THE RUCKED FILES – No.13
Pontypridd RFC
Who are you?
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club was formed in 1876 and was sufficiently well established by March 1880 to be one of nine clubs that met at the Tenby Hotel, Swansea, to discuss the formation of a national union. We have six ex-Pontypridd players in this year’s current Six Nations squad for 2008.
Why should we care about you?
We aim to continue developing international players at all age grades as well as to keep striving forward and developing the club both on and off the field and look forward to a possible regional side in the Valleys.
But what makes you different from the rest?
I would say we are the best-supported side in the Welsh Premiership and our supporters are the best! They have stuck by the side through the difficult times and where ever we play there are buses and cars in convoy to support the side.
What was your finest moment?
In 1999 we reached the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, in 2003 we reached the semi-finals of the Parker Pen Cup we won the Principality Cup in 2002 and reached the final of the Konica Minolta Cup in 2005 and 2006, crowned champions in the latter year.
And your worst?
At a meeting of the shareholders on Sunday 21st of September 2003 the directors announced that Pontypridd Rugby Football Club PLC was insolvent, and that administrators were to be called in. Short of a white knight riding over the horizon with a fairy godmother sitting on his knee, this was the only course of action available. A new company – Ponty Rugby Limited – was to be formed, and in subsequent elections a new board was elected to run the club.
Any famous players (past or present)?
During the 90s a host of Pontypridd players gained caps for Wales. As well as Paul Knight and Neil Jenkins, there were caps for Richie Collins, Paul John, Greg Prosser, Martyn Williams, Dale McIntosh, Mark Rowley, Kevin Morgan, Gareth Wyatt, Dafydd James, Mike Griffiths, Geraint Lewis and Ian Gough. In the new Millennium, caps followed for Michael Owen, Richard Parks, Robert Sidoli, Mefin Davies, Gethin Jenkins, Sonny Parker, Jonny Bryant and Ceri Sweeney. Tom Riley, Dai Flanagan, Duane Goodfield, Chris Dicomidis, Adam Powell and Rhys Shellard represented Wales U21s; dynamic scrum-half Wayne Evans and Shellard play for the Wales seven-a-side team, Chris Clayton and Morgan Stoddart, Matthew Nuthall, Mark Lewis, Richard Fussell, Lee Thomas, Geraint Morris, Ian Evans, Johnathan Edwards and Duane Goodfield, all of whom gained international honours at youth and U21 level.
Any current players who are a bit special?
Our mascot the Ponty Panda is very special and is on the books to play for The Japanese Panda squad at the moment. But on a serious rugby note we have a lot of junior and senior players who are showing great talent especially our new centre Adam Thomas, locks Ryan Savage and Chris Dicomidis and flanker Lee Evans a player who is ever present in our side.
Describe your club in three words?
Passionate, Proud, Ponty.
What are you after?
To win the league and cup as well as continue to develop further international players at all age groups. We are also looking at bringing a regional side to the Valleys but we need investment so if there are any rich business people reading this and want to be part of a successful side please get in touch.
If we want to find out more?
Visit www.ponty.net or contact Gareth Howells, sponsorship and marketing manager, on marketing@ponty.net
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