Steffan Phillips Departs Carmarthen Quins
1st XV welcome Bridgend to Carmarthen Park
Carmarthen Quins welcome Bridgend Ravens to Carmarthen Park tomorrow afternoon. Heading into the fixture, both teams sit on 6 points at the bottom of the Indigo Group Premiership.
The Quins have suffered a number of injuries during the season, which has led to a lack of continuity throughout the match day squads. It’s been a difficult first half to the season but what better way to to kick off 2023 with an all important win on Saturday.
As always, the players thank you for continued support and hope to see you down the park, tomorrow.
Team News;
Newnian, Myhill and Connor Allen make up the front row. Ryan Bean and Josh Helps start in the boiler house. A strong back row includes Scarlets academy product Caleb Salmon, Gethin Davies and powerhouse Lewys Millin. Scarlets product Archie Hughes provides service to Jac Wilson who retains the 10 jersey after a strong performance against Llandovery. The forever reliable Josh Batcup partners recent signing Ryan Davies. Daf Waters, Dylan Richards and Luke Davies make up a young and exciting back three.
The experienced Ben Leung, Richard Bloomfield, Steffan Phillips, Steffan Marshall and Dale Ford are amongst the replacements.
A thank you from the Chairman
Hi everyone I want to say a big thank you to Ken Owens and Archie Hughes, who turned out for us yesterday and showed how the Regional approach can work, when done correctly.
Archie has a bright future and showed signs of his talent across the whole 80 minutes yesterday. He’s definitely one to watch.
Ken Owens is just a class act on and off the pitch. Ken brought all his experience to the park yesterday and I know all the players were lifted by his involvement. Off the pitch he signed programs and posed for pictures for everyone that asked him. The British & Irish Lion, Welsh International and Carmarthen Athletic RFC hooker yesterday confirmed his status as the “Sheriff” of Carmarthen. Thank you Ken
Jeff Davies Chairman CQRFC
All Whites Come to Town
The Famous All Whites head to town this coming Saturday looking for their first league victory but also looking to build on their Cup performance last week against Llanelli.
Both teams like to spread the ball and play rugby which over the years has seen some high scoring and entertaining spectacles. The Quins will be keen to reverse their fortunes and kick start their season following an opening day defeat at home to Llandovery.
The Quins continue to give players opportunities and there are several changes again this week. There will be a familiar name on the team sheet but not for playing in Quins colours but the Quins will see Scarlets, Wales and British Lions Hooker Ken Owens start the game at hooker as he continues his rehabilitation from injury that has seen him away from the rugby field for a long spell.
All at the club wish the whole Quins Squad the very best and hope we can get the show on the road in front of our home fans.
Your Match Day 23 Mighty Quins are:
1st XV Head to Ebbw Vale
Our 1st XV Head to Ebbw Vale today for the first game of the Indigo Premiership Cup that is in a different format this season. There will be group games against Ebbw Vale and RGC before the knockout stages.
Following an opening day defeat in the league at home to Llandovery the Quins are using this fixture as an opportunity to look at some new combinations and some younger players within the squad.
The side will also be missing Haydn Pugh who recently underwent surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle and attach a ligament to the bone. All at the club wish Haydn a speedy recovery.
Your 23 Match Day Mighty Quins for the game are:
Team to Face the Drovers
We are one day away from our first league game of the 2022/2023 season when we host our close friends and Towy Valley neighbours Llandovery.
We played four times against each other last season with us running out winners in a pre season friendly at Church Bank and Llandovery winning the other three encounters. Only one point separated the two of us in the league last year with Llandovery finishing 4th on 31 points and ourselves finishing in 8th on 30 points.
It is always good to have a derby game but even better to kick the season off with. We look forward to welcoming our friends from Llandovery.
Your first Match Day 23 for the 2022/2023 season is:
Excitement Builds as the Quins Prepare
Here we are again heading in to another season, one which we hope is s normal as possible. On the eve of the 2022/2023 season we caught up with a few key club individuals who are fair to say looking forward to the next 9 months like expectant parents.
In a revised season last year we played 11 league games that saw us finish in 8th place on 30pts along with Pontypridd and one point less than Merthyr, RGC and Llandovery so effectively we were not that far off a top 4 finish. In a game of fine margins consistency will be the key for the forthcoming season.
