Merthyr RFC
| Full name | Merthyr Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Ironmen | |
| Founded | 1876[1] | |
| Location | Merthyr Tydfil, Wales | |
| Ground(s) | The Wern | |
| President |  Sir Stanley Thomas | |
| Coach(es) | Lee Jarvis, Garry Horrigan, Dale McIntosh[2] | |
| Captain(s) | Andy Powell (rugby), Craig Locke, James Howe[3] | |
| League(s) | Principality Premiership | |
| 2015-16 | WRU Championship, 1st (promoted)[4] | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| merthyr | ||
Merthyr RFC is a Welsh rugby union club based in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales. Merthyr RFC are members of the Welsh Rugby Union, playing in the Principality Premiership, and are a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues.[5]
Early history
The first recorded rugby game involving Merthyr was on 25 November 1876 against a side from Brecon. The result is believed to have been a draw. Merthyr RFC are recognised as one of the eleven clubs present on 12 April 1881 for the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union.[6] The club, along with Brecon, Pontypool, Llandovery College, Lampeter College and Llandeilo then inaugurated the South Wales Cup competition in the 1877-78 season.[7]
During these early years Merthyr RFC played at the Plymouth Ground at Pentrebach and were known as Merthyr Alexandra.
Following the First World War the Club played at Gwynnes Field, Cefn Coed and also at Penydarren Park although during the Second World War there was very little rugby played in Merthyr, a situation reflected throughout Wales. However, in 1948 a meeting governed by Cyril Williams, Monty Warrington and Ron Gethin was enthusiastically supported and the game of rugby union returned to Merthyr Tydfil. The club played out of Dix's field, Danydarren, and then on to Glyndyrus field Abercanaid, before moving to the current ground, The Wern in Ynysfach in 1958.
In September 1960 the New Clubhouse opened in Ynysfach, and two years later, Merthyr Youth were formed.
Recent history
Merthyr RFC played Amateur District Rugby in the Rhondda and East Glamorgan District until they defeated Mold RFC at Abercynon to secure promotion and entry to the Fifth Division of the Heineken League under the Captaincy of Craig Dummett in 1993/4. Promotion immediately followed from the fifth to the fourth, then the third to the first in successive years (The two division jump caused by WRU restructuring of the league). Merthyr remained in the First Division for six seasons before being relegated to Division 2 following a players' strike. It took three seasons to achieve promotion back to the first division.
In 2013-14, the Ironmen have achieved their most successful season to date. Completing a Double, under the Captaincy of Steve Lang and coached by former Wales International Lee Jarvis. They won the League Division 1 East title, securing their promotion to the WRU Championship, and also won the SWALEC Plate Final 29-26, against Rhiwbina at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.[citation needed]
Merthyr RFC won the WRU SWALEC Championship in 2015-16 and presently play in the WRU Principality Premiership.
Kit manufacturers and sponsors
| Years | Kit Manufacturer | Main Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2008-2010 | KooGa | Garth Bakery1 |
| 2010-2014 | Canterbury | JNP Legal |
| 2014 | Macron | Tetley's Brewery |
| 2014-2016 | Miller Argent | |
| 2016-2017 | Leisuretime Holidays |
1During the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, the club's training kit was manufactured by Canterbury and sponsored by Jobs@Pertemps.
Notable former players
Club Honours
- WRU Championship Winners: 2015-16
- Division 1 East champions: 2013-14[8]
- SWALEC Plate winners: 2013-14[9]
External links
Merthyr RFC Official Home Site
References
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp11, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ^ WalesOnline (2015-11-04). "Former Cardiff Blues coach Dale McIntosh moves to Merthyr RFC as club get WRU green light for Welsh Premiership". Media Wales. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
- ^ Merthyr RFC (2016-08-12). "Howe and Locke captain Ironmen". Merthyr RFC. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
- ^ WRU official site
- ^ BBC News (2004-07-08). "Wales' regional rugby map". BBC. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp41, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp43, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ^ "Merthyr RFC wrap up the league to earn promotion to the Championship with three games to spare". Wales Online. 28 April 2014.
- ^ "Swalec Finals Day: Merthyr given scare by Rhiwbina but hang on to claim Swalec Plate title". Wales Online. 4 May 2014.