We will be looking at the Clubs that we will be facing in the new league over the next few months on this website. Many are very familiar to all at the Club. Many we have enjoyed huge battles with on the field and enjoyed many a beer or story with it off the field. It is going to be a tough and very interesting season.

The first Club that we will take a look at is arguably the favourites to win this new league, Ystrad Rhondda RFC.

Ystrad enjoyed a very successful 2013/14 season. For the second consecutive season they claimed the runners up spot in Division One East. They recorded the double over Champions Merthyr and were only a bonus point win away from promotion to the Championship. In 22 league games they only suffered four defeats and were tied in one game. They scored 63 league tries and conceded 43. In the three of the four games they lost they claimed losing bonus points.

Ystrad were also runners up in the Mid District Cup. They narrowly lost out to Bargoed in the final at Virginia Park, Caerphilly. A late surge from the Valleys Club almost took the trophy back to Gelliwasted Park, in fact it can be argued that if the game went on for another five minutes Ystrad would have been victorious and not lost by the 29-28 scoreline.

Former Beddau Youth product Rhys Truelove was in outstanding form in the Cup final and has enjoyed an excellent spell since the move up to the Valleys. Rhys will also be remembered for the remarkable injury time winning kick that helped Ystrad pip Beddau in this year’s District cup semi final.

Liam Bodman is another player that escaped from Mount Pleasant Park to join Ystrad. “Bod” is a very good prop forward who also came through the youth team ranks at Beddau. He will be remembered by Beddau supporters for his 40 metre dash to score a superb try that almost caused a massive Swalec Cup scalp over Swansea. He has struggled with work commitments this season but for sure he will be gunning to lower Beddau’s colours in the two fixtures next season.

Everybody at the Club look forward to welcoming both Rhys and Liam back to the Club next season.

Another player with Beddau connections at Ystrad is scrum half Jay Harris who is the son of Club favourite Dai Harris.

Phil Evans, one of Beddau’s vice presidents, and David Owen who was another Beddau youth product have both also enjoyed playing spells in the valley.

Jeff “Tanker” Wheeler a former Beddau die hard and part of one of the biggest Beddau rugby families is now a huge follower of Ystrad.

The Club was founded way back in 1884 and has become one of the leading Rhondda Valley and Mid District Clubs.

They currently run a second XV plus two hugely successful youth teams which seem to attract the cream of the Valley talent. They also have an excellent mini and junior section.

Mike Griffiths, the former Wales and British Lion, is a product of the Club. After retiring from the game he returned to his roots and coached Ystrad through a very successful period in their proud history.

Another product of this great Club is Alex Webber. Alex is a regular on the World sevens circuit with Wales and last season joined up with Premiership outfit Pontypridd.

Ystrad have won several honours in recent times and they are listed below-

Mid District Cup Winners – 1993/94 & 2000/01
National League Division Six Winners 1994/95
Heineken League Division Five Winners 1996/97
National League Division Two East Winners 2004/05, 2007/08 & 2011/12

They have arguably the longest serving President in Welsh rugby. Dr Tony Lloyd has been President at the Club now for over 50 years.

Ystrad look to play a total 15 man game but can also adapt to circumstances and have been excellently coached by former Llantrisant favourite Simon Jenkins and Club favourite Dylan Hughes, who is yet to hang up his playing boots, this season.

Beddau will know for certain what to expect from a very good Ystrad side who are also expected to recruit as well as add some very good youth team players to their squad.

We always have a warm welcome on and off the field up at Gelliwastad and hope we can repay this once again next season.