By: Paul Hopkins
Swansea fell to a heavy defeat against English Championship side Richmond in their final pre season match before the 2026/27 Super Rygbi Cymru campaign begins.
In a match played over three thirds, the first two were particularly difficult for Joe Thomas’ men, but they’ll take much heart from an outstanding final 30 minutes – with five tries scored in total.
Richmond were awarded an early penalty, which fly half Jason Baggott chipped up to the 22. A well worked move by the home forwards almost resulted in a try, but the ball became loose and the visitors cleared with a goal line drop out.
The home side came again though, and winger Chidera Obonna almost picked up a clever chip through, but the bounce didn’t favour him. Flanker Jake Monson then tried to go himself, but was tackled a few metres short of the line, before the Whites secured a much needed turnover and cleared through scrum half Matthew Aubrey.
Richmond were handed another penalty, which Baggott again chipped to the corner. Lock Charlie Bell took the lineout and centre James Langston came close to wriggling through, before winger Josh Addams held off a tackler in the corner to score the home side’s opening try. Full back Callum Grieve missed the conversion.
The home side’s fast start continued when Bell collected a lineout on the Swansea 22 and an outstanding rolling maul saw the home side create an excellent platform, from which Baggott handed a short pass to Obonna, who touched down under the posts. Grieve converted.
Full back Iwan Glynn failed to hang onto a high ball, and Biggott was instead able to chip deep into the Swansea 22, but fly half Josh Phillips tracked back and kept his cool under pressure to clear long.
A superb 50/22 by Grieve gave the home side another attacking lineout, just five metres from the Swansea line. Number eight JJ O’Dea took the lineout and he popped up at the second phase to power over for a try. Grieve converted.
Flanker Jared Cardew broke through a Swansea tackle to race 30 metres upfield, but a poor grubber kick by Langston brought an end to the attack. The home side were back in possession seconds later, with the Whites given a warning for giving away too many penalties in succession.
Baggott found touch just shy of the 22 with the penalty and Bell took the lineout, with Langston powering into the 22, before lock Matt Dodd was yellow carded for a persistent offside. An outstanding defensive effort by Swansea dragged the home side into touch from the lineout.
Lock Fred Hosking took a lineout on the 22, but flanker Callum Bowden managed to rip possession away from the Richmond player, allowing Phillips to clear.
A great link up between Obonna and Baggott got the home side on the attack inside the Swansea 22, but the Richmond backs overcomplicated the play and lost the ball forward.
In the dying seconds of the first third, Langston made good yards upfield, and was supported by Monson, but he threw a hero pass that was put down by O’Dea, with a potential try opportunity lost.
30 minutes: Richmond 19-0 Swansea
The home side began the second third as they left off the first as Obonna linked up with centre Paddy Care out wide to send Langston over for a try. Grieve converted.
The visitors finally got themselves on the scoreboard when winger Brandon Wood took a superb pass and used his pace to race clear for a try in the corner. Phillips missed the conversion.
Hooker Logan Lloyd dived on a loose lineout at the Richmond 22 and his side were awarded a penalty, which Phillips chipped into the corner, although the home side knocked the ball forward to give the visitors a scrum instead. Number eight Jacob Hopkins tried to power forward from the set piece, but was unable to get his pass away and was bundled into touch.
Dodd took a lineout and scrum half Iwan Temblett fired a long pass out to winger Harvey James, but he was tackled into touch inside the Richmond 22.
O’Dea was penalised for a deliberate knock on, allowing Phillips to find touch on the home 22, but prop Luke Spring superbly stole in to tap the ball back for his side to clear…before a fight broke out and prop Tom Crockett was yellow carded for an earlier dangerous tackle.
A superb move by the Richmond backs saw Obonna back his pace on the wing again, and he managed to hand a scoring pass to Archie Brosch. Grieve converted.
Monson collected a loose ball and Fergus Dick and Miles Wakeling threatened out wide, but the home side were penalised for holding on after the tackle.
The home side were awarded a penalty inside the Swansea half and Lewis Dennett chipped into the corner. The lineout was successfully completed, allowing Dick to crash over for a try. Dennett converted.
The pick of the afternoon’s tries came soon after when Addams chipped ahead and used his incredible pace to beat his opposite number to touch down. Dennett converted.
The visitors looked to hit back and found themselves with a rare attacking platform in the Richmond 22. Temblett took a quick tap penalty, but a loose pass was pounced on by Obonna, who hacked the ball clear.