First up we had a quick chat with Team Manager Steff Thomas who is almost part of the Quins furniture now he has been in the role so long, but that tells us how good he is at the role. Steff remarked “Pre-Season has been excellent, numbers and quality at sessions has been really good. The new players have really added to the group and there will be a few break through players this year. The coaches have worked really hard to challenge the boys and have created a good environment. I’m excited ro see where this group can go.”
Next up we spoke with new Head Coach Marc Jones who was enthusiastic and upbeat in his assessment of pre-season and looking ahead to the season proper. ” Pre-season has been really good and the boys have worked extremely hard. Particularly as we have introduced new systems and whilst the coaches have mainly remained the same they now have different roles which has meant the squad having to learn and take on board lots of new information. We have seen glimpses of what we are capable of in pre-season and it will be important that we build on this starting Saturday and continue it through the season”.
We asked Marc what are the objectives and challenges that he sees for the upcoming season. With no hesitation the answers were simple “We are targeting a top 4 finish and with that comes the possibility that we are in with a chance of being crowned champions. Our main challenge is instilling in the squad the belief. The belief that they are good enough to compete and win the games. I have seen first hand that the capability is there we just need to continue to build the belief within the squad.”
Finally, even though he has been at the Quins a short time we asked Mark what does it mean to be part of the Quins. “I had spoken to many people about the Quins and the club is spoken highly of so it was quite an easy decision. I wanted to remain in rugby but I needed the right fit and the Quins were it. There is a great culture within the club, the boys work hard but have their downtime. We recently had a bonding night out in Swindon and the boys behaved impeccably and were stuck together like a real unit, this is the culture we want to maintain and build. I am really excited about the future and looking forward to it immensely.”
Our last catch up was with club Chairman Jeff Davies who gave us his thoughts on the coming weeks and months, “Having watched the squad train it is great to see how the younger players have integrated with a settled squad under the guidance of Marc and the other coaches. We all get excited this time of year every year and we approach the new season with optimism, that is what we do as rugby officials, players, coaches and supporters. We wouldn’t follow our teams if we didn’t.”
“Pre-season was a good opportunity to blow away some cobwebs for the squad and they have had three good workouts. It is a shame that Covid is still about and that scuppered our last game.”
We are in our 13th straight year of Premiership Rugby out of 16 years in total. Having had three years in the Premiership between 2004 and 2006 we gained promotion last time back in 2009 to take our place, where we have remained since. No season gets any easier. Challenges change on and off the field and it is how we as a club can adapt to those challenges that will be the marker of success. At the end of the day we are currently running 11 teams from Under 7’s upwards to the First XV and we want them all to be successful from the enjoyment perspective of the mini teams to enjoyment and cup runs for our junior teams. We are continuing to foster the one club ethos across the board and this will be a focus for the club this season.”
“All I want from this season as Chairman is for the boys in the First XV to go out and give their all to the best of their ability and if they do that as they always do then there can be no complaints. It is better to die trying than it is to die wondering.”
“I am looking forward to the coming season and would ask the people of Carmarthen with an interest in rugby to check us out, whether it is the seniors, youth or the younger teams there will always be a warm welcome for you.”
With the season starting this weekend for all our teams lets have a recap of who is playing who this weekend from the club.
Saturday
1st XV Home to Llandovery in the Park
Youth XV Home to Lampeter in Abergwili
Sunday
Under 7’s 8’s and 9’s away to Felinfoel
Under 10s away to Porthcawl
Under 12’s home to New Dock Stars in Abergwili
Under 13’s home to Beddau in the Park
Under 14’s home to Haverfordwest in Abergwili
Our Under 15’s and 16’s have a rest week. In particular the 16’s have a number of players at a trial for the Boys Club of Wales and we wish those boys all the very best and hope you are successful.
All at the club are looking forward to the coming season and we look forward to renewing acquaintances.
2022/2023 Fixtures are out
Our 1st XV Fixtures have been announced and we kick off the competitive season with the visit of old foes Lladovery to the park.
