News

Ben Howe in his seventh successive season as BARFC Club Captain made his 200^th Senior Appearance for the club against Kenfig Hill on Saturday Nov 11^{th at} the Brewery Field Bridgend. Only Stuart Morris 8 times club captain has led the Ath more times than Ben. The Ath players and U11 ball boys formed a guard of honour as Ben ran out onto the pitch.

Ben has played 176 of those games for the 1^st XV and has scored at ratio of a try every 3 games for a remarkable 65 touchdowns and 325 points.

Ben was Youth Team captain in seasons 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. In season 2008-2009 he led the team to a unique double. His team won the Webb Ellis Welsh Youth Cup Final at the Millenium Stadium and followed that by winning what was then called the RAF Youth League Final – the best club Youth side in Wales. Although the Ath Youth have won the Welsh Cup and league on other occasions it is the only occasion the Athletic Youth have achieved a Welsh League and Cup double in the same season. He also captained the Ospreys U18’s during this period when Dan Biggar and Ashley Beck were in the same team. An arm injury prevented a Wales U18 Youth Cap that season. Ben had played age group rugby at Pencoed where he won Wales U11 and U16 Caps before joining the Athletic Youth set up.

He has proved a mighty influence on the Athletic in his role of flanker alongside a formidable back row with Sean Williams and Ben Davies, and with Ben winning many POY Awards, as well many Players POY voted for by his fellow players. Last season he scooped both those awards. He also has more Nathaniel Car Sales Player of Month awards than any other player.

One of highlights of his career was leading his team to a 14-12 Central Glamorgan District Cup Final win at Maesteg over previously unbeaten Skewen in season. 2021-2022.

This season Ben has opted to move into the centre. With an injury crisis with long term absentees Tom Jenkins and Joe Patterson and Callum Reed now in Australia, Ben has mainly been accompanied this season by other back row forwards Ben Davies & Sam Barraclough as his co centres.

What Ben lacks in size this pocket-sized battleship certainly makes up for in effort and heart and his tackle count and ground coverage support work in matches is phenomenal.

#