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The hooker roll has been dominated the last 20 year by 4 players. Simon Mustoe’ 319 appearances has been documented under Club Captain Player Profiles. Current joint incumbents Nathan Holman and Lee Murphy have been sharing the roll since Simon’s retirement from 1^ST XV involvement. Peter Barry was the first this century.

Welsh International Scott Baldwin did play a few Ath senior games but found Simon Mustoe limiting his 1^ST XV appearances after graduating from the Athletic Youth team. Scott was part of the Youth team to win the Welsh Youth Cup in season 2006-2007, scoring a try in the 26-3 win over Waunarlwydd.

To Scott’s credit he forced his way into the Raven’s side and Ospreys and Wales Appearances followed. Still a professional with Harlequins. Although Scott did not play for the Lions like Lee Byrne and Rhys Webb, he gained fame by playing with the Lions!!

There are two good Youth hookers coming into senior rugby this season. Last season’s captain and Welsh Academical Jack Obbard and Ben Owen who made 3 1^ST XV appearances off the bench last season.

Evan Yardley who was capped for Wales U18 with Athletic Youth played a few senior games before joining Ospreys, then RGC where he was made captain and now with Cardiff. Evan is the son of Paul a former Athletic senior coach and now Youth team coach who played a few games for the Ath at the tail end of his career as a flanker with Aberavon & Bridgend..

Nathan Holman

Present incumbent along with Lee Murphy.

 Played in 2008-2009 Youth team squad that won Welsh Youth Cup and league double under Ben Howe and Matthew Norman, Lee Murphy and Aled Thomas from current squad. Captained 2^nd XV before becoming an ever present in 1^st XV.

Was awarded best forward for season 2011-2012 at POY Presentation Evening.

An excellent loose forward with great handling skills. Like his father Ian another Ath stalwart he has on occasions used his scrummaging prowess at tight head prop when the occasion demanded.

A good try scoring record for a hooker averaging a try approximately every 5 games.

Nathan is currently assisting coaching M&J’s and coached last season’s U7’s where his son plays.

Lee Murphy

Present incumbent along with Nathan Holman. As Nathan also part of 2008-2009 Youth Welsh Cup and League Double side. He played for the BCOW U16’s

In the last Ath game before lockdown against Maesteg Celtic in the Semi Final of the District Cup hooker Lee Murphy became the latest Ath player to make 100 Ath Senior Appearances. He has been a regular 1^St XV player since returning to the club in season 2015-2016 after making 12 2^nd XV appearances in 2011-2012 and leaving to join Maesteg from Youth.

 Last season he was voted joint Player of Year along with Ben Howe.,

Lee is certainly a player who plays a very physical game and is recognised as a major ball carrier in attack and strong in defence. He is now tuning his aggression with experience and putting his “mad dog” days and serial collector of red and yellow cards behind him

Lee has also showed his versatility by on occasions successfully turning out at blind side flanker.

Peter Barry

Played in 1^st team between 1998 to 2005. Some of club’s most successful promotion seasons.

A strong scrummager and very mobile around the field Peter was starting hooker in our Silver Ball Cup Final against British Steel season 2001-2002.

 Peter was also a good ball handler and runner with an average ratio of a try every 5 games. One try that got away was when Peter dropped the final pass of the game on the try line that would have taken the Ath past the 100 points mark in a Swalec Cup tie away at Swansea Uplands. Think he felt sorry for the opposition!!

Iestyn Merriman

After playing Championship games in season 2013 -2014 Iestyn joined Bridgend Ravens and his appearances for the Athletic have been sporadic on permit.

A very mobile hooker Iestyn is also adept at playing at flanker coming off the bench in February against Nantyfyllon in that roll for the Ath. A neck injury curtailed his season at the Ravens and Iestyn was training with the Ath as a backrow forward when lockdown ended the season.

We will have to see how Iestyn’s future rugby aspirations pan out when rugby resumes.