Pontypridd RFC

Pontypridd Rugby Football Club
Full namePontypridd Rugby Football Club
Nickname(s)Ponty, The Valley Commandos
Founded1876
LocationPontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
Ground(s)Sardis Road (Capacity: 7,861)
Coach(es)Chris Dicomidis
Captain(s)Cally James
Most capsBob Penberthy
877
Top scorerNeil Jenkins
3,185
Most triesKarl Swain
179
League(s)Welsh Premier Division
2023-247th [1]
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.ponty.net
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51°36′02″N 3°20′48″W / 51.600460°N 3.346571°W / 51.600460; -3.346571 Pontypridd Rugby Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Rygbi Pontypridd) is a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It competes in the Indigo Group Premiership, that it won for four consecutive seasons between 2012 and 2015, and the WRU National Cup, that it has won on 6 different occasions, the most recent being in 2014.

Established in 1876, Pontypridd RFC play their home games on the banks of the River Rhondda, at Sardis Road, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, with their age-grade section playing at Taff Vale Park in Pontypridd, and Pontypridd High School Fields in nearby Cilfynydd.

Pontypridd RFC experienced a successful period during the 1990s under head coach, Dennis John, referred to as the club's "Golden Age",[2] and enjoyed further success between 2001 and 2003 with the appointment of head coach, Lynn Howells. The transition to Regional Rugby in Wales in 2003 saw the downgrading of Pontypridd to a semi-professional team, followed by financial difficulties for the club,[3] and eventual demise of Pontypridd's "Celtic Warriors" region.[4]

Pontypridd RFC has since refinanced and restructured,[5][6] and, despite a mooted stadium sale,[7][8] it continues to be regarded as a beacon for rugby in the south Wales Valleys.[9]

Pontypridd RFC has produced numerous players for the Wales national rugby union team and long thrived on the 'unfashionable club' tag.[10][11]

  1. ^ "Principality Premiership | Welsh Rugby Union | Official Website : Principality Premiership Index". Wru.co.uk. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  2. ^ "A brief history | About Pontypridd RFC | The Club". Ponty.net. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Ponty: The big rescue package". Wales Online. 22 September 2003. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Warriors' buy-out 'mortal blow'". BBC News. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  5. ^ "A New Beginning | Club News | News & Views". Ponty.net. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  6. ^ "The first day of the rest of our lives | Club News | News & Views". Ponty.net. 15 October 2003. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Retail setback hits Sardis Road". BBC News. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  8. ^ Hands, David (12 February 2005). "Pontypridd put historic ground up for sale". The Times. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  9. ^ "Valleys is the place for fifth region | Noticeboard | News & Views". Ponty.net. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  10. ^ Cole, Robert (6 November 1993). "Rugby Union: Pontypridd's chance to outdo the Joneses". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  11. ^ Clutton, Graham (9 February 2002). "Welsh-Scottish League: Little's large contribution inspires Pontypridd". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.

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