Pre-season 2023/24 finalised
Preparations are already underway behind the scenes to get the team ready for the new season, and Pontypridd RFC can now confirm its 2023/24 pre-season itinerary.
*UPDATE – Since this article was published, the match against Clifton RFC has been cancelled due to circumstances out of Pontypridd RFC’s control. The Club are hoping to find another opponent for Saturday 12th August 2023.
On Saturday 12th August we welcome Clifton RFC to Sardis Road. We played the men from Station Road three times in three consecutive seasons between 2017-2019 – all of the matches coming in pre-season. In 2017 Ponty won 47-26 at Sardis Road, the year later we won away in Bristol by by 52 points to 28 before triumphing against the same opposition by 45 points to 12 in 2019.
The Bristolians are coming off the back of a strong 2022/23 campaign having finished in 3rd place in RFU National 2 West, we look forward to welcoming them to Sardis Road once again this August after a four year gap.
The following Saturday 19th August Ponty head across the border into the Forest of Dean to play Cinderford RFC, almost 14 years to the day since we last played them at their Dockham Road Ground. During our pre-season in August 2009 we came out on top against the Gloucestershire-based side by 38 points to 12.
Cinderford play in RFU National League 1 – the third tier of the English pyramid. Last season they finished 7th out of 14 clubs in an extremely competitive division that includes other illustrious English sides like Leeds Tykes, Birmingham Moseley, Plymouth Albion and Esher, amongst others.
Pontypridd RFC’s pre-season schedule then draws to a close the following Thursday evening 24th August against Bargoed RFC. The Welsh Championship side will no doubt prove a stern test for Ponty having narrowly, and unluckily missed out on promotion to the Welsh Premiership at the end of last season. The fellow Mid District club finished third behind promoted Pontypool and Neath, but many feel they were unlucky not to fill the 14th place in the Welsh Premiership following Llanelli RFC’s decision to withdraw from this season’s league campaign. Ponty and Bargoed last met on Saturday 11th September 2021 in a pre-season encounter at Sardis Road. Pontypridd won an entertaining match 53-19, a contest remembered for being Club legend Dafydd Lockyer’s last appearance in Ponty colours.
Also, don’t forget that preceding these three matches is the Sardis 7s – an exciting 7’s rugby event that will take place over 3 days from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th August at Sardis Road.
CONFIRMATION – Pontypridd RFC’s Pre-Season 2023:
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th August – The Sardis 7s, Sardis Road
Saturday 12th August – Pontypridd v Clifton, Sardis Road – 2:30pm kick-off
Saturday 19th August – Cinderford v Pontypridd, Dockham Road – 2:30pm kick-off
Thursday 24th August – Pontypridd v Bargoed, Sardis Road – 7:15pm kick-off
*PLEASE NOTE – we will publish all the finer details including ticket information and all the usual match and ground information closer to the time in the build up to each match.
