By Tom Little.
August 8 2012

versus Tata Steel RFC and Newport RFC. This weekend Friday 10th August and Saturday 11th August sees Coventry Rugby make their annual pilgrimage to South Wales as part of their pre-season fixtures. Not only will it give Phil Maynard Rugby Director and the Coventry coaches a chance tosee many of the new squad in action for the first time, but will also give the squad a chance at team bonding in an away environment.A  Coventry squad in excess of 30 including trialists is expected  to make the journey with the intention of them  all seeing  some sort of action. Both games will consist of three 30 min sessions.

TATA STEEL RFC are the opponents on Friday night kick off 19.15 pm. Founded originally as S.C.O.W.(Steel Company of Wales), there followed a succession of name changes  mirroring the change in ownership of the local steel works at Port Talbot. After S.C.O.W. it was British Steel RFC, then Corus and the present name Tata Steel  RFC. It should be pointed out that no longer does the local steel works sponsor the club, which is now designated a feeder club  for the local professional franchise The Ospreys.

The recent re-organisation of the Welsh League system has seen the semi-professional Premiership League clubs reduced to 12 and the next layer re-designated the Championship, which now includes Tata Steel as they finished up Champions of the Swalec League Division 1 West and thus promoted.

Coventry RFC have never met the Port Talbot side before in any of their previous guises.

NEWPORT RFC are Coventry’s opponents on Saturday 11^th August kick off 2.20 pm at Rodney Parade. Coventry are well known to their opponents as they used to meet on a regular basis before the league system started.  Founded in 1874 the same year as Coventry they have played each other 54 times with 2 draws and Newport winning 40 and Coventry 12. They have met 5 times since 1991 with only one victory by Coventry in 1994. Newport RFC are members of the semi-professional Welsh Premiership which has just been reduced to 12 clubs finishing 11^th last season. With no promotion to any of the regional sides Newport RFC are closely associated with the regional franchise Newport Gwent Dragons, who also play at Rodney Parade as well as their Academy.

Another close encounter is expected as Coventry Rugby will look to put a marker down for the forthcoming  National League  1 season.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

8^th August 2012

Coventry Rugby match previews w/e 10th/11th August...

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 08/08/2012 11:50

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
08/08/2012 11:50

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Cov Schools
08/08/2012 22:46

I would be very surprised if any 'markers' were on the coach at all, Tom. These matches, as you pointed out in another place, are to shake out some contact time, to see who is where at this stage of pre-season, who needs some catch-up fitness work, see if any pairings/unit groupings show, to enhance fitness, and to 'bond'. If, over the course of the weekend, some tries are scored and the team numerically wins, then that will be, hopefully, another positive from the weekend.

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