Ebbw Vale's Strange: Salary cap vital for Super Rygbi Cymru

The Steelmen start their campaign on Saturday when they welcome Aberavon to Eugene Cross Park.

They are attempting to build on a promising 2023/24 in which they were Premiership Cup semi-finalists and then qualified for the play-offs.

Ebbw finished third in the table with a record of 18 wins and six defeats before being overpowered comprehensively by Newport at Spytty Park.

Nonetheless, the efforts have given hope that the 2016 Premiership champions can be contenders in the revamped top flight.

INFLUENTIAL: Jonathan Evans was key for Ebbw Vale last season (Image: NCR Photography)

The teams to beat remain champions Llandovery and the Black and Ambers but Strange believes a salary cap will help ensure there is more jeopardy throughout the season.

Clubs have agreed to a £150,000 per year limit, albeit there are exemptions for recently released under-18 and academy players, dual-contracted players and if there are injuries.

“The SRC has tremendous potential and growth over the next two or three years, maybe with the chance to get into an Anglo-Welsh competition,” said Strange.

“The salary cap will be great if everyone buys into it and there is lots of integrity shown, with it being properly policed and monitored.

“It will make it a level playing field and it will come down to who is best at developing players, coaching, their infrastructure and recruitment.

“There is no better example for a salary cap than rugby league because Wigan won the Challenge Cup on eight straight occasions from the late 1980s.

“Now there are six or seven teams that can win Super League every year and it’s about having good academies and coaching.”

Strange speaks from experience on that front having helped St Helens to several titles and now in a role with Warrington Wolves.

The former fly-half is currently splitting his time between codes for the overlap of seasons but is confident that the Steelmen can push for silverware like the Wolves.

They were hammered by both the Drovers and Newport in semi-finals last year and Ebbw will hope to tap into those humblings.

“If we don’t learn from those experiences then it’s a wasted opportunity,” said Strange. “We have loads to get better at but understand what wins big games and should be a better squad because of that.

“We are pretty clear on the way that we play the game; you always try to add layers but our strength is that we know what we are good at, and what we are not so good at.

“We understand what works for us and we stick to that, it’s just about doing it really well.

“I am really optimistic and not just for us as a team because the club is in a really strong position off the field as well.

“We are in a good position as a business and commercially, the minis and juniors are thriving, we now have women’s and youth teams.

“What we are trying to do is show a genuine responsibility for the community and north Gwent because we have to be inclusive and rugby is a small part of it all.”