We of course have a Christmas Cracker against Llandovery when we head to Church Bank for another Boxing Day Clash.
We then end the season with the visit of Cardiff. It is pleasing to note that we return to proper league format and look forward to 11 League Home Games which will be welcome revenue for the club after an extremely tough two years behind the bar due to the Global Pandemic.
There will be playoffs again at the end of this season to crown the Indigo Premiership Champions for 2022/2023 and the squad will be doing all they can to be in that position. Our fixtures are as follows:
03/09/2022
Carmarthen Quins v Llandovery
10/09/2022
Bridgend v Carmarthen Quins
24/09/2022
Carmarthen Quins v Swansea
01/10/2022
Aberavon v Carmarthen Quins
08/10/2022
Carmarthen Quins v Llanelli
15/10/2022
Carmarthen Quins v Pontypridd
29/10/2022
Merthyr v Carmarthen Quins
12/11/2022
Carmarthen Quins v Newport
18/11/2022
Ebbw Vale v Carmarthen Quins
10/12/2022
Carmarthen Quins v RGC1404
17/12/2022
Cardiff v Carmarthen Quins
26/12/2022
Llandovery v Carmarthen Quins
07/01/2023
Carmarthen Quins v Bridgend
14/01/2023
Swansea v Carmarthen Quins
21/01/2023
Carmarthen Quins v Aberavon
28/01/2023
Llanelli v Carmarthen Quins
18/02/2023
Pontypridd v Carmarthen Quins
04/03/2023
Carmarthen Quins v Merthyr
25/03/2023
Newport v Carmarthen Quins
01/04/2023
Carmarthen Quins v Ebbw Vale
08/04/2023
RGC1404 v Carmarthen Quins
15/04/2022
Carmarthen Quins v Cardiff
1st XV Squad News
While we wait for the release of the new season’s fixtures we thought it a good time to give you a squad update. We will start today by giving you those players who we have retained for the coming season.
In our backs we are delighted that the following have extended their time with the Quins:
Leon Randell, Dale Ford, Geraint Llewellyn, Josh Batcup, Kalum Evans, Morgan Griffiths, Jac Wilson, Steff Marshall, Rhodri Davies, Aron Hemmings and Josh Thomas
Our pack of forwards remain strong with
Lewys Millin, Gethin Davies, Rich Bloomfield, Ed Siggery, Lee Taylor, Haydn Pugh, Ryan Bean, Ben Leung, Connor Allen, Torin Myhill, Ben Edwards. Rhys Lawrence. Ollie Evans, Steff Phillips and James Newnian all remaining with the squad.
We have some new signings to announce in due course but we will start in earnest in the coming weeks as we aim to improve on last seasons performance in what we hope will be a regular season.
It is time unfortunately to say good bye to Nic Cudd who has hung up his boots after a long career.
Below our senior side we continue to focus on development and with last seasons Under 16’s joining the youth ranks it will be a competitive squad and we welcome Deiniol Jones to the Youth coaching set up having coached the boys right through the junior age groups. We will bring you more youth news when they start their pre-season in due course.
The mini and junior section continues to grow and certainly our junior sides from Under 12’s up will be looking to emulate the cup winning successes of last season. We will bring you more information on the mini and junior registration day soon.
2022/2023 Pre-Season Fixtures Announced
We are please to be able to announce our Senior XV’s pre-season fixtures for the coming season. Its all opponents from the English National League 1 for us this year.
First up we welcome Chinnor to the park on 13th August. Chinnor based in Thame, Oxfordshire currently play in English National League 1 where they finished a respectable 7th position last season winning 12 games, Drawing one and losing 15. It will be great to meet old acquaintances having made the journey to Chinnor last year. A warm welcome awaits all players, coaches and supporters.
Next up we head to Cambridge on 20th August who finished 4th in the league last season. Some notable former players are Dickie Jeeps of England and the British Lions and also Alex Goode.
Our final fixture on 27th August is an away trip to Birmingham and Moseley. There are a raft of players who have turned out for the club who have gone on to win international honours so very much like the Quins it is an important developing club.
We hope that as many of our supporters will at the very least head to the Park for the first game and of course any travelling support will also be welcomed.
We will bring you final squad news as and when it is finalised.