Our History

Abercwmboi RFC Club History

In 1980 the Welsh Rugby Union celebrated its centenary and in that very same year Abercwmboi RFC was founded.

The Club was the inspiration of a group of friends who had regularly played together, as the “Kings Head ‘Sunday’ Rugby Team”. Playing against other valley pub sides, the “Kings” had developed a unique reputation for good rugby and an even better “craic” after the matches. As a result, fixtures were easy to come by and pubs from as far as Porthcawl and Aberystwyth queued up to play.

Unfortunately, by 1979 the early enthusiasm for pub rugby had “dried up “ and the “Kings” was left with the options of either disbanding or thinking of other ways to attract fixtures.

The decision was to stay together and apply for membership of the Welsh Districts Rugby Union.

In 1980, the Kings became Abercwmboi RFC and was accepted as a member of the WDRU.  The club began playing from the local “Phurnacite Social Club”, which was situated in 12 acres of land just outside Abercwmboi village.  Both clubhouse and its surrounding ‘Welfare grounds’ had long been owned but the National Coal Board and were maintained by workers from the local smokeless fuel plant. 

From a lowly position in Division 6 of the Rhondda and East Glamorgan Rugby Union “the Village” began their ascent. The Club won promotion in consecutive years finally capturing the Division 1 title within 8 years. Off the field things also went from strength to strength. The now abandoned and derelict Phurnacite Social Club was bought and completely renovated. The clubhouse opened its doors as Abercwmboi Rugby Club in April 1989.

After only 18 years the “Village” was accepted as a full member of the Welsh Rugby Union and became champions of Division 7 at its first attempt. Since then the WRU has restructured its leagues on numerous occasions and with it the Club has been promoted several times. In recent years, the club has witnessed a vast amount of success. In 2017/18 season we were crowned champions of League 3A East Central league, gaining promotion to League 2. Our first season in League 2 saw us finish in a very respectable 4th place, the following 2019/20 season was cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic, at the time we were in 4th place. When the leagues restarted post-pandemic for the 2021-22 season, the success continued. We were crowned champions of League 2, going unbeaten all year. We also won the Mid-District Bowl for the first time in the clubs history. Unfortunately, there was no promotion that season due to the rules put in place for the return to rugby post-covid. 2022-23 brought even more success the club gained promotion to League 1, another first and a monumental moment in our clubs short history.

Most importantly though the Club now hosts a huge mini and junior rugby section, with sides from under 7's to Youth.

The off field story also continues to move on at an incredible pace. The Club has left its old clubhouse and now owns one of South Wales' most prestigious rugby venues. A brand new million pound 'plus' clubhouse sits in a superb floodlit setting, which provides a vital community asset allowing young and old to enjoy its facilities and our national sport.

In a relatively short time we have created a heritage that has achieved and continues to succeed at all levels. But despite our swift progress the 'Village' still boasts a purely amateur philosophy. We rely on our ingenuity and a dedicated band of likeminded sponsors and supporters who are all proud of what we have accomplished. In short, we are a family Club with a desire and commitment to adults, children and the locality.