly update. I know the other major rugby nations take us seriously as opponents who can play excellent rugby and that inspires me to take this group of players even further. There is an incredible amount of hard work ahead but, with the backing of the Welsh Rugby Union, the national squad now has the means to deliver what the Welsh public want. We have strong support systems, the international player pathway structure and the WRU National Centre of Excellence is a fantastic facility. Our best players now get developed within a totally professional structure and the backroom team we have in place boasts some of the best people around in their areas of expertise. I want to personally thank the WRU and the Welsh rugby public for the fantastic support the national squad enjoys and I aim to return the compliment by devoting all my professional energy to the success of our national team in the years ahead. I am looking forward to the challenge and I am extremely proud of the honour I have in taking Wales into the next two Rugby World Cups. Lewis and Gatland furthered their negotiations for a contract extension while they were both in Australia for the British and Irish Lions tour last summer and today the contract extension was unanimously agreed by the full board of the WRU. WRU Chairman, David Pickering, added: Throughout a formidable coaching career Warren Gatland has achieved the stature which we want and expect every coach of Wales to possess. He has made a huge and positive difference to the Wales team throughout his tenure so far and we know he will endeavour to build on that improvement in the years ahead. I know Warren as a clear and concise student of the game who constantly seeks to be innovative and forward looking in his approach. He operates in one of the toughest sporting environment and has the strength of will to accept and relish the challenge to meet the high standards the Welsh rugby public demands. Welsh rugby is fit for purpose both on and off the field to meet the challenges which lie ahead and I am delighted we have been able to secure the services of Warren Gatland to help us achieve our ambitions. This report first appeared on the WRU web-site at

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6 George North wants to play for Wales whenever possible In the week where his club were find 60,000, the star winger reinforces his desire to play for his country George North intends to continue playing in every Test he can for Wales despite his appearance against Australia last month landing his club Northampton with a 60,000 fine. Northampton were handed the hefty punishment from Premiership Rugby on Wednesday after allowing North to feature in Wales defeat to the Wallabies on November 30 an appearance that took place outside the International Rugby Board s international window. Premiership clubs have an agreement that only England players can be released for matches or training camps outside the IRB window. However, wing North ensured he would be available for all Wales fixtures when he negotiated his move from the Scarlets to Franklin s Gardens in the summer, and the 21-year-old is determined to represent his country at every opportunity. North said before the Premiership Rugby decision was released: Whenever I get the chance to pull the jersey on it is a massive honour and if they say, George, we want you to play, then obviously I m going to play. Thank goodness the Saints are so understanding with me and allow me to pursue my international career. I have the utmost respect for the club and I back them 100 per cent for giving me this opportunity to pursue my Welsh career but also to play top rugby week to week. I came to the club because I wanted to improve myself as a player and I ve enjoyed every second of it. RGC celebrating the win against Bargoed at the final whistle

7 New RGC assistant coach Josh Leach insists the North Wales outfit must continue to climb the league pyramid structure or risk losing their brightest players to bigger clubs in the south. RGC are currently sitting in third place in the Championship the second tier of the Welsh domestic system after a bright opening to the campaign following promotion from Division One East last term as champions. And what is even more impressive for the North Wales outfit is the fact that they are only midway through their second campaign in competitive rugby union. However, despite the giant strides the region has taken in such a short space of time, Leach believes it is vital they continue to move forward and challenge their players. Scrum-half Leach was appointed player-assistant coach to RGC chief Chris Horsman following the departure of Damian McGrath, the head of rugby taking a role with the RFU and the England Sevens set up. Already Leach, who is also director of rugby at Coleg Llandrillo, has set big targets for the side, and feels blessed to be in such a trusted position at the tender age of just 25. A career in professional coaching is definitely what I am looking for, said the number nine. I was fortunate to get in early, while still playing at the age of 21, and that has put in a good position. And being up here with RGC has also put me in an accelerated position and given me the chance that I wouldn t have had with the other regions. I definitely wouldn t get the opportunity to coach a Championship side if I was down there in South Wales, and that speaks volumes