The Club

Our history

Pontardawe Rugby Football Club was founded in 1881 in Pontardawe, a small town on the River Tawe in the Swansea Valley. It is one of the long-standing member clubs of the Welsh Rugby Union, and in 2007 it celebrated its 125th year of WRU membership.

Over the years Pontardawe has produced a number of first-class players and coaches. The club's junior section has provided age-group rugby with qualified coaches from under 7 through to under 16, and many other clubs, premiership sides included, have benefited from players who learned the game at Pontardawe.

In May 2006 Pontardawe was one of the thirteen 'rebel' clubs that brought a vote of no confidence in the Welsh Rugby Union over its finances and the departure of national coach Mike Ruddock. The motion failed, but it showed a club willing to stand up for the community game.

Like many clubs, Pontardawe has sold vintage rugby memorabilia to raise money to improve its facilities. A history of the club, The History of Pontardawe RFC by J. R. Jones, was published in 1985.

Sources: the club, Wikipedia and Companies House. Have a photo, a programme or a story from the club's past? Bring it to the clubhouse or call 01792 864811: we'd love to add it here.