Pontypool women’s rugby team was formed in 1986 and eventually folded in the mid-1990s. The club produced several international players and won many Welsh Cup and league titles as well as Sevens tournaments. The club also hosted the very first Wales v England women’s international, held at Pontypool Park in 1987.
Now the team are getting back together for a one-off reunion, nearly twenty years after their last match.
“A few of us have been talking online about this and reminiscing about the good old days for a couple of years but now it’s finally going ahead,” said former scrum-half Claire Russell. “We are not planning to pull our boots back on, however tempting that might be for some of us – this is a purely social occasion.”
Ex-players are coming from as far as the north of England, London and west Wales, even Australia, and the club would also welcome players from one-time rival club Blaenau Gwent.
But there are a few key players who have proved difficult to track down.
“They include one of our first players Rene Vernon as well as Jackie “Bill” Morgan who won numerous caps for Wales and another ex-international Cath Parish. We are also looking for Claire “Yaz” Wallbank and Tracey Morgan who were from the Bargoed area,” added Claire.
The reunion is planned for Friday July 12 at New Panteg Rugby club, where the team were based in latter years. Any former players interested in finding out more should contact Claire at clairerus@aol.com
