 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (February 2020) |
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| Full name | Pontypridd Rugby Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Ponty, The Valley Commandos | ||
| Founded | 1876 | ||
| Location | Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales | ||
| Ground(s) | Sardis Road (Capacity: 7,861) | ||
| Coach(es) | Chris Dicomidis | ||
| Captain(s) | Cally James | ||
| Most caps | Bob Penberthy 877 | ||
| Top scorer | Neil Jenkins 3,185 | ||
| Most tries | Karl Swain 179 | ||
| League(s) | Welsh Premier Division | ||
| 2023-24 | 7th [1] | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| www | |||
51°36′02″N 3°20′48″W / 51.600460°N 3.346571°W Pontypridd Rugby Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Rygbi Pontypridd) is a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It won the Indigo Group Premiership for four consecutive seasons between 2012 and 2015, and the WRU National Cup it 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]
- ^ "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.
- ^ "A brief history | About Pontypridd RFC | The Club". Ponty.net. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Ponty: The big rescue package". Wales Online. 22 September 2003. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Warriors' buy-out 'mortal blow'". BBC News. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "A New Beginning | Club News | News & Views". Ponty.net. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Retail setback hits Sardis Road". BBC News. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ Hands, David (12 February 2005). "Pontypridd put historic ground up for sale". The Times. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Valleys is the place for fifth region | Noticeboard | News & Views". Ponty.net. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ Cole, Robert (6 November 1993). "Rugby Union: Pontypridd's chance to outdo the Joneses". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ Clutton, Graham (9 February 2002). "Welsh-Scottish League: Little's large contribution inspires Pontypridd". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.