our first team XV take on @treorchyzebras away and our Youth XV play home against @bonymaenrugby – both KOs 2.30pm

Come support your teams 💚💛

#athathath

Ollie Olds

Ollie rejoined the Ath after a long absence towards the end of season 2023-2024 and played a significant role in his 5 games and 1 try at scrum half in ensuring the club stayed in Div 1 West Central that season.

To date he has made 37 1^st XV Apps with 5 tries and 43 points.

He then played an important role in last season’s success playing in both half back positions. This season he has played in 10 games as a No 10 and has been instrumental in our successful league and cup campaign to date whether setting the back line moving, making breaks or his long spiral kicks for territory.

In his days with Ath M&J he converted to rugby league winning a Welsh U16 RL Cap.

He joined Leeds Rhinos winning a full Welsh Rugby League Cap in 2012 while playing for their U20 team before his senior debut.

He then spent 10 years playing rugby league in Australia continuing to represent Wales RL on 11 occasions crossing for 3 tries – before heading home to play RL with Swinton Lions in 2023.

BARFC Head Coach Stuart Morris Presented the Nathaniel Car Sales Player of October 2025 award to Ollie Olds.

Iestyn played for the Ath in their first stint in the Championship and was a very strong and mobile hooker.

The Ravens came calling and he spent 9 seasons there playing 148 games and scoring 12 tries and made a very successful transition to the back row,

Season 2024-2025 along with many other Premier players Iestyn returned to the Ath and as Vice-Captain and pack leader was very inspirational in last season’s great successes.

He also captained the side that won the District Cup.

His experience and influence have resulted in a very successful start for the Ath this season in the Championship East captaining the side in Sept wins against St Peters and the 1^st Round of the Championship Cup.

BARFC Head Coach Stuart Morries presented The Ath 1^st XV Nathaniel Car Sales POM for September to Iestyn Merriman.

In November 2024 Wayne Fooks became the BARFC Senior Club Record holder with 530 Senior Apps.

Many thought that having achieved that goal he would hang up his boots at the end of the season. However, in July 2025 he rocked up for training sessions with the same enthusiasm as 28 seasons ago and has been a regular this season and has now achieved a remarkable 550 appearances.

These comprise 466 1^st XV Apps,84 2^nd XV Apps with 31 tries and 155 points.

BARFC Head Coach Stuart Morris presented Wayne with a token of our appreciation for his loyalty and commitment to the Ath.

NB: BARFC have the Champagne on Ice for when he cracks the 600 Apps barrier!!

Just our 1st XV in action against Aberdare RFC this weekend after our Generals and Youth fixtures have been cancelled.

Come down to Newbridge fields to watch your athletic horrors play.

We also will hold a minutes silence to remember our Armed Forces past and present, to the brave men and woman who made the ultimate sacrifice.

#Respect #ArmisticeDay

Big weekend for all teams in their respective cup competitions.

With our first team travelling to Clwb Rygbi Aberystwyth RFC in the Championship cup

Our Generals XV travel to Bala RFC in the Division 5 Cup

And our youth XV host Mountain Ash RFC in the National youth plate.

good luck to all

#oneclub

On Saturday our 1st XV travel to @abertillery_bg_rfc in a Championship East fixture

Whilst at Newbridge Fields our Generals XV will be hosting @whitchurch.rfc

And Youth XV visiting @birchgrove_rfc

All kick offs 2.30pm

Come support your teams 💚💛

Tomorrow our 1st XV travel to Penallta RFC with our Generals XV hosting Sully Sports RFC at Newbridge fields. Both 2.30pm Kick offs.

Come support your teams

Against Bedwas on Sat Sept 20^th, 2025, Ben Owen joined the Centurions at BARFC making his 100^th Senior Appearance.He turned in a typical all action performance and along with fellow prop Brandyn Fooks and hooker Lee Murphy held their own at scrum time against a physically much bigger pack.

Ben (Rhino’s) first Senior Appearance was in Covid hit season 2019-2020 aged 18 years and 10 days in an away 17-12 Div 1 Central fixture win at Waunarlwyd.  92 of his senior games have been in the 1^st XV scoring 16tries and 80 points. Ben is very mobile as well as an excellent ball carrier, and powerful scrummager.

