Ospreys Hand Young Prop New Contract

The Ospreys are delighted to confirm that young loose-head prop Ryan Bevington has signed a new four-year contract that will see him stay at the Liberty Stadium until the end of the 2012-13 season.

OSPREYS HAND YOUNG PROP NEW CONTRACT

A strong scrummager who also makes a great contribution around the field, the Bridgend born 20 year-old has graduated through the ranks at the Ospreys, representing the region at Under-16, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 level, captaining the young Ospreys. In addition, he has been capped by Wales at every age-grade level, appearing at two Junior World Championships for his country. A product of Porthcawl RFC, he has also played for Bridgend in the Welsh Premiership. His senior Ospreys debut came at the end of the 07/08 season, when he came off the bench during the final fixture away to Connacht and he added two more appearances as a replacement during the 08/09 campaign.

Speaking after signing his contract, Bevington said:

"I've come right the way through the Ospreys Academy from age-grade level and I've been fortunate enough to have played three times so far for the senior side, so I'm really excited about securing a long term contract. It's exactly what I wanted. It's my home region, it's a really great set-up with the best facilities and the best players, and I wouldn't want to play anywhere else."

"Paul James and Duncan Jones are fantastic to work with; they are always willing to help and if I have a problem they will sit down with the lap top and work through it with me and they'll help me review my game, they are really good mentors. In the same way, Mitch has just come back from the Wales tour and I've been helping him get up to speed with the new calls that Scott Johnson has introduced. The whole front row have got a great relationship where we all help each other out, it's an attitude that goes right through he squad in fact, and I hope that it will help me develop my game further."

"I want to target regular rugby now, I want to keep developing and make the next step up. Hopefully, if I work hard in training I will get some more game time this season. The format of the new Anglo-Welsh Cup, being played when the internationals are away, should give me an opportunity to test myself at that level against some good sides and show what I can do and hopefully, that will allow me to kick on from there."

Ospreys Coach Jonathan Humphreys commented:

"Ryan is a very exciting prospect for the future. He has outstanding attributes for a loose-head prop and has a very mature and professional outlook and approach to his work that will stand him in good stead as he looks to make his way in the game. He is another example of the fine work being done here at the Ospreys to develop local young talent, I'm very excited about his future with the region and working with him as he looks to establish himself as an Osprey over the next four years."