Three seasons ago they were playing Division 1 East, yet this weekend they could capture the biggest prize in the semi-professional level of rugby in Wales at the first attempt. Coming on top of another of last season’s promoted teams from the WRU National Championship capturing the WRU National Cup it would show a change of the old guard at the top level.
Not that Aberavon, who finished at the top of the Premiership table in the first half of the season, are going to be any push-overs. Jason Hyatt’s side have played some of the most attractive rugby of the season in the tournament and will probably start the game as favourites on home soil.
But there is something compelling about the rise of the Ironmen. With the considerable financial backing of Sir Stan Thomas they have re-built the club both on and off the field to give one of Wales’ most famous towns a sporting team to really shout about.
Just how far they have come is best illustrated by the fact they were languishing in 10th place of Division 1 East at the end of the 2012/13 season, just staving off relegation with six wins from 22 games. Since then they have won 80% of their league games.
Their rise began with a Division 1 East title and WRU National Plate triumph at the Principality Stadium in 2013/14. They won 188 of their 22 league games that season and picked up 19 wins in 26 games in their first season in the National Championship.
That was good enough for third place behind Bargoed and Swansea, but there was no stopping them in 2015/16 when they took the Championship crown with 118 points out of a possible 130, losing only twice in 26 games to gain promotion to the top flight along with Swansea, Bargoed and RGC 1404.
While the Wizards finished the first half of the season on top, Merthyr were third and then went on to top Tier 1 to clinch a home semi-final. They used home advantage to good effect to finally hold off RGC and beat the Cup winners for the first time in four games.
“We were caught short in the cup semi-final against RGC, so this is all we have to play for now to bring some silverware back to the club for the players and the supporters,” said Merthyr skipper Craig Locke.
“This needs to be the icing on the cake for all the hard work put in by the players. Three or four years ago we were playing down the leagues and it was tremendous to reach the Premiership.
“Now we are in the final. Teams have raised their standards against us and we have had to bring our ‘A’ game every week to get this far.
“That cup defeat was a big defeat for us – I have never seen so many players so down after a rugby game. We had lost twice to them before and we needed that one, but we lost in the dying minutes.
“But we bounced back and got into the Premiership final. There is a good buzz in the camp and we need to take that into the final.
“Aberavon have always been a tough team and they play some great rugby, but we need this silverware to prove how far we have come. This is our first season in the Premiership and there is no bigger target than winning the title in your first season.
“We have learned so much this season and we hope to be even more consistent next season and be back in the top flight again.”
It is 15 years since the Wizards last picked up any meaningful silverware and Hyatt has got his side playing a compelling brand of rugby this season, making them the leading try scorers in the Premiership. If Rowan Jenkins and Alex Jeffries can cope with the front five pressure that will come on from the Merthyr pack then Aberavon should be able to provide their back line with plenty of quality possession.
They warmed-up for the final with two successive home wins over Bedwas, securing their ticket to tackle Merthyr with a 31-24 comeback win in the semi-final, and will be looking to use the game as a final farewell tribute to 37-year-old stalwart lock Ian Moore. He will hang up his boots at the end of the game after playing 380 games for the club.
“Ian has been a tremendous servant to Aberavon and it would be great to give him a big send-off. He has set the highest of standards on and off the field and been a fantastic role model to many youngsters during his time at the club,” said Hyatt.
“We’re really up for the final and we’ve already beaten Merthyr at home once this season. It was so important to win the toss to get home advantage and it will be a huge psychological advantage for us.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge and we know we will have to get parity at the set-piece after what the Merthyr pack did to RGC – we will do our homework, rest up and get ready for a really good battle on Sunday.”
