Our History

In 1958, a dedicated group of committee men and players decided to try to reform a rugby club in Pontllanfraith. Gradually the playing strength increased to such an extent that we rarely had to commandeer the bus driver and eventually we managed to win the Cyrus Davies Cup. 

In these early years the ethos of the club was formed:

  • It was a family club, everyone contributing to it in their own small or large way.
  • If a member was in difficulty, the club would help as best as it could.
  • Play the game hard, but always fairly.
  • Play and work for the club solely for enjoyment.

In the seventies and eighties, with the exception of cup games, all games were friendlies, 15 a side with no substitutions allowed. Towards the end of this era, the clubhouse was opened and the playing strength greatly increased with the club regularly fielding 3 seniors sides, youth and junior sides and a full compliment of mini rugby teams. The club was buzzing, but all attempts to achieve WRU status were thwarted. 

Since the nineties, the fortunes of the club and the playing side have flucuated fairly regularly. Welsh Rugby Union status was achieved in 1998 and after a dreadful start we eventually attained Division 3 level after being crowned champions of Division 4 in 2006. This however was short lived mainly due to the lack of strength and depth within the playing side and the unacceptable proffesionalisation of the clubs in the lower leagues.

Pontllanfraith slipped back into Division 5 after a poor 2008-09 campaign and stayed there in the following years up until the WRU league structure at the end of the 2013-14 season. Pontllanfraith now play their rugby in Division 3 East C.