Merthyr RFC set to become new force in Welsh Rugby

Ponty ?

gcBlues wrote:Ahh ponty have wheeled out that pillock again?

Owen Robins?

We have Ponty on the 24th. We'll smash em.

LordDowlais wrote:We have Ponty on the 24th. We'll smash em.

You should change your profile really or team followed.

RiscaGame wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:We have Ponty on the 24th. We'll smash em.

You should change your profile really or team followed.

Why ?

I still like to follow Pontypridd as well.

I used to go and watch them all the time pre regionalism.

Because using we for Merthyr and them for Ponty would suggest something different.

RiscaGame wrote:Because using we for Merthyr and them for Ponty would suggest something different.

I's the royal we.

Look, many moons ago, as a young man, I used to enjoy a trip down to Pontypridd, back in the good old days. They were my closest top flight team

Now, since Merthyr have risen, it would be folly to not take advantage of the good times to be had within the town I live. I will always have a place in my heart for Pontypridd. We will be a WE again when we combine the valleys to make a new region.

So where is Phil when I need him ? It looks as though the Welsh rugby league team , the Scorpions, have decided to move to Merthyr and re-brand themselves as the Ironmen and base themselves at the Wern. Now, that looks a lot to me like a place trying to utilise the facilities all year around. They are being coached by Lee Byrne.

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_23438-new-ironmen-arrive-in-wales.html

Things are afoot in the valleys I tells ya.

This is the first steps to becoming something more than just a sustainable club.

BBC sport are running with this story as well:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37275194

LordDowlais wrote:So where is Phil when I need him ? It looks as though the Welsh rugby league team have decided to move to Merthyr and re-brand themselves as the Ironmen and base themselves at the Wern. Now, that looks a lot to me like a place trying to utilise the facilities all year around. They are being coached by Lee Byrne.

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_23438-new-ironmen-arrive-in-wales.html

Things are afoot in the valleys I tells ya.

This is the first steps to becoming something more than just a sustainable club.

It isn't the Welsh Rugby League team. It's merely the South Wales based franchise. There is a North Wales one in the same league.

I'm not sure it's really a coup for Merthyr to have them to be honest.

RiscaGame wrote:It isn't the Welsh Rugby League team. It's merely the South Wales based franchise. There is a North Wales one in the same league.

It is the Scorpions, sorry, I meant to put that in the sentence, the Welsh rugby league team, the Scrpions, being re-branded as the Ironmen. They are in the same league as the Crusaders.

RiscaGame wrote:I'm not sure it's really a coup for Merthyr to have them to be honest.

Well, Phil has been banging on about how Merthyr could use the Wern all year around to keep generating income. This is one step towards that. This can only be a good thing.

LordDowlais wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:It isn't the Welsh Rugby League team. It's merely the South Wales based franchise. There is a North Wales one in the same league.

It is the Scorpions, sorry, I meant to put that in the sentence, the Welsh rugby league team, the Scrpions, being re-branded as the Ironmen. They are in the same league as the Crusaders.

RiscaGame wrote:I'm not sure it's really a coup for Merthyr to have them to be honest.

Well, Phil has been banging on about how Merthyr could use the Wern all year around to keep generating income. This is one step towards that. This can only be a good thing.

Except rugby league has never ever been a sustainable in South Wales.

Stone Motif wrote:Except rugby league has never ever been a sustainable in South Wales.

Whats that got to do with anything ?



I mention Merthyr doing things to make them more sustainable, I mention things are going on, and staright away I have two Dragons fans trying to rubbish it.

Worried much ?

I'm not trying to rubbish anything Andy. Try being factual. I corrected you on your part of the post, where you suggested the Welsh RL team was playing there and said it isn't a strictly a coup having them there. Is Rugby League a great crowd puller in Wales, as an example? I think I would rather have a football league side at my ground.

But, if you want to over egg things Andy, that's your perogative. I'd rather deal with facts that it's not Wales RL and it isn't necessarily as big a deal as you make out. If they were any good, I'd suspect they'd pull in a better coach than Lee Byrne (the known defence guru and rugby league expert). I also tend to not deal in supposition like you do, with your things are afoot in the Valleys (I'm also confused as to which Valleys you refer to).

