Pooler sign veteran second row, Richard East, from Principality Premiership powerhouse, Merthyr RFC

PONTYPOOL, South Wales, 25^th July 2016 – Pontypool RFC is pleased to announce that veteran second row, Richard East, has joined the club’s quest to compete for the SSE SWALEC Championship title next season.

31-year-old East joins Pooler from Merthyr RFC with the aim of further strengthening the club’s forwards department throughout what will be a grueling and intense campaign.

As a member of the team that convincingly claimed the SSE SWALEC Championship title last season - together with his rugby league experiences as a former representative of South Wales Scorpions RLRFC - Pontypool RFC head coach, Leighton Jones, considers East a vital ingredient in shoring up the front five for next season.

“Richard’s arrival is a massive step forward in solidifying our forwards setup for next season,” said Jones.

“Depth in the second row has been a weak point for the last few seasons and with the likes of Elliott Ferriman unavailable due to injury for the foreseeable future, it was vital we filled that gap with an experienced head.

“Richard is an aggressive, tough and determined player who very much plays the Pontypool way. He has got stuck straight into the action at training and I have no doubt that he will play a key role in us achieving our objectives in the coming seasons.”

For East, joining Pooler represents an opportunity to play alongside a team who impressed him greatly when standing on the opposite side of the pitch as an opponent to the men in red, white and black hoops last season.

“I already knew how much of a formidable team Pontypool RFC had assembled and how well organised the club is both on and off the field based on the duels of last season,” said East.

“So when the coaching staff first registered their interest in me joining the team and with Pooler being a club with such great tradition, it was an easy decision for me to make in making this club my new rugby home.

“I am massively enjoying the experience thus far and I am working exceptionally hard in training. My aim is to break my way into the team and I hope that my skill set and attributes can contribute to this fantastic club achieving its dream of bringing silverware back to Pontypool Park next season.”

Have you purchased your Pontypool RFC season ticket yet? If not, you still have time! Please click here for more information on how to join the #PoolerArmy for the 2016/17 SSE SWALEC Championship season!