There won’t be a Sunday morning lie in for Wales flanker Harri Deaves after his Saturday night efforts for the Ospreys against the Sharks in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Instead of taking a well-earned rest, the all-action back row man will be up with the larks and in the kitchen at Pontyclun rugby club preparing bacon and egg rolls for the fans as they prepare to descend on Principality Stadium.
At stake for Deaves’ hometown club and mid Wales side Llangadog is the WRU Division 4 Cup in the latest round of finals in the ‘Go Compare Road to Principality 2026’ series.
They are the second of four finals on Sunday 19 April (kick-off 1.15pm) and the day will begin with a clubhouse gathering at Pontyclun rugby club before the buses arrive to deliver everyone to the Welsh capital.
It is a chance for Deaves to give back to the club at which he learned his rugby at the end of a season when his hometown last descended on Principality Stadium to watch him win his first cap against New Zealand in November.
No sooner had he sung his debut song in the dressing room, received his cap from WRU President, Terry Cobner, and completed all his postmatch duties than he was back in the bar at Pontyclun RFC toasting his achievement with his many friends and supporters.
“I’m in the kitchen at 9,00am on the bacon and egg sandwiches. Att 11.00am we’re setting off on the buses, and I’ve got tickets for 37 of the Youth boys I coach coming with me,” said Deaves.
“I’ll be looking after them for the day watching and supporting the team on their big day. Then it will be back to the club afterwards – I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
“I’d call e very one of the 23 in the matchday squad my friends and some are my best mates. I’ve played with many of them and coached three of them at Youth level – it should have been four, but the starting fullback is on holiday in Thailand – including my Youth team captain.
“It’s huge for the club and for a number of the players who are coming towards the end of their careers. We’ve been trying and trying to get to a final and we were knocked out in the semis last season.
“We’ve gone one step further this year and the aim is definitely to win. It would be mental to win the final and I don’t think the club will shut for a couple of days at least if we do it.
“I sent the boys a message at the start of the week telling them to take everything in during the build-up to the game, to enjoy spending time with each other and what it meant to me to play at the home of Welsh rugby with my best mates.
“The key thing is to enjoy every second because it will be over in a flash.”
Team manager Dan Godfrey is another sounding board for the team having played at the home of Welsh rugby about six times during his Pontypridd career, but on the day it will be down to skipper Joe Williams to marshal his troops and bring home the trophy.
While Pontyclun have been playing for 139 years, Llangadog are comparatively new to the game. Formed some 30 years ago by among others the former Llanelli and Wales wing Carwyn Davies, they have reached Principality Stadium for the first time.
Relegated from Division 3 last season, they have regrouped in the lower league and fought their way to the club’s first major final.
“We got a younger team this season to last and they are all a good group who enjoy playing together. Seven of the team are sons of former players, which shows the family feel at our club,” said tight head prop and club chair, Telur Dyer.
“We’ve got seven or eight farmers in our side illustrates the rural community we serve. We all play for fun, not money, and it is a huge honour for me to be chair of this club.
“I never really thought of playing at the Principality as being a dream for our club because I never thought it would be possible.”
Dyer may be in his dotage these days, but he has done more than merely keep his end up in the scrum this season. He is the second highest try scorer with nine, with wing Iestyn Williams one ahead with 10.
TEAMS
Llangadog: Rhodri Davies; Iestyn Williams, Rhys Thomas, Kasper Andreasen, Ben Morgan; Ceri Williams, Tom Bailey; Llyr Thomas, Daniel Morse, Telor Dyer, Rhys Evans, Owen Williams, Tom Davies, Ioan Hughes, Charles Handford (captain)
Reps: Ioan Lewis, Tom Llewellyn, Steff Thomas, Gruff Jones, Cian Thomas, Guto Price, Lewys Jones, Deian ThomasPontyclun: Adam Lewis; Jake Dennis, Luke Rose, Nicky Theaker, Morgan Stevens; Joe Williams (captain), Morgan Lloyd; Henry Legg, Sam Barclay, Iestyn Herridge, Morgan Parsons, Morgan Rose, Evan Cooke, Josh Clark, Dan Hemmens
Reps: Dan Ruggles, Simon Pilkington, Tom Fry, Jack Theaker, Gareth Hooke, Harri Davies, Tom Harrison, Harri Stiff
ROAD TO THE FINAL
21 March 2026 – Semi Final
Bonymaen Athletic 12 – 27 Pontyclun
Tonyrefail 14 – 20 Llangadog
31 January 2026 – Quarter Final
Pontyclun 34 – 7 Ynysowen
24 January 2026 – Quarter Final
Treharris 7 – 18 Llangadog
13 December 2025 – Round 3
Oakdale 7 – 27 Pontyclun
6 December 2025 – Round 3
Llangadog 33 – 6 Dreigiau Emlyn
1 November 2025 – Round 2
Pontycymmer 14 – 17 Llangadog
25 October 2025 – Round 2
Pontyclun w/o v Penlan