for what is happening at RGC in terms of being a development region. It gives players and also coaches the opportunity to step up and develop themselves in a competitive environment. Leach will fill the void left by McGrath s departure while also featuring as a player. He is not coming in blind and has a great knowledge of a number of the youngsters within the set up having previously coached them either for Llandrillo or with the age grade sections at Parc Eirias. But I think as long as I can justify what I am putting in place and it works I hope I can earn their respect in many aspects. However, he is relishing the chance to step up and work with the senior set up, but admits he feels he must earn the respect of a number of the older charges. RGC clinched their first home win of the season, getting the better of Newbridge RGC clinched their first home win of the season, getting the better of Newbridge He added: I was asked (to be involved), I ve been working with RGC this is my fourth year. I m 25, so I am a fair bit older than the lads that have come through the academy, but the likes of the captain Kelvin (Davies) and Bryno (Bryn Williams) are just two I m a similar age to a few and a little younger than a few others, and it comes down then more to the technical stuff, that s more my role, and my input. It started out working with Coleg Llandrillo, was involved with the age grade under-16s and worked my way up to be involved with the U18s and then to go on and become the head coach of the U18s last year. And then this year the focus was on Llandrillo college, being in the Welsh colleges league and to do as well as I could with them and to focus on playing as well, but this role came up and Damian and Horse asked me if I would be interested if it came about and they put it to Rupert (Moon) and he agreed for me to take it on. It is a big challenge for myself, it is a big step up to be working with adults, which is something I ve only done once before. It is a challenge in what I want to put in place and I have to be able to back that up and working with some great boys who have got a lot of rugby knowledge themselves, so I know it will be a challenge, but so far so good. It is difficult, a lot of people try to shy away from player-coach roles for that reason (earning players respect). I have known a lot of the boys a long time and they are friends as much as colleagues. I ve coached some of them previously, and I ve played alongside most of them through the age grade. But should Leach find himself needing a helpful and trusted advisor to turn toward, he knows he need look no further than his brother, Pat, who is currently plying his trade with the Newport Gwent Dragons. Pat, a centre, who is formerly a Colwyn Bay player, took time off his own schedule to lend his support to RGC at a recent away match at Tata Steel. I think he was more interested in the football match that was going on behind to be honest, joked the younger of the pair. It was nice, I don t get to see a huge amount of him because he is away playing with the Dragons, but it was good to see him and catch up, and we are still close. And him coming over to show his support for the boys was great because he is someone who moved on before he had the opportunity with RGC, it was never there when he was around and younger. He s a touch older than the likes of Kelvin and Rhodri (Carlton Jones), and he was on his way before RGC really formed. He played in the age grade and with the U23s but soon found his way down south. I think I am just one of the examples of people that have come through the system here. Obviously the likes of Harri (Evans) and Afon (Bagshaw) are starting to shine as players as they work their way through the pathway, and as long as we can keep hold of them for as long as required and then we can watch them flourish if they have to move on. But our role as coaches is to make sure we develop the team in a manner that offers competitive rugby for those players who are excelling. We have got to challenge them to make sure they keep improving and the only way we can do that is by working our way up the leagues. RGC clinched their first home win of the season, getting the better of Newbridge RGC clinched their first home win of the season, getting the better of Newbridge Report by Rob Griffiths, Daily Post and pictures by Tony Bale

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9 A brief history of the Scarlets - reproduced from the Scarlets website - Llanelli is one of the most famous rugby towns in the world. It is the focal point for one of the most passionately supported rugby clubs in the world, the Scarlets - with a rich and unrivalled rugby heritage. Llanelli s first recorded game occurred in 1876 at Peoples Park. The home side played in blue. However, it is thought that the club had been formed a few years earlier. As a result members, players and supporters of Llanelli RFC celebrated the club s centenary in The 1904/05 season was a historic one as it saw the club move to their new pitch at Stradey which is where the Scarlets played until October 2008 when they moved to their new stadium Parc y Scarlets. The first game on this pitch was on 15/10/1904 when Llanelli played Swansea, a game which they lost. The Llanelli Scarlets region was founded in July 2003 from the original Llanelli RFC when Welsh elite rugby was restructured by the WRU; with the Scarlets