Super Rygbi Cymru champions Newport fly to Austin, Texas on Wednesday to round off their 150th anniversary season celebrations with an eight day tour.
Mark Workman is heading a group of 40 players, coaches and supporters who are crossing the Atlantic to play a game against San Antonio on Sunday. Most of the team that won the SRC title at Ebbw Vale last weekend are travelling.
“It’s going to be an even better way to round off our 150th celebrations after winning the title. It’s a bit old school going on an overseas rugby tour these days but we wanted to create some special memories for the players at the end of a very special season,” said Workman.
“We’re only playing the one game and the conditions in Ebbw Vale last Sunday will have been useful in preparing us for the extreme heat in San Antonio. Jac Lloyd can’t come with us because of exams, but the rest of the team that won the title will be travelling.”
Retirees Rhys Jenkins and Elliot Frewen are both in the party, although Frewen won’t get another game after picking up a head knock at Eugene Cross Park. Jenkins received stitches, but is set for one final hurrah in the famous Black & Amber jersey.
The victory at Eugene Cross Park made up for Ben Roach’s side coming so close to taking what was then the Indigo Premiership crown at Llandovery last year. Going one better was among a number of big motivations for the club in this year’s inaugural SRC Grand Final.
“We got so close last year and that was disappointing. But to go up to Ebbw Vale win in a Gwent derby in the final makes me really proud of the effort – I’m over the moon,” said Newport’s inspirational skipper, Roach.
“It was a tough team huddle at the end of last year’s final after losing at Llandovery and we didn’t want that feeling again. That gave us motivation, as did the retirements of Rhys Jenkins and Elliot Frewen, as well as the loss of ‘BJ’, Brian Jones last month.
“We could hear him cheering us on from up above and our supporters were amazing. We couldn’t have done what we did without them and they helped to make it a very special year for our 150th anniversary season.
“But we had to do it the hard way because Ebbw are a very strong team and hadn’t been beaten at home all season. We put everything out there and they were in it right to the end when we were defending for our lives – in the end it was our defence that won us the game.
“We’ve been there or thereabouts in the past four years. We’ve been in finals and big games and now we want to stay there, although we know there will be a big target on our backs next season.”