Five times he played at Principality Stadium with Pontypridd in the WRU Challenge Cup final, winning in 2006 and losing in 2005, 2008, 2015 and 2017. His father, another Ponty back row stalwart, Mike, was in the first Pontypridd side to reach a final in 1979, when they lost to Bridgend.
Now Shellard junior is hoping to put something back into the club at which he launched his glittering career, that took in junior international honours, Wales Sevens and a professional period at Cardiff Blues, but guiding the ‘Snakes’ to victory over the ‘Monkeys’
“Aberdare is where it all started for me, and I always wanted to come home and play for a couple of seasons to give something back. It is a great club and it is going to be a great day out for everyone in the town,” said Shellard, who made 264 appearances for Pontypridd between 2002-2022.
“I coached the youth team for a couple of seasons before returning as player-coach this winter. Things have gone well and there are a lot of talented players in the squad.
“I always enjoyed the experience of playing for Pontypridd in the finals at Principality Stadium and it is something for all the players in all the finals to savour. I just hope we can win it!”
Neither side knows much about the other, although the records of the two teams this season suggests it is going to be a tough title to win. Both are second in their respective divisions and while Aberdare have lost one league game, Morriston have only lost two.
The ‘Monkeys’ have been receiving video messages all week from various sporting heroes from the area or with attachments to the club. Ross Moriarty, who came through the mini and junior ranks at the club, was one of them, along with Sir Gareth Edwards, former Wales Triple Crown winning captain, Bleddyn Bowen and his Swansea and Wales teammate Robert Jones.
There was also a note from Wales World Cup footballer Joe Rodon, whose cousin, Jack, is captaining the side from hooker.
“We’ve got five coaches of supporters following the team bus and many others are coming up to support the club on the train,” said the club operations manager, Adrian Turner.
“There are 11 players in the squad who were in our youth team when they reached the final at Principality Stadium against Cardiff Met in 2019 and almost every player has come through our junior ranks.”
WRU DIVISION 2 CUP FINAL TEAMS
Aberdare: Matthew Davies; Jamie Richards, Josh Muxworthy, Jarrad Rees, Ben Miller; Oli Lewis, Ellis Stephens; Dan Shanahan, Ben Staton (captain), Mitchell Griffiths, Kian Carter, Jon Watts, Josh Lloyd, Owen Young, Rhys Shellard
Reps: Adam Fenlon, Nathan Terry, Kieron Parry, Adam Parry, Dale Lloyd, Kian Stephens, Thomas Roberts, Justin Thomas
Morriston: Jac Lewis; Chris Shill, Ryan Carpenter, Luke Butler, Leigh Andrew; Corey Evans, Matty Davies; Jamie Jones, Jack Rodon (captain), Nick Jones, Levi Burgess, Ryan Durston, Dexter Hadley, Dillon Grindod, Rhys Morgan
Reps: Connor Edwards, Chris Forshaw, Jon Ball, Rhys Bevan, Brad Scannell, Christian White, Alex Thomas, James Jones
Aberdare
Division: 2 East Central
Place: 2nd
Record: P 15 W 14 D 0 L 1 Pts 65
Road To Final
25 March – Semi Final
Aberdare 15 – 12 Kidwelly
18 February – Quarter Final
Aberdare 13 – 0 Talywain
Pool Stage
Abercynon 14 – 22 Aberdare
Ynysddu 3 – 34 Aberdare
Morriston
Division: 2 West Central
Place: 2nd
Record: P 12 W 10 D 0 L 2 Pts 49
Road To Final
25 March – Semi Final
Morriston 20 – 16 Heol y Cyw
18 February – Quarter Final
Caerphilly 11 – 13 Morriston
28 January – Round 1
Cilfynydd 14 – 19 Morriston
Pool Stage
Morriston 33 – 21 Porthcawl
Morriston 38 – 0 Fishguard & Goodwick
Burry Port 23 – 26 Morriston
