Now they have added the title of the ‘Freedom of Torfaen’ to their honours list after their local council bestowed the honour on the club for their remarkable efforts.
The full council gathered to greet the club’s executive chairman Peter Jeffreys and head coach Leighton Jones and unanimously agree to bestow their ultimate honour on Pontypool RFC.
“Pontypool RFC are special to the borough and recognised around the rugby world. We should be proud of them,” said Councilor Anthony Hunt, himself a season ticket holder at Pontypool Park.
“Conferring the freedom of the borough goes back to ancient times. There are now no particular special rights but it is a means of recognition given to individuals and collections of individuals, and a reflection of the high esteem they are held in by the council and the borough.
“I would like to thank you for your hard work. To win just about every game for six years is a huge achievement.”
Meanwhile, the club eight players who featured in last season’s unbeaten campaign will be leaving this summer ahead of the step up into the Indigo Premiership. Among them is outside half Dai Langdon, whose last-gasp drop goal at Ystrad Rhondda snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the final weeks of the season to ensure the unbeaten record was retained.
Joining him in leaving the club will be front row duo Tom Piper and Darren Hughes, who are hanging up their boots, while fellow hooker Aneurin Jenkins is also departing. Cameron Regan, Dan Babos, Geraint Walsh and Connor Lewis are also departing.
The club have retained 32 players under contract for the new season, including their three Wales U20 players – Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Sam Scarfe and Huw Anderson – who headed to South Africa this week to take part in the World Rugby U20 Championships
The forwards currently signed up for next season are: Kyan Best, Adam Brown, Sam Cochrane, Callum Davies, Luke Fleming-Jones, Alex Grey, Mike Herbert, Ieuan Jones, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Peter Lloyd, Scott Matthews, Garin Price, Lance Randall, Sam Scarfe, Adam Stratton, Ashley Sweet and Kelvyn Williams.
The back division boasts Huw Anderson, Ethan Davies, Matthew Jarvis, Marcus Jones, Dai Jones, Owain Leonard, Pat Lewis, Dylan Lewis, Morgan Lloyd, Joel Mahoney, Amosa Nove, Mathew Powell, Ewan Rosser, Deon Smith and Duan Thomas.
