Match PreviewMatch Report

Pontypool RFC Newport RFC Pontypool RFC v Newport RFC

Saturday 23rd December 2023 / 2:30pm Kick Off
Indigo Premiership
Referee: Keith David

Pontypool RFC Lineup

Previous Matches

Overall

139Games
  • 61Wins
  • 63Losses
  • 15Draws

Home

67Games
  • 37Wins
  • 23Losses
  • 7Draws

Away

72Games
  • 24Wins
  • 40Losses
  • 8Draws
 

Pontypool welcome Newport to Pontypool Park for the first time in more than a decade this weekend.

Pooler kicked off their season with a trip to Rodney Parade and despite an impressive performance on their return to the Indigo Premiership, they were eventually edged out by the Black and Ambers.

The squad learned from that game and showed their quality winning eight of the following 10 games to consolidate their place in the top four.

They welcome Newport after a three-week break following a loss to Bridgend while the visitors hammered the same opposition last week in preparation for this Gwent derby.

The men in red, white and black will be keen to show how far they have come since the opening day of the season, according to prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths.

“Getting back to game fitness after a break is hard, there is a lot of extra fitness in sessions. It will be hard but I’m enjoying it,” he said.

“It is such a big game.

“I’m hoping to play against Newport because I didn’t get to play at Rodney Parade due to injury.

“So I’m just hoping I can put on that Pontypool jersey and go against some of my friends.

“The boys at Pontypool are just awesome. The togetherness in the group is amazing.

“Because of the leadership group at Pontypool, it is really easy to come in.

“You’ve got big names and big leaders here, on and off the pitch.

“They bring everyone together, the Dragons boys, the younger boys, everyone is part of the team whereas in other clubs they would just be pushed out.

“From the first game up until now we are better.

“The first game was our first game back in the Premiership and where we are now is leaps forward from where we were.”

The front row was recently selected in the travelling party for the Dragons’ trip to South Africa, alongside winger Ewan Rosser.

After 10 days with the regional outfit, he is keen to use what he learned to help push Pooler on.

“It was really good,” he stated.

“A lot of learning, a lot to take out of the trip.

“I didn’t play but I enjoyed going to South Africa with the Dragons and then just trying to learn my role with all the professional players.

“There are a lot of things I can take from that trip, which have bettered me as a rugby player.”

Pontypool sit in fourth place in the Indigo Premiership, five points behind Newport, who sit in third.

 

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