But yeah, I am worried.

OK, I know this is WOL, but if you want a laugh, at Merthyr's expense, then you must look at this:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/37-things-you-only-know-9126493

Risca, please grow up, stop calling me Andy for a start.

I replied that I needed to edit my post because I left the name Scorpions out of it. Also, having a football league team share your ground does not keep RP in use all year around, football and rugby are played at the same time. Seriously take the chip off your shoulder, debate like a grown up, stop the name calling.

Chip on my shoulder? How is that even possible?

Another cracking result for Merthyr yesterday, beating Cardiff 24-18. Although why the ref deemed it sufficient to play about 10mins extra time is beyond me. It was almost as if he was willing for Cardiff to get a LBP.

They did get a LBP.

Yes, you are quite right, they did.

But the ref played a stupid amount of injury time, and Cardiff were pressing the try line. It was almost as if he wanted to give Cardiff as much time as he could to score a try.

Never mind though, Merthyr still won.

Bedwas next at the Wern.

Well, what a turnaround by Ponty. they have excepted an invite to play Cardiff Blues B&I games there, also, they will be using the Wern as well.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37363816

Or the Wren, as it said on the BBC website (until they changed it).

LordDowlais wrote:Well, what a turnaround by Ponty. they have excepted an invite to play Cardiff Blues B&I games there, also, they will be using the Wern as well.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37363816

Big boys rugby finally comes to Merthyr

Oh well, it was always going to happen, but Merthyr have been brought crashing down to earth with a bump after getting well and truly beaten at home by Bedwas, 19-37.

Never mind, away to Ponty next week.

Anyway, we might have been dry holed by Bedwas. But we still have a beautiful town to live in:-

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/10-stunning-images-merthyr-local-11892064

LordDowlais wrote:Never mind, away to Ponty next week.

PONTY...PONTY...PONTY

OLE!!!

Steffan wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Never mind, away to Ponty next week.

PONTY...PONTY...PONTY

OLE!!!

Hey, welcome back Steff. How the devil are we ?

BEDWAS have cited Merthyr's Osian Davies for an alleged stamp after Newport Gwent Dragons flanker James Benjamin suffered a fractured leg.

The men from Bridge Field reviewed footage of the incident at a ruck in the closing stages of their stunning 37-19 success at the Wern and have left the matter in the hands of the Welsh Rugby Union.

Benjamin had been hoping to force his way back into the Dragons fold but now faces a short spell on the sidelines and his region have confirmed he will see a specialist.

Typical Merthyr.

LordDowlais wrote:

Steffan wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Never mind, away to Ponty next week.

PONTY...PONTY...PONTY

OLE!!!

Hey, welcome back Steff. How the devil are we ?

Yeah not bad mate. Currently enjoying life in Spain (well...Barcelona not to annoy the locals)

Hope you have a good day at Sardis on the weekend if you're going

Hopefully a good crowd and a much better game than last seasons mudbath. Between it all I haven't checked out the Merthyr (or Ponty for that matter) squad recently but I'm sure it's strong

Here's to a good game and may Ponty...sorry...the best team win

OLE

Merthyr rested a few players last weekend stef, ready for this weekend I think, the mudbath will be no longer, as both sides have a 4g pitch now.

I'm going, and I am meeting up with some old friends from Rhondda who I used to follow Ponty with back in the day. Should be a good un. There is a big crowd expected as well.

I haven't seen anything for this, this was the top result when I searched for the match report: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/pontypridd-rfc-vs-merthyr-rfc-11931825

Makes me wonder if Ponty are regretting not at all attempting to build a working relationship with their Regional team. It looks like Merthyr should fill the void in the years to come but as for this season I'm not sure how many Blues players they have on their books.

mikey_dragon wrote:Makes me wonder if Ponty are regretting not at all attempting to build a working relationship with their Regional team. It looks like Merthyr should fill the void in the years to come but as for this season I'm not sure how many Blues players they have on their books.

None.