In 2017-2018 Ben was awarded a BCOW Cap and played for the Ospreys U16 East Region, in his second season at the Ath

Throughout his career he primarily played at hooker, but last season, when the club had a prop crisis Ben was asked if he could help at prop. He quickly learnt on the job holding his own against seasoned props in his position with powerful scrummaging. Often in games he will start at prop and finish at hooker, giving the Ath good front row options in the match day squad. He was the December Club Nathaniel Car Sales Player of the month last season.

He was part of last season’s very successful Div 1 West Central Champions as well as District Cup winners, also playing for the first senior Ath side to play at the Principality Stadium in the Div 1 Cup Final.

Ben started his rugby career with Bridgend Sports playing there from U6 tag to U12 between 2008-2014 – some years playing up an age group. For 2 seasons he played U11 for the Bridgend & District side and played for the West Wales U11 side.

He then played U13-U14 for Cowbridge and in 2 unbeaten seasons winning in each season the Blues District Cup.

He joined the Ath at U15 in 2016-2017 winning the Ospreys Plate final.

Seasons 2018-2019 played for the ATH Youth before as earlier going straight into the 1sts squad season 2019-2020 season. During this time in Yr 11 he was part of the Brynteg 2018 Senior quad that won the WSRU Cup.

Success has followed Ben throughout his career – long may it continue at the Ath.

Championship East – Sept 20^th, 2025

A disjointed first half with mistakes, marking too narrow allowing overlaps and line out problems, and continued restart lapses of concentration including the opening kick-off, saw a very efficient Bedwas clock up 4 tries to go in at the break 26-3 ahead with a try bonus point.

The Ath points came from an Evan D’Adamo penalty.

The Ath reorganised at the break and produced an excellent second half display outscoring the promotion favourites 12-10 and 2 tries to 1 with the Bedwas try the final move of the game. In fact, at 26-15 with the Ath on the rampage and attacking the red zone only a lapse of discipline giving away a penalty, allowed Bedwas to clear. A sign that the home side were rattled was a change of strategy kicking a penalty, whereas in the first half they declined shots at goal to drive from close to the line lineouts.

The second half fightback came following captain Jonathan Phillips make an excellent break from 10 metres inside his own half into the Bedwas 22 before passing to wing Joe Patterson who had the strength to break a cover tackle to cross in the corner. D’Adamo continued his impressive kicking this season with a touchline conversion.

3 minutes later in the 58^th minute the Ath who had impressed with driving mauls, kicked a penalty to touch 6 metres out. Hooker Lee Murphy found Iestyn Merriman, and the Ath pack splintered the home defence for Murphy to cross and reduce the deficit to 36-15.

A very confidant Ath looked likely to cross again but as stated unnecessary indiscipline lost them momentum.

There was no more scoring until the Bedwas converted try with the final move of the half.

Credit to the Ath front row of Brandyn Fooks, Lee Murphy and prop Ben Owen in his 100^th senior Ath appearance, for maintaining a steady scrum against a physically larger home pack. The ever dependant Wayne Fooks saw out the game while Matthew Norman was unavailable due to work commitments, The backrow forwards during the game comprising Cam Thomas, Iestyn Merriman, Hakeem Mumine and Dan O’Sullivan brought off many tackles and were good ball carriers, with Merriman assuming the main line out jumper role. It was good to see lock Mark Davey return to the side after a season out and along with recruit Evren Ozbilen is adding to 2^nd row depth in addition to starters Tom Morgan, Adam Evans and current sidelined with injury Kalafi Molitika and Harrison Morgan.

Half backs Evan D’Adamo and Ollie Olds are forming a very good partnership with their ability to get the line moving and kicking out of hand with D’Adamo’s accuracy off the kicking tee a bonus.Jakob Williams remains sidelined with injury. Today’s centres Gabe Brown and permit Rhydian Greenhall are both excellent in attack and defence with Tom Jenkins also very reliable. The back 3 of today, Mc Kenzie Grey, Geraint Roberts and Captain Jonathan Phillips have Rhys Ward Jones as a very useful back up.

This coming Saturday the Ath start their Championship Cup campaign with a home game at Newbridge Fields sponsored by Josh Llewellyn.