'As you will know, Llangollen & Glyn Ceiriog RFC reluctantly took the decision to stand down our Men’s team from Division Three North for the 2018-2019 season as we believed we had no realistic chance of regularly fielding a team. This was not only to give ourselves time to regroup and rebuild but also in deference to our Division opponents. We know that we are not the only club to have found themselves in this position this summer.

That said, I would like to reiterate to you now with all possible firmness and conviction that Men’s rugby at Llangollen is not dead. It is in recovery, a process that we have begun over the last six weeks.

We were unfortunate to lose a number of our more seasoned players in one fell swoop due to retirement (for assorted issues such as work demands, young families) and that we have some key squad members who are still contending with long-term injuries but who we look forward to welcoming back into the fold for next season. We do, though, have a small but growing squad of players who have pledged themselves to our Club regardless of current circumstances and who wish to remain registered to our club for this season. We are most grateful for this show of commitment and belief in our Club.

In return, our commitment to them as a Club is that we will continue to provide an excellent, structured, training programme from new Head Coach, Graham Edwards, and that we will seek opportunities every week for our players to take the field under Permit to other clubs who may need assistance for specific matches.

Similarly, we will be looking at gaps in the League schedule to organise some friendlies here at Llangollen and would be very interested in talking to you about those in due course. We would probably need to Permit in some players to top up our own squad and would greatly welcome your assistance with this at the appropriate moment.

Men’s rugby at Llangollen is in transition, but we are rebuilding and regenerating our squad, we have vibrant Women’s and Youth Sections, and both are helping us extensively with our current programme.

We are devastated not to be fielding a team in the Men’s League for one season, but equally we are determined to rise stronger than ever and we hope for the same for any clubs who find themselves in or close to a similar situation. Community rugby needs us all to work together – whilst we are asking for that help now we are also offering it to others.
Please contact me direct for anything further that you might like or need to know.

Many thanks and best wishes'.

DAVID HINCHLIFFE (Hon Sec and Men’s Team Manager)
Llangollen & Glyn Ceiriog RFC 07793 836532