In a statement on their club website the Specsavers National Championship leaders confirmed receipt of the notification from the WRU last week about the cancellation of the remainder of the season due to the coronavirus epidemic.
“Whilst we are all absolutely devastated that we will not be able to complete the season and realise our dream of achieving promotion to the Indigo Premiership, we fully understand the Welsh Rugby Union’s position and support them in the decision they have reached,” the club told its fans.
“Although the decision will be incredibly disappointing for supporters, we would ask everybody connected to Pontypool RFC to support the Welsh Rugby Union at this incredibly challenging time.
“We have all worked so hard in recent years to once again make Pontypool RFC a vibrant and successful club, but we recognise that sport must take a backseat until the COVID-19 pandemic has stabilised.
“As much as we want to be a Premiership club, it is far more important that our squad, staff, volunteers and supporters remain healthy in the long-term and we would urge everyone to follow the government’s guidance on social distancing and protecting older people and vulnerable adults.
“In light of this guidance, Pontypool Park will remain closed and no further club events will take place until further notice. Please be assured that the club will still be there for all of us to enjoy in the future and we will go again.”
After missing out on promotion to RGC 1404 four years ago, Pontypool have won the Championship three seasons in a row. They were leading the current table by five points with 10 games to go and hoping to reach the Indigo Group Premiership next season.
Their last triumph, a 15-12 victory over Bedwas at the end of January, made it an amazing 63 league wins in a row. They scored 385 tries and 2,540 points in those matches at an average of six tries and 40 points per game – with only 1.5 tries and 12 points in return per game.
Centre Kieran Meek appeared in 59 of the 63 games and scored 399 points. That included 22 tries and 125 conversions.
It has been an incredible transformation since Pooler finished 12th at the end of the 2012/13 campaign. They won only seven of their 26 matches that season and scored a mere 45 tries.
For the past five seasons they have topped 100 tries and lost only seven times, and drawn once, in 108 matches. Their three title victories came with the loss of only one match, away at Cardiff Met in 2017, but that merely inspired their incredible run of victories.
They missed out on promotion last season when they lost the play-off game against Llanelli and were vying with barged and Bedwas this season for the one automatic promotion slot. They will surely be back in the title race when rugby resumes next season.
The decision to cancel the season has also left other teams chasing titles agonisingly short of their goals. Llandudno, who were unbeaten after 15 games in Division 1 North, had hoped to make it back-to-back titles, while Glyncorrwg were also unbeaten after 13 games in Division 3 West Central B.
South Gower boasted a 100% record after 14 matches in Division 3 West Central C, while in Division 2 West, Burry Port led by 14 points from Mumbles after going unbeaten in 15 matches. Usk were 20 points clear of Abercarn at the top of Division 3 East A after losing only once in 15 outings.
