Along similar lines to so many clubs during lockdown, Pontypridd RFC asked their fans to vote for their greatest Past & Present XV. There were so many great names to conjure with that many stars didn;t make the cut.
The 1955 Lion Russell Robbins was one notable omission, as was another Lion and former Wales captain Michael Owen. Welsh outside half Ceri Sweeney also missed out, as did 1988 Triple Crown flanker Richie Collins.
There were 13,018 votes cast and when the final line-up was completed it contained 524 international caps and an amazing 3,915 appearances for Pontypridd. It also prompted a heartwarming reaction from one very proud team member in New Zealand.
“Overwhelmed with happiness at everyone who voted for me. What an honour to be firstly nominated next to Ceri Jones, Jason Lewis and Gavin Dacey, whom I consider to be legendary Pontypridd players,” wrote Sonny Parker on his Twitter feed.
“And I’m sure there are many other players who wore the No 13 jersey that could have been considered. Pontypridd will always have a special place in my heart, the people within the club and surrounding community became my family.
“Every time I stepped onto a rugby pitch wearing a Pontypridd jersey I wanted to play for all of them. The chanting the supporters gave, especially at Sardis Road games, still gives me shivers to 
this day.”
Parker was paired up with Dafydd Lockyer in the midfield and found former team mates Kevin Morgan, Gareth Wyatt, Dafydd James, Neil Jenkins and Paul John joining him in a very powerful back division.
Among others, John beat off his father, Dennis, in the battle for the No9 shirt, while Jenkins, as befits a player who scored a club record 3,185 points in 237 games, received 84% of the votes for the outside half berth.
While Lockyer can boast almost 400 appearances in a Ponty shirt, nobody comes close to the remarkable Bob Pemberthy. ’The Bionic Elbow’ made a club record 877 appearances over a 24 year period and, unsurprisingly, went straight into the second row alongside Rob Sidoli as he beat off a challenge from Welsh caps Brent Cockbain and Greg Prosser.
With 1200 appearances between them, Lockyer and Pemberthy were joined as the only uncapped players in the side by hooker Phil John. He played 369 times for the club and has been given two great props to support him in triple Grand Slammer Gethin Jenkins and England’s Duncan Bell.
The back row trio of Tom David, Martyn Williams and Dale McIntosh would grace any team in any era in nay country. Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole . . . Ponty, Ponty!!