What a day out it was yesterday, and whilst I do not know what the official attendance was at Sardis yesterday, there looked a hell of a lot more there than it did on the tele when I watched a far inferior game between Scarlets and Connacht.

The wheels are back on.

Reading WOL there mikey ? Well, well.

LordDowlais wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Makes me wonder if Ponty are regretting not at all attempting to build a working relationship with their Regional team. It looks like Merthyr should fill the void in the years to come but as for this season I'm not sure how many Blues players they have on their books.

None.

What a day out it was yesterday, and whilst I do not know what the official attendance was at Sardis yesterday, there looked a hell of a lot more there than it did on the tele when I watched a far inferior game between Scarlets and Connacht.

The wheels are back on.

Reading WOL there mikey ? Well, well.

When did Terri Gee lose his contract?

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/8280.php#.V-jm1sceh5g

Looks who's crawled back out from under his rock.

Anyway Phil, are you starting to get a little more impressed with the going's on up in Merthyr ?

mikey_dragon wrote:I haven't seen anything for this, this was the top result when I searched for the match report: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/pontypridd-rfc-vs-merthyr-rfc-11931825

Makes me wonder if Ponty are regretting not at all attempting to build a working relationship with their Regional team. It looks like Merthyr should fill the void in the years to come but as for this season I'm not sure how many Blues players they have on their books.

In this game, the following Cardiff Blues players played for Pontypridd RFC:

Cameron Lewis, Dane Blacker, Tavis Knoyle, Liam Belcher, Josh Novell, Declan Williams

Plus Aled Rees from Cardiff RFC

LordDowlais wrote:

Looks who's crawled back out from under his rock.

Anyway Phil, are you starting to get a little more impressed with the going's on up in Merthyr ?

Under a rock? No, mate. I was banned for 'being annoying'. That didn't put me under a rock.

Am I starting to get impressed by a team that is doing well in the Welsh Premiership? No. Sorry.

Now, back to Terri Gee. When did he lose his contract?

OK, him, and that's it.

Aren't you impressed with the fact that the Wern will be used all year around, and that we are looking to use it for other events ? We are also opening it to the public for hourly rates and the what not, not too shabby.

LordDowlais wrote:OK, him, and that's it.

Aren't you impressed with the fact that the Wern will be used all year around, and that we are looking to use it for other events ? We are also opening it to the public for hourly rates and the what not, not too shabby.

Well, that was always Sir Stan's intention. It was to be a community hub for a strong community club, giving back to the local community.

PhilBB wrote:Well, that was always Sir Stan's intention. It was to be a community hub for a strong community club, giving back to the local community.

Yes, but we are answering ALL the questions you were asking in this thread. We are now having rugby league played here during the summer, as well.

Next thing all we need is this 15000 seated stadium that nobody has yet you think we need, then we can start to try and be a region.

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Well, that was always Sir Stan's intention. It was to be a community hub for a strong community club, giving back to the local community.

Yes, but we are answering ALL the questions you were asking in this thread. We are now having rugby league played here during the summer, as well.

Next thing all we need is this 15000 seated stadium that nobody has yet you think we need, then we can start to try and be a region.

Yeah, that's true. Just a huge stadium and a £9m+ turnover business by the time it is built. That's all that's left.

Once the plans for CAP's rebuild are published, I'd be interested in your viewpoint on how a town of about 60,000 could match its income generation.

PhilBB wrote:Once the plans for CAP's rebuild are published, I'd be interested in your viewpoint on how a town of about 60,000 could match its income generation.

The same way as a town in West Wales with a population of 30,000 can do it.

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Once the plans for CAP's rebuild are published, I'd be interested in your viewpoint on how a town of about 60,000 could match its income generation.

The same way as a town in West Wales with a population of 30,000 can do it.

Taylor Wimpey are going to buy The Wern? Stan Thomas is to be replaced by half a dozen funding directors? The Council are going to build a new stadium?

I've missed all of that.

PhilBB wrote:Taylor Wimpey are going to buy The Wern? Stan Thomas is to be replaced by half a dozen funding directors? The Council are going to build a new stadium?

