PONTYPOOL, South Wales, 25th August 2019 - Pontypool RFC is pleased to announce the signing of Richard Powell from Merthyr RFC, as the club edges closer to the start of the 2019-2020 WRU Specsavers Championship campaign.
The 31-year-old fly-half joins the club after completing a two-year stint at The Wern this summer. The experienced ten played his part as the Indigo Premiership side landed two league crowns and a National Cup during his time with Dale McIntosh's side. Powell's time with the pre-eminent side in Welsh club rugby immediately followed a six-year stint with Bedwas RFC.
On joining Pooler, Powell said: "Following my exit from Merthyr, I was considering taking some time away from the game. However, following a discussion with Leighton and Tom, I was enthused about Pontypool and the club ticked all the boxes in terms of encouraging me to continue in the game. Pooler is a massive club with huge ambition, a great squad of players and an experienced coaching team.
"The club has proved over the last few years that it has all the ingredients in place to mount a successful bid for promotion this season and I hope that my experience and enthusiasm will make a positive impact over the next twelve months.”
Following the departure of Matthew Jones, the need to acquire further depth in the fly-half position became a priority for new backs coach, Tom Hancock – who is looking forward to working with the dynamic pivot.
"Richard is an excellent signing for the club,” said Hancock. “He is a Gwent man who will be aware of what it means to play for Pontypool. We need depth in every position to be able to challenge for promotion and we now have that in abundance.
"We now have three excellent options at ten in Richard, Matthew Lewis and Kieran Meek. Building an understanding between players in important positions can take time, so to have that established from the offset is an additional bonus and should help him fit in seamlessly.
"Richard is another member of our squad with significant Premiership experience and he is a proven points scorer at the highest level of semi-professional rugby in Wales. With the club playing an additional four league games this season and with four Premiership sides dropping down, he will have an important part to play.”
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