The ride is due to take two days with the cycling contingent set to receive a hero’s welcome back at the club tomorrow (Saturday) with a family fundraising event to include the club’s mini and junior players completing 50 laps of the pitch, a Promise Auction and live entertainment.
A relatively young club, Gwernyfed RFC is now one of the biggest in Wales with 17 teams including two women’s teams and now also successfully hosting the Red Kites girls cluster which sees 140+ girls training weekly.
It has grown to become the heart of the rural community near Talgarth in South Powys and works closely with the WRU club operations department, successfully securing a number of facilities grants, the latest to create new female changing rooms.
Club chairman Rob Stephens takes up the history of the club:
“For the first 30 years of its existence Gwernyfed RFC played rugby on the field of one of the local farmers, changed at the local school and enjoyed post match hospitality at The New Inn in Talgarth.
“In the 1990s the club took over a derelict malt house and entered a lease on its pitches with the local council, now a three pitch complex with full floodlighting.
“In 2016 the opportunity to purchase the freehold of the pitches and to secure the future of rugby in the Black Mountains arose and never shy of a challenge, all sections of the club resolved to embark on an immediate fund raising initiative.
“The support we have received from so many people associated with the club and from the area generally has been huge and humbling.
“From family fun days, the sale of square metre patches of the pitches at £25 a time, raffles, cake making and quizzes, the club has made major inroads into what was envisaged to be a ten year project, raising almost a third of the funds needed within six months.
“We are hoping that the cycle ride will add significantly to our efforts and Holyhead RFC and Llantwit Major have been terrific in accommodating us too.”
CLICK HERE to make a donation to the Gwernyfed pitch fund:
Chris Ower, WRU Participation & Retention Manager – Male Rugby said, “Gwernyfed RFC is a shining example of a fantastic community club both on and off field.
“The Club has a flourishing mini and junior section alongside a sustainable senior set-up including a long standing women’s team. The club officials are extremely proactive and innovative regarding the management of the club, its development of facilities and its position within the community of Talgarth and surrounding areas.”
WRU District Board Member Robert Butcher added, “Gwernyfed is a true community club and and are to be congratulated on their many achievements to date. All the best for the bike ride and future fundraising efforts.”
