The village of Rhigos is set to be deserted this weekend as the near 1,000 inhabitants head 19 miles south to Tonmawr to support their local rugby team in arguably the biggest game in the club’s history.
At stake for the Division 3 West Central side is a trip to the home of Welsh rugby for the Division 3 Cup final in the ‘Road to Principality 2026’ series of matches at Principality Stadium. Standing in the way will be Division 3 West side New Dock Stars.
Both sides are in title contention in their respective leagues, with the Stars in second place behind Haverfordwest having won 11 of their 12 games to date. They have former Wales U20, Scarlets, Bristol and Dragons full back Jordan Williams in their ranks, along with another former Wales U20 player/coach in prop Ben Leung.
They warmed up for the semi-final with a 42-28 win over Milford Haven last weekend, while Rhigos moved to within three points of the top of their table with a 63-15 triumph at Baglan.
The two clubs know each other very well having played a pre-season friendly for a number of years prior to covid for the ‘Dai Morris Cup’. The idea of putting up a cup for the game came because the legendary Neath and Wales back row man Morris, these days the touchline guru at Rhigos, knew the Stars committee member Dennis Davey from their playing days together at Neath.
“The trophy was put up when we started playing and the Stars are the current holders,” explained Rhigos secretary Clive Harris. “Dai and Dennis have been good friends over many years and we decided the ‘Dai Morris Cup’ will be up for grabs for the semi-final as well.
“It is a great day for Rhigos RFC and the prize of playing at Principality is a huge one for our players, coaches and fans. We have two coaches following the team bus to Tonmawr and I don’t think there is going to be anyone left in the village on Saturday.
“We know the Stars are a very good team and it will probably be our biggest challenge of the season. But we’ve been in good form of late and are looking forward to the contest.”
With two promotions behind them in the last two seasons with former Fijian international Emori Katalau joining Jason Morris in the coaching team, Rhigos have also had had some added ‘X Factor’ in their three-quarter line this season.
While Katalau has been at the club for a couple of years, he managed to convince his son-in-law to join him as a player at the club this season. Just imagine how the teams playing against Rhigos this season have felt seeing the 48-times capped Katalau coaching from the sidelines and the 59-times capped Vereniki Goneva lining up in the centre.
Now 41, Goneva is hoping to make a return to Principality Stadium having already scored a try there for Fiji against Wales in 2015 in a 23-13 World Cup defeat.
He also started in the 16-16 draw against Wales in Cardiff in 2010, came on as a replacement against Wales in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, when Wales won 66-0, and was in the side that went down to a 17-13 defeat in the Welsh capital in 2014.
“It has been an interesting couple of years for us with a young squad that came together after covid. We got players back and a few new ones joined them,” said head coach Morris.
“We always target the cup competition and this is the furthest we’ve been. It’s about doing it for the club and the village.
“We know the Stars will be extremely tough, but we’re ready to give it our best shot. Historically we bounce back quite quickly after we lose and then go on a bit of a run.
“After losing at home to Bynrcoh at the end of last month we beat them the next week away from home and then beat Baglan, so hopefully we can keep this run going.
“We’ll have Niki (Goneva) available for Saturday and he brings so much to our back line.
“He just loves to play and he has nothing to prove. He just loves to organise things, put people into space and bring on our youngsters.
“He’s a great bloke to have around the club because he is so friendly, approachable and keen to train and play whenever he can. Both he and Emori love the culture at the club and our family environment – we have great support from the committee and the whole village.”
The last time Goneva played in a cup semi final it was for Newcastle Falcons in the 2018 Premiership shoot-out with Saracens. That didn’t go so well but he was still voted the Premiership Player of the Season.
Prior to that, he scored in the final when Leicester Tigers lifted the Premiership trophy at Twickenham in 2014. He also had a brief spell at Harlequins and ended his Premiership career with 58 tries in 117 games.
But while Goneva spreads some star dust on the field for Rhigos, on the touchline – or behind the posts at the clubhouse end for every home game – Dai Morris does the same.
“If Dai (now 84) could put his kit on he’d still play. He’s at almost every training session and every game – he’s amazing,” added Morris.
“He just sits back, watches and then gives us a few wise words over a pint in the clubhouse. He’s great to have around.”
Morris won 34 caps for Wales from 1967-74 in a legendary back row that included John Taylor and Mervyn Davies. He won a Triple Crown in 1969 and a Grand Slam in 1971.
He also played in the first WRU Challenge Cup final at the old National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park in 1972 when Neath beat Llanelli. These days he watches his two grandsons, Ben Morris and Joe Parry. playing in the Rhigos back row.
It would be quite something if they could tread in his footsteps and play at the home of Welsh rugby some 54 years later.