Captain’s Blog

This blog will be quite a significant one for me, as it will be my last as a Ponty player and captain.

Its been a tough decision, one that I’ve taken some time to consider, but one that I’ve now made, to take a step back from the Ponty squad. I’ve been training hard for the coming season but have had to give serious consideration to some of the injuries I’ve been carrying, and realising that playing on at the top level could take a hell of a lot out of me. I’ve discussed the situation with my family, with the Ponty coaches, and the decision has been made.

Although I’m gutted, it will be good to leave the club that has meant so much to me on my own terms, on good terms, and not just to be told by others that I’m not wanted any more. I’ve had to be honest with myself and listen to what my body is telling me – my time is up.

I will take a step back and my plan now is to take up coaching and to play the odd game for my local club Abercwmboi, which also means a lot to me and where I have many friends.

I have so many people at Pontypridd that I need to thank, far too many to mention here, all the players, coaches and club officials I’ve been working with. Dai Thomas and Stuart Roy from the medical team deserve a special mention, they patched me up and kept me going when my body was in bits, extending my playing career in doing so. Many of those I played alongside have become true friends, the likes of Gav Dacey and Jake Thomas, whilst others like Stuart Williams are no longer with us. My debt to coaches like Paul John and Dale McIntosh, and to Richard Langmead who was a fellow player and a team manager, is a big one. I was lucky to be a part of so many great Ponty teams, full of quality, with many players going on to reach regional and international level.

The most important people at Pontypridd RFC have been the fans, without them the club wouldn’t be what it was and what it is. They have followed us in great numbers home and away and I have so many experiences to treasure of being with them, sharing the good times and the bad.

I’ll finish off by thanking my family, my mother and father in particular, for standing by me all the way, for everything they have done for me. I never thought that I would play for such a great club as Ponty, let alone for so many years, but my family have backed me all the way and given me the self-belief to carry on.

Pontypridd RFC means so much to me, its been an honour to represent the club and the badge, for which I have massive respect and I always will. Thank you all for having me.

Dafydd Lockyer – 25/08/21