Player Departures
As the Pontypridd RFC coaching and management team continue working hard behind the scenes to reshape the squad for our 2024/25 Welsh Premiership campaign, we can confirm a number of players will be departing the Club. Diolch bois…
Tom Harper came through the junior and youth ranks of his local club Mountain Ash. As a young man and whilst studying at the city’s University, Tom was given the opportunity to represent Swansea RFC at Premiership level during the 2018-19 season. Having gained a reputation as a hard scrummaging tight head prop, Tom made the move to Pontypridd in the summer of 2021. Since joining Ponty Tom played in nearly every match for the Club over the last 3 seasons, making 69 appearances.
Sion Parry made a reputation for himself as a dynamic open-side, firstly with local club Rhiwbina and then at Premiership level with Bedwas. Sion signed for Pontypridd in 2019, making 64 appearances for the Valley Commandos and he also did himself and the Club proud when he made his international debut for Canada in the summer of 2023.
Tom Devine hails from Senghenydd and graduated through the junior and youth ranks of his local club and was drafted into the Dragons regional age-grade system. A solid scrummaging loose head prop, Tom also took up the 13 man league game and was capped by Wales at all youth levels in that code. In the summer of 2021 Tom was invited to train with Pontypridd and given a place in the club’s senior squad. He would go on to make 43 appearances for Ponty.
Aled Ward joined Ponty in the summer of 2022 from RFU Championship side Hartpury. The former Wales U20 International, who can play across all three positions in the back-row was an ever-consistent performer for the Club and made 39 appearances over two seasons.
Joseph Scrivens started playing rugby for his local club Penallta RFC before joining the Ospreys pathway as a teenager. When he was down west Joe got his first experience of playing in the Welsh Premiership with Bridgend. A move to Cardiff RFC followed and he gained more Welsh Premiership experience with the Blue and Blacks. Joe’s career went full circle, signing back for his hometown club Penallta RFC before making the move to Sardis Road in September 2022 where he made 35 Ponty appearances.
Ben Burnell re-joined Pontypridd RFC in October 2023 following the demise of RFU Championship club Jersey Reds. It was the third time that Ben had been linked to the Club in his young career since making his Ponty debut in September 2021. Ben has international honours with Wales U18s and Wales U20s and made 31 appearances for Ponty.
Josh Phillips signed for Ponty from the Scarlets ahead of the 2023/24 season. Josh, who is from the Rhondda played for Pontypridd Juniors and won the Dewar Shield with Rhondda Schools when he was younger. Josh then represented Cardiff Blues U16’s and U18’s and was called up to play for Wales U18’s, and later the U20’s. He joined the Scarlets when he was 17 years old and whilst with the West Wales region cut his teeth in the Welsh Premiership for Llanelli RFC for two seasons between 2021-2023. Josh played in every match for Ponty during his sole season with the Club, making 25 appearances.
Harvey Nash joined Ponty from the Ospreys in readiness for the 2023/24 campaign. Harvey already had prior experience of playing in the Welsh Premiership for Swansea in 2022/23 and Bridgend in 2021/22 whilst being based in West Wales. Prior to his two years with the Ospreys, Harvey, who’s local club was Treorchy played Age Grade rugby for Cardiff Blues U16’s and U18’s as well as playing for Coleg y Cymoedd whilst studying there. He also played international rugby for Wales U20’s and made 25 Ponty appearances during his time at Sardis – another who played in every match for the Club during 2023/24.
James Murphy is Cardiff born and was capped by Wales at youth level, progressing to represent Bedwas in the Premiership at senior level. James moved back to his home city club in 2002 and became a regular in the Cardiff side as a ball winner before joining up with Pontypridd in the summer of 2019. The towering lock made 25 appearances for the Club.
Liam Lloyd joined Pontypridd RFC from Treorchy RFC ahead of the 2023/24 season. Prior to playing for Ponty Liam had previous Welsh Premiership experience representing both Ebbw Vale and Merthyr earlier in his career and also played for Cardiff Blues U16’s and U18’s at regional Age Grade level. The pacey winger scored 7 tries in 19 appearances for Pontypridd.
Ryan Wilkins signed for Pontypridd RFC from Cardiff RFC ahead of the 2023/24 season. Ryan came through the Mini and Junior ranks of his local club Pontyclun RFC and captained Ponty Schools U15’s to Dewar Shield glory in 2018. A hugely talented youngster, he was snapped up by the Cardiff Blues regional pathway and played for their U16’s, U18’s, Academy and made two appearances for the senior regional side whilst playing for Cardiff RFC in the Welsh Premiership. The classy centre scored 9 tries in 15 appearances for Ponty during the 2023/24 season.
McCauley Rowley joined Pontypridd RFC from Ystrad Rhondda RFC ahead of the 2023/24 season. He played a starring role for Ystrad during the 2022/23 campaign helping them to a 4th placed finish in Welsh Championship and was a runner-up in the Championship Cup Final at the Principality Stadium. McCauley had also previously represented Cardiff Blues U16’s and U18’s at regional Age Grade level and made 15 appearances for Ponty.
Pontypridd RFC would like to thank all the departing players for their efforts during their time with the Club and would like to wish them all the very best for the future.
The Club has retained the services of a large section of the squad, and remain in negotiations with other players. We’ll have further squad news for our supporters in the near future, watch this space…