victorious in their battle to stand-alone where others were merged to create the five which later become four, top flight rugby regions. The Scarlets officially represent the whole of West and North Wales. It s not just famous victories that have given Llanelli such a great rugby tradition - the town and region has produced an almost endless list of talented and world-renowned players. They range from Albert Jenkins in the early 1900s to legends such as Ken Jones, Delme Thomas, Phil Bennett, Derek Quinnell and Ray Gravell. In more recent eras there have been heroes like Ieuan Evans, Jonathan Davies and Scott Quinnell. And today s world-class Scarlets stars include Stephen Jones. The famous Scarlets shirt was worn for the first time in 1884 against an Irish XV who had stopped off in Llanelli having played Wales in Cardiff a few days earlier. It has been worn ever since, giving rise to nickname The Scarlets, which became the region s official name in September 2008 after the Llanelli was dropped from the name in recognition of its wide geography as a rugby region. In total around 178 Wales internationals and 24 British Lions - as well as Lions coaches such as the legendary Carwyn James (New Zealand 1971) - have been bred from Llanelli rugby. Llanelli first came to prominence when they beat an Australian touring side in Since then they have lowered the colours of many international sides, including the mighty All Blacks in 1972 and beating the world champions Australia, 13-9, some 20 years later in November The last ever rugby game at Stradey Park was held on October 24th 2008 against Bristol. A game the Scarlets fitting won Stradey played host to Llanelli RFC and Scarlets matches for nearly 130 years. During this time, it has hosted 2577 matches, winning 2029 drawing 162, losing 385 with 2 matches abandoned, which represents a 79% success rate. Llanelli remained the undisputed cup kings of Wales, lifting the Welsh Cup 12 times in 17 final appearances. In the season they won a Best Team in Britain trophy after achieving the unique treble of winning the league, capturing the cup and beating the Wallabies. Since the onset of professionalism, the Scarlets triumphed as Celtic League champions and as semi-finalists in Europe s premier tournament, the Heineken Cup. They reached the last eight of the Heineken Cup and finished the Celtic League season as champions by four points over Ulster. In 2004/2005, the Scarlets reached the final of the Celtic Cup where they lost to Munster. In the 2005/06 season, the Scarlets were successful in the newly-restructured Powergen Cup. After finishing at the top of their pool, they defeated Bath by one point in the semi-finals, setting up a dream final against Wasps which the Scarlets lost 26 points to 10. In the 2006/07 Heineken Cup, the Scarlets won their first three games of the competition and then recorded one of the most famous victories in their history as a region, defeating Toulouse away despite twice trailing by 21 points. They best Munster at a memorable game at Stradey Park in the quarter-finals but were beaten in the semis by a strong Leicester. In November 2007, Stradey Park hosted the funeral of one of the Scarlets most famous and much-loved sons, Ray Gravell. The Scarlets moved from Stradey Park at the end of November 2008 to their current home, the 23m 15,000 capacity Parc y Scarlets. The historic first game at the new facility was held on the 15th November 2008 and was fittingly between Llanelli RFC v Cardiff RFC, a game which saw Llanelli triumph with a 32-3 win over their rivals, and which will live on in the history books. Rhys Priestland was the first to score at the new ground with his boot, the fly-half scoring 22 points. And rising Wales star centre Jonathan Davies, had the honour of the first try at the stadium. The Scarlets first match at their new home was a Magners League fixture on 28 November against Munster. The Scarlets lost this match Their first Heineken Cup match at Parc y Scarlets was held on 12 December against Ulster which ended in a draw of 16 all. The official opening ceremony was conducted by Wales First Minister, Rhodri Morgan on 31 January 2009 followed by the Scarlets V Barbarians in front of a full house at Parc y Scarlets. The home side secured a convincing victory With such strong rugby roots and some of the most loyal and passionate supporters in world rugby, the Scarlets and Llanelli are a remarkable story of history, success, pride and passion in the world of sport. Pictures above by Alan Skeates shows action from last weekend s RGC U15 Regional Selection games at Parc Eirias. THE OVAL ZONE is published by Gary Williams gwcymru1@aol.com Telephone Many thanks once again to all who have sent in reports, pictures etc for this issue, it is very much appreciated. The fixtures and tables section will be back in the next issue (going to spend the Christmas break checking through them). I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your kind words since the Oval Zone was first published and to wish all readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous and Successful If you would like to view the previous 27 issues of The Oval Zone, they can be found on the North Wales web-site - If you have games over the Christmas period, please don t forget to take your camera and send some pics in for the next issue.

10 MENAI BRIDGE v BANGOR Pictures kindly supplied by Tom Last