Dennett chipped up to the Swansea 22 with a penalty and Dick powered forward, but the supporting player was well wrapped up. Chris Freeman then powered into the Swansea defence and a further Richmond score looked inevitable, before play was stopped for an injury and the end of the second period.
60 minutes: Richmond 47-5 Swansea
The visitors enjoyed the best possible start to the final third when Glynn took a pass and raced clear for a try. Fly half Luke Price missed the conversion.
The home side were soon back on the attack when Grieve chipped inside the Swansea 22, with O’Dea powering forward before Sam Reynolds spotted a gap and was able to sprint over for a try. Dennett converted.
A superb piece of play involving Price and full back Mat Protheroe saw the visitors grab a third try, when the ball was fed inside to centre Joe Thomas. Price hit the post with his conversion attempt.
Things got even better for the All Whites when scrum half Kai Inker added a fourth try after racing through a tiring Richmond defence. Price converted.
Some superb quick hands by the Swansea backs earned a penalty, with back chat by the Richmond contingent resulting in a further 10 metres. Price chipped to the corner and found touch a metre from the line.
A rolling maul formed from the lineout, but Richmond were guilty of offside at the maul with a yellow card following. A further lineout and rolling maul followed with Sam Cawsey claiming the try. Price converted.
The home side were back on the attack inside the Swansea 22 as they aimed to finish with a flourish. O’Dea powered through, but threw a pass forward, although play was brought back for a penalty. A rolling maul followed from the penalty, but the All Whites were able to trap the ball inside, earning a turnover.
Richmond grabbed a ninth try with the last play of the game after a well worked move by the backs saw an inside pass thrown to Tom Riman for the score. Grieve converted.
It will now be a four week wait for Richmond’s opening Championship game when they host Ampthill, while Swansea travel to SRC runners-up Ebbw Vale in three weeks’ time.
Full-time:- Richmond 61-29 Swansea
Richmond:
Tries:- Chidea Obonna (7), Josh Addams (10, 56), JJ O’Dea (16), James Langston (31), Archie Brosch (46), Fergus Dick (53), Sam Reynolds (65), Tom Riman (89)
Cons:- Callum Grieve (11, 17, 32, 47, 66, 90), Lewis Dennett (54, 57)
Yellow cards:- Teddy Gibson (75)
Swansea:
Tries:- Brandon Wood (33), Iwan Glynn (61), Joe Thomas (68), Kai Inker (71), Sam Cawsey (78)
Cons:- Luke Price (72, 79)
Yellow cards:- Matt Dodd (19), Tom Crockett (45)
Match facts:
Venue:- Athletic Ground, Richmond
Weather:- Sunny, 21C
Man of the match:- Josh Addams
Attendance:- 700
Richmond team:
15 Callum Grieve
14 Josh Addams
13 Paddy Case
12 James Langston
11 Chidera Obonna
10 Jason Baggott
9 Matt Marsh
1 Theo Bevacqua
2 Will Godfrey
3 Luke Spring
4 Charlie Bell
5 Fred Hosking
6 Jake Monson
7 Jared Cardew
8 JJ O’Dea
Replacements (all featured):
16 Will Roddy
17 Chris Freeman
18 Eric Nixon
19 Teddy Gibson
20 Miles Wakeling
21 Fergus Dick
22 Hugo Culverhouse
23 Campbell Swanson
24 Lewis Dennett
25 Sam Dardis
26 Tom Riman
27 Sam Reynolds
28 Archie Brosch
Swansea team:
15 Iwan Glynn
14 Harvey James
13 Callum Carson
12 Ieuan Bissell
11 Brandon Wood
10 Josh Phillips (cc)
9 Matthew Aubrey
1 Tom Crockett
2 Tommy Connelly
3 Ellis Fackrell
4 Theo Currie
5 Matt Dodd
6 Jake Roberts
7 Callum Bowden (cc)
8 Jacob Hopkins
Replacements (all featured):
16 Logan Lloyd
17 Jayden Maybank
18 Morgan Jones
19 Osian Oliver
20 Cai Arnold
21 Chris Thompson
22 Ethan Fackrell
23 Iwan Temblett
24 Kai Inker
25 Luke Price
26 Callum Dodd
27 Cai Howell
28 Mat Protheroe
29 Joe Thomas
30 Sam Cawsey