Merthyr RFC is a Welsh

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

 rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 club based in Merthyr in South Wales. Merthyr RFC are presently members of the Welsh Rugby Union

Welsh Rugby Union

The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...

 playing in the Division One East League and are a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues

Cardiff Blues

Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....

..

Early history

The first recorded rugby game involving Merthyr was on 25 November 1876 against a side from Brecon

Brecon

Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...

. The result is believed to have been a draw. Merthyr RFC are recognised as on of the eleven clubs present on 12 April 1881 for the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union. The club, along with Brecon

Brecon RFC

Brecon Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club from the town of Brecon, South Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues.The club was one of the eleven founding members of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881...

, Pontypool

Pontypool RFC

Pontypool Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in the town of Pontypool. Pontypool RFC has a long history within Welsh rugby and is one of the most notable clubs, being present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881, but disbanding before the turn of the 19th century...

, Llandovery College, Lampeter College and Llandeilo

Llandeilo RFC

Llandeilo Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the village of Llandeilo, in Carmarthenshire, west Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets.-Early History:...

 then inaugurated the South Wales Cup competition in the 1877-78 season.

During these early years Merthyr RFC played at the Plymouth Ground at Pentrebach

Pentrebach

Pentrebach is a village in the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. It lies on the east side of the River Taff opposite Abercanaid, South of Merthyr and North of Troedyrhiw. To the east of the village lies the Mynydd Cilfach-yr-Encil which rises up to 445 m...

 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.

September 1960 saw the opening of the New Clubhouse 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

Mold RFC

Mold Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the town of Mold, North Wales. They presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division One North League.Mold Rugby Club is a member’s run club...

 at Abercynon

Abercynon

Abercynon is a small village in the Cynon Valley in Mid Glamorgan, Wales. The unitary authority is now known as Rhondda Cynon Taff. It is composed of the village of Abercynon itself,Carnetown,Glancynon,Park View and Pontcynon. However, in recent years the sign to show motorists they are entering...

 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.

Merthyr Tydfil FC, the town's resident football club are planning to move from their existing home at Penydarren Park

Penydarren Park

Penydarren Park is the former stadium for Merthyr Tydfil F.C. in Merthyr Tydfil. It has a capacity of 10,000. A housing estate next to it also carries the name of the stadium. It was also the home of the town's former club, Merthyr Town F.C., members of the Football League between 1920 and 1930,...

 to a 12,000 stadium at the 'Merthyr Village' project. The rugby club could also potentially move there.

Notable former players

Jonathan Bryant

Jonathan Bryant

Jonathan 'Jon' Bryant is a former Wales Rugby union international. His previous clubs include Pontypridd RFC, Celtic Warriors, Newport Gwent Dragons and Sale Sharks...

Tom James

Tom James (rugby player)

Tom James is a Welsh rugby union footballer.He was a former Welsh athlete before turning to rugby. His older brother, Robbie, is a professional welterweight boxer and former Welsh ABA Champion....

Matthew Rees

Matthew Rees

Matthew Rees is a Wales and British Lions international rugby union footballer who currently plays for the Scarlets in the Celtic League. His usual position is at hooker...

Robert Sidoli

Robert Sidoli

Robert Sidoli is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Newport Gwent Dragons.He has won 42 caps for Wales as a lock forward...