South Wales Police Men’s Rugby Team will be aiming to show champion resolve and return to winning ways in their derby game against Dyfed Powys Police Men.
The South Wales side has won the Police Sports UK (PSUK) Cup for the past four seasons.
But after beginning this season with a 17–13 defeat to Gwent, they are focussed on resetting their campaign.
Director of rugby ex-PC Gareth ‘Bish’ Bishop said the stakes are high, even at this early stage of the season, as they prepare to take on Dyfed Powys, who reached the last four of the PSUK Cup in each of the last two seasons.
The South Wales team after winning last year’s competition.
He said: “We had a loss against Gwent in our last game, so we need to win it really, because otherwise we will be bottom of the league system. It is not where we want to be.
“We’ve got as good a side as we can put out, despite some absences.
“We lost two players on the weekend playing for their clubs, both breaking their wrists.
“We’re missing some as well because of work commitments, and they are too. That is the type of thing that happens with police rugby.”
Contest
The game takes place under the floodlights at Aberdare RFC on Wednesday, kicking off at 7pm. South Wales Police Federation chair Phil Walker is set to be among the supporters cheering on the team.
Weather conditions may prove influential, with a wet and breezy forecast pointing toward a physical contest rather than a free-flowing one.
And Gareth said the squad was ready for the challenge.
“I don’t think it will be running rugby weather,” he said.
“We’ve got a good pack, and so have Dyfed. It will be quite a good battle up front. I suspect most of the rugby will be played between the packs and the 10s. It is going to be an old-fashioned 10-man game, I think.”
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