The Wanderers take on Neath as they bid to reach the first competition final of the club’s 115 year existence.
The semi-final meeting with the Welsh All Blacks repeats the climax of the Wanderers’ previous best run in the tournament – a quarter-final clash in 1985.Â
And Coach Richard Hodges says his side are keen to relive their 1980s glory days – highlighted by an international double scalp over touring sides USA and Portugal in 1985 – by surpassing their best ever run in the cup twofold.
“This is the first time in the history of the club we’ve been in the last four which is huge for us, especially in the year Sir Tasker Watkins (Glamorgan Wanderers Club President and former WRU President) passed away and that was at the forefront of all our minds in the build up to the quarter-final,” said Hodges.
“The win over Newport (29-12) last time out was probably our best performance in the 18 months I’ve been involved with the club, it was comprehensive in every facet.
“If we can get to the final we will be back to the good old days of the 70s and 80s when great things where achieved at this club.Â
“Everyone is aware of what is at stake and a Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium would be a magnificent end to a tough season if we can get the win. It’s the stuff dreams are made of, but only if we can get the win, if we don’t front up against Neath it will be a prize that goes begging.”
The 80s also saw the club seal a runners-up slot in the Welsh unofficial Club Championship and Whitbread merit table, together with a string of successes in Sevens competitions, losing the Snelling Sevens in 1985, but winning in 1986.
Hodges says his side have been close to getting it right on a number of occasions so far this season and that if they can meet his expectations on the day they are in with a chance against cup favourites and league champions Neath.
“The challenge against Neath is not insurmountable, but if we don’t get it exactly right we are not going to win,” he added. “They are a very tough nut to crack, the best side in the league by a fair distance at this moment in time, but every dog has its day and we have a chance.
“There’s a good mixture in our side at the moment with youngsters coming through like Sam Warburton, Scott Andrews, Huw Dowden, James Loxton and Lloyd Williams to name just a few.Â
“We try to mix and match the experience and the talent, if you look at the front row for example we have Matt Bolton, who is 32 and coaches the under 20 team at loose head prop alongside two of the youngsters he coaches in Huw and Scott.Â
“We are trying to keep things fresh in training and are hoping to be able to get our best XV on the pitch next week for the game of a lifetime so far for many of the players.”
Founded in October 1893 by a group of ex-pupils of Monkton House School, the Wanderers were originally known as Old Monktonians, but in 1913 it was decided to change the name to Glamorgan Wanderers Rugby Football Club.
One of the inaugural sides in the premiership league in 1990, the initial years of leagues proved hard work as the club slipped in status.
The slide was stopped fourteen years ago and a revival began under the chairmanship of Blair Evans culminating in successive league titles and promotion from Division three into Division 1 in 1999/2000 under the captaincy of Garan Treharne.
Glamorgan Wanderers v Neath, Talbot Athletic Ground – Sunday April 27th (kick-off 5.05pm).
Glamorgan Wanderers: James Loxton: Gareth Morris, Aled James, James Thomas, Jamie Jones; Mark Roper, Harry Trelawney; matt Bolton, Richard Emms, Scott Andrews, Gareth Knight, Alex Luff, Nick Kelly, Sam Warburton, Richard Thomas
Replacments: Huw Dowden, Gareth Alexander, Nathan Trevett, Craig Morris, Ben Rose, Lloyd Williams, Josh Hannam
Neath: Gareth King; Kevin James, Steve Thomas, Wayne Mitchell, Matthew Nuthall, Arwel Thomas; Martin Roberts; Martin Jones, Anthony Littlehales, Ross Davies, Euros Evans, Martin Morgan, Gareth Gravell, James Merriman, Lee Beach
Replacements: James Richards, Craig Mitchell, Nicky Downes, Steve Martin, Andrew Llewellyn, Gareth James, Howard Thomas
