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| Pooler back in the big time |
| 5 September 2008, 6:48 pm |
| By WRU |
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| The chants of Pooler, Pooler will be ringing out again at the top level of Welsh club rugby - and those running Pontypool are determined to stay in the big time after bouncing back from some dark days. |
Two seasons ago the Gwent giants slipped out of the Principality Premiership and their future looked bleak, but they have climbed back up thanks to developing local talent and are determined to keep the plans in place to stay there for some time to come.
Club director Frank Stanton admitted it would be difficult when he spoke to the WRU Podcast: "We are delighted to be back after two years away, but things have moved on in the Premiership so we know we will be in for a tough season.
"However it is nice to be talking about going to Neath, Ebbw Vale and Cardiff rather than having the dogfight in division one again.
"We realise it is the 21st century now so we have to embrace regional rugby, we have to invest in youth and put those structures in place over the long term. We understood it would take at least two years to get into the Principality Premiership and now that we are back we are not going to turn our back on that strategy.
"We have a lot of good young players on board and hopefully we will develop ties within the region as well so those guys wil go on to the Dragons.
"There are a lot of new people at the club now so let's not look back at those dark days behind us but look forward - we have the structures in place now on and off the pitch we feel we have invested for the long term.
"Our aim having got here this season is to be here next season and hopefully have a consistent and sustainable level of rugby at Pontypool for however many years we can enjoy being up here.
"Over the last two years the history has added to the pressure - certainly in the minds of the supporters. We have not forgotten the history, for instance Graham Price is our new president from last season, but hopefully we can build on that into a new era of rugby within the regional set up.
"Having that sort of person involved - and former coach Ray Prosser watching in the stand - reminds the young players that the club has a great past and they can contribute to great times in the future.
"We feel that if we are going to remain a consistent force in the premiership then we need to combine youth and experience, but if we invest in youth now it will stop any yo-yoing back and forwards hopefully. We will not buy in big names only for it not to work on the pitch.
"We are off to a cracking start against Neath, for the supporters as well. After the two years we have been away we owe it to those guys as well, so we are looking forward to a good season."
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