Pontypool RFC v Glamorgan Wanderers RFC

Leighton Jones is expecting a “big challenge” when Glamorgan Wanderers RFC visit Pontypool Park on Saturday afternoon in the WRU Admiral National Championship.

Pooler haven’t played since the first weekend of December and while that has allowed players to recover from injury it has left the squad with a lack of match fitness.

The head coach is also very aware of the threat that the visitors will pose his players and is expecting a good battle when Glamorgan Wanderers, whose last fixture was on 18^th December, visit our new and improved home.

“The Wanderers are a decent bunch,” he said.

“They are coached well so they will all know their plays and the style of rugby they want to play and we’re expecting a big challenge from them.

“It’s always nice to play against the Wanderers, they do play a good brand of rugby.

“We know they will definitely front up and not be that concerned coming here.”

The six-week break since Pontypool’s last fixture means the once lengthy injury list has shortened but a lack of minutes on the pitch means some players might be short of full match fitness.

“It has been difficult, it’s been the same for everyone,” he explained.

“It’s been difficult for the coaches and the boys mentally to keep coming out, train to a certain standard and intensity for nothing on a Saturday.

“We’ve had to think outside the box a bit to keep the boys mentally challenged and focused.

“From an injury point, we only have two boys injured.

“We’ve got a lot of boys who are not match fit – obviously coming back from injury – and then the boys who have been at the front of it for the three games we have played have gone six weeks now without a game.

“One or two have played for local clubs but we’re going to be off the pace and the standard we want to be at at this point of the season but a lot of teams will be in the same boat as well.

“We’ve had a good week this week, we’ve had a few injuries come back and COVID-19 hasn’t hit the squad massively either so we’ve had good sessions ready for Saturday.”

Jones has made two changes from the 82-3 victory over TATA Steel RFC on 4^th December with Ieuan Jones, who scored twice in the 24-0 win over Glamorgan Wanderers in the last encounter, and Mike Hale coming in for Adam Brown and Owain Leonard.

Winger Lloyd Lewis is unavailable due to his selection for Wales 7s in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Malaga, Spain.