Coach, Lyn Jones said “We are travelling to Italy after receiving assurances from the Italian RFU that they will find an alternative venue if the Viadana pitch is unplayable.
We have spent most of the week trying to clarify the situation in Italy, and eventually received a reply this morning, having faxed enquiries together with long term weather forecasts to Viadana, the ERC and the WRU.
We had agreed to call off the match this morning (Thursday), in agreement with the President of the Viadana club, but ERC intervened to ensure the game was on.
We are keen to play the match, but our aim this week has been to ensure that we do not have to put up with a repeat of the Pontypridd debacle.
In respect of the match, it is important that we ensure the game is won before we start to think about how many tries we have to score. We plan to assess the situation at half time, and take it from there”
Neath RFC travel to Italy on the morning of Friday 11th January. The pitch at Viadana has this afternoon been inspected by Neath Officials who travelled in advance of the team and is considered to be unplayable due to the freezing conditions.
The Italian RFC/ ERC have to agreed to nominate an alternative ground within the next 24 hours
Upon their return to Wales , seven players from the club will be travelling to The Glamorgan Hotel to join Wales’ pre Six Nations Training Squad.
Neath Coach, Lyn Jones said “Nathan Bonner-Evans fully deserves his call up to the national squad. He is without doubt the second best Number 8 in Wales, and has all of the attributes necessary to spend many years as a top class international Number 8”
The Neath team to play Viadana (venue to be confirmed) in the Parker Pen Shield, Saturday 12th January, kick off at 2.30pm (1.30GMT), is as follows: –
Gareth Morris; Kevin James, Allan Bateman, James Storey, Shane Williams;Lee Jarvis, Patrick
Horgan; Nathan Bonner-Evans, Brett Sinkinson, Alfie Mocelutu, Gareth Llewellyn (c) 4 Steve Martin, Andrew Millward, Barry Williams, Duncan Jones.
Replacements: Steve Jones, Shaun Connor, Steve Tandy, Andy Howell, John
Slade, Andy Moore, Dave Tiueti
