Our History

Nantymoel R.F.C. was founded in 1885 / 86 and celebrated our 125th season in 2010 / 2011. The club was formed by men who came to the Ogmore Valley to work in the mines. During this time it was known as the Nantymoel White Stars, a name it kept for several years.

Between 1905 and 1914 the club was accepted into the Bridgend and District league, eventually going on to win that league in the 1923 / 24 season. During this time they competed against clubs such as Bridgend, Llanelli and Cardiff on a regular basis, keeping a fixture with Bridgend R.F.C. until the 1957 / 58 season.

The 1993 / 94 season saw the club’s 1st XV reach the fifth round of the SWALEC Cup, defeating a number of clubs in higher leagues on the way, narrowly losing to Narbeth R.F.C. who was in what was then the old Heineken Division one. As a result of the club’s success during this time, a number of higher division clubs poached our players, consequently resulting in our 1st XV being relegated in consecutive seasons throughout the mid-nineties.

In 1996 / 97 circumstances started to improve when Ryan Jones, one of our youth players, was chosen to play for Wales Youth and was selected twice in one season against Ireland away and Scotland at home. Also Gerald Williams ex Bridgend and Wales agreed to join the club as head coach to the 1st XV. His appointment had an immediate effect on morale and playing standards.

Arguably the best period in the club’s history to date was in the early 2000s when coaching duo Colin Hillman, Wales sevens coach, and ex Bridgend and South Wales Police and Mark Titley ex Swansea and Wales took the reins of the 1st XV in the 2000 / 01 season when they were in Division Six of the old Heineken Leagues. In the seasons that followed Nantymoel gained promotion from Division Six to Division Two in consecutive years. They were unbeaten at home for two years and reached round six of the Principality Cup in 2002 / 03, beating clubs such as Cwmllynfell, Dunvant and Pontyberem on the way, only losing to Bedwas away. Most of the players responsible for this success were from the Ogmore Valley and came from the youth section of the nineties.

Players from early 2000 have now retired, but due to a vibrant youth and mini and junior teams, continuity of players from these sections have ensured the first and second XV teams can field a full complement of quality players year in year out.

We pride ourselves in our relationships with other clubs, both local and from outside Wales, for example, we have a thirty-year old relationship with Snowdown R.F.C which is based in Kent, Te Kowfeta College New Zealand and Deventer R.F.C. Holland.