Squad / Coaching Update

It’s now less than three weeks until the Sardis 7s kicks of the Club’s pre-season schedule during the first weekend of August, and behind the scenes preparations are in full flow. The Pontypridd playing squad have been back in pre-season training and many of you will have seen via the Gallery on our website and the Club’s social media platforms that they’ve been put through their paces in various locations around South Wales.

In terms of playing personnel there are a number of trialists training with the retained core of the squad ahead of the new season – squad details will be released in the near future. However, we can confirm that a further three players and a member of the coaching/management team have departed the Club ahead of the new campaign –

Lucus Welch joined Pontypridd at the commencement of the 2021-22 season whilst linked to his local club Ynysybwl. A livewire scrum half, he found opportunities limited over the past two seasons with the Club, making 8 appearances – his last coming away at Aberavon in January 2023.

Jamie Murphy joined Pontypridd midway through last season and made an immediate impact with the club scoring a try after 57 seconds on his debut as the team won away at Aberavon in January 2023. Jamie was unlucky picking up a couple of injuries during his time with Ponty which resulted in him making just 6 appearances for the Club.

Daf Rotie linked up with Pontypridd RFC after impressing on trial in the summer of 2022. He made his debut for the Club as the team won away at Carmarthen Quins in front of the S4C cameras in October 2022. Daf made 3 appearances for Pontypridd in total, the last coming at home against RGC in April. Daf was linked to Pontypridd RFC via his parent club Newcastle Emlyn RFC.

A senior lecturer at the University of South Wales, Dean Parsons has been part of the coaching/management team at the Club for the past 5 years. Dean has played a key role in the Pontypridd RFC management structure as Performance Analyst, heading up a team of students who report on player performance.

On their departures from the Club, Pontypridd RFC would like to thank Lucus, Jamie, Daf and Dean for all their efforts and hard work during their time at Sardis Road and would like to wish them well for the future.

Diolch