The thing is, nobody needs to do this yet. Also, why would Stan Thomas want to sell the Wern to anyone ? Every time your questions are answered and countered, you talk the same old crap.

The council did not build Parc Y Scarlets, they helped with funding.

You asked how a town with a population of 60,000 could match the income, when I pointed out that there is a town with half that population doing exactly that, you come up with another load of cr@p to suit your agenda.

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Taylor Wimpey are going to buy The Wern? Stan Thomas is to be replaced by half a dozen funding directors? The Council are going to build a new stadium?

The thing is, nobody needs to do this yet. Also, why would Stan Thomas want to sell the Wern to anyone ? Every time your questions are answered and countered, you talk the same old crap.

The council did not build Parc Y Scarlets, they helped with funding.

You asked how a town with a population of 60,000 could match the income, when I pointed out that there is a town with half that population doing exactly that, you come up with another load of cr@p to suit your agenda.

You wrote that Merthyr would do it how Llanelli did it, so I wrote how Llanelli did it. Yet now it seems that you don't know how Llanelli did it.

PyS was built by the Council, mate. Llanelli paid £8m or so upfront as the sum for the 99 year lease on the ground, but its owner is the Council.

PhilBB wrote:You wrote that Merthyr would do it how Llanelli did it, so I wrote how Llanelli did it. Yet now it seems that you don't know how Llanelli did it.

PyS was built by the Council, mate. Llanelli paid £8m or so upfront as the sum for the 99 year lease on the ground, but its owner is the Council.

I do not know how Merthyr would do it. I do not have a crystal ball. But if Llanelli have the population to support regional rugby, then so does Merthyr, almost twice as much.

LordDowlais wrote:
I do not know how Merthyr would do it. I do not have a crystal ball. But if Llanelli have the population to support regional rugby, then so does Merthyr, almost twice as much.

It is not the population that pays for it, LD. It is the facility and the backers. The population of attendees come from all sorts of places, all around.

Now, if Merthyr can emulate all of that, I'd be delighted for it to host pro rugby. I went to Penydarren Park soccer ground last week and remembered when it hosted Atlanta. It couldn't do that now. And that's an indicator of what is required to host top level sport.

PhilBB wrote:I went to Penydarren Park soccer ground last week and remembered when it hosted Atlanta

Did you notice any differences Phil ?

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:I went to Penydarren Park soccer ground last week and remembered when it hosted Atlanta

Did you notice any differences Phil ?

The Wigley suite was a nice little venue. I loved the ground. I think that supporter owned clubs are excellent. I've never been there before so it was odd to find it at a housing cul de sac, but the foliage growing out of one of the terraces and the mismatch of seats show the standard of soccer it supports.

Can the town host a pro rugby team needing £9m plus turnover a year (in two or three years's time) just to be as good as the NGD. I can't see it. I can't see it anywhere in Wales outside of where we have it, either.

That's why, for me, clubs like Pontypridd and Merthyr should be aiming to be the best amateur community clubs in Wales.

PhilBB wrote:The Wigley suite was a nice little venue. I loved the ground. I think that supporter owned clubs are excellent. I've never been there before so it was odd to find it at a housing cul de sac, but the foliage growing out of one of the terraces and the mismatch of seats show the standard of soccer it supports.

Were you honestly there Phil ?

I asked you a question to trick you, and you have been hooked left right and sinker.

Penydarren Park is currently having a massive overhaul. New stands, new suites, there has been massive investment. You would need to walk around there with your eyes closed to not notice all the work going on there.

And do you not mean the Webley suite ? Not Wigley suite ? Named after Dai Webley, one of our best serving players. Surely you would have known that though if you were there. Did you not notice the extra car parking facilities there as well ?

PhilBB wrote:Can the town host a pro rugby team needing £9m plus turnover a year (in two or three years's time) just to be as good as the NGD. I can't see it. I can't see it anywhere in Wales outside of where we have it, either.

That's why, for me, clubs like Pontypridd and Merthyr should be aiming to be the best amateur community clubs in Wales.

Your ignorance of the valleys is astounding.