Christ College Brecon has announced a new partnership with Ebbw Vale RFC.

The collaboration will see the co-educational independent school and the club work together to develop opportunity pathways for players across all age groups from senior, youth and junior rugby, and coincides with two Upper Sixth players being selected to play for Ebbw Vale next season. Pupils Owen Conquer and Ewan McIntyre will begin squad training with the experienced ‘Steelmen’ team and have the opportunity to develop their rugby skills further by playing at competition level.

The partnership is a chance for Ebbw Vale to support the development of aspiring youth rugby players and recruit those with potential, while the college will gain a presence at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium and support key events throughout the sporting calendar.

Christ College’s approach of linking with local rugby to amplify the sport at a grassroot level aligns with WRU’s vision of developing the game at a community level.

It also supports the school’s Elite Player Pathway programme that aspires pupils to excel in sport and enables them access to additional coaching, individual player development plans and one-to-one mentoring.

Christ College Brecon Director of Rugby, Dan Parry, who played for Merthyr RFC and represented Wales in Rugby League, said: “We’re really excited about the new partnership with Ebbw Vale and are looking forward to rolling out the development and player recruitment phase from September, which includes placing more of our current elite pupils with them. Another area of the partnership will be attending club open days and tournaments and utilising our players to help coach and referee these events.”

John Patterson, Director of Sport at Christ College Brecon said: “Rugby has always been an important part of life at Christ College and we work closely with WRU to ensure our rugby provision is of the best standard to support pupils who wish to develop their sport alongside their academic studies.

“Partnering with Ebbw Vale will open up further opportunities to our pupils who share this passion for rugby.”

Ebbw Vale RFC Chairman Jonathan Jones said: “We are extremely pleased to begin an exciting phase of the club’s development by securing a key partner in the training of young aspirational rugby players. Owen and Euan are a credit to the rugby programme at Christ College and our coaching staff are confident that they will perform strongly in the Indigo Premiership in the coming season. The partnership further strengthens Ebbw Vale RFC’s historical link with the region.”

Christ College combines its academic programme with an expansive sports provision including, hockey, netball, track and field, sailing, skiing and equestrian and boasts 40 acres of ground which houses rugby pitches, an astroturf pitch, cricket squares, hard court tennis courts, netball courts and outdoor cricket nets.