About Us

Cambrian Welfare RFC were formed in 1982/83 season. In its early years, its fair to say that the team had its fair share of hidings. We joined the Rhondda and East Glamorgan League in 1985.... and the beatings continued! But as the years progressed, our experience grew and the tide began to turn. Cambrian Welfare's most successful season to date came in 1996/97. We were the first ever team to win 'The Treble' :- this included the first ever Super League, the SA Brains District Cup (Brewers) and the Keith Jones Cup...the only team who have ever done so! The pinnacle of the season was being awarded the Rhondda Team of the Year award, beating the likes of Treorchy, Ystrad Rhondda and Treherbert. The coaching staff for that season, Terry Davies, Mark (Jessy) James and Ricky Thomas were very fortunate to have such a special group of players to achieve such a feat.

The start of the of the 1997/98 season saw a very different line-up, with a handful of players retiring or moving onto other clubs. The club struggled on and were left to start again. With just a few senior players left to the boost the spirits of the club, Cambrian relied heavily on the local youngsters to carry the team forward. It was a long, hard process but the club remained optimistic that the winning ways would soon return!

The 2002/03 season saw a fresh start with the appointment of Chris Davies (Monkey) and Paul Martin (Magic) who helped the team secure the League. This was followed by the team narrowly losing to Penallta in the Coleman Cup. The very same season saw Cambrian winning the coveted CamBurn Cup for the very first time. This annual fixture is contested between ourselves and our old friends, from the borders of Scotland, Walkerburn RFC.

The following season saw the team retain the CamBurn cup, winning on away soil, which has never been achieved before. That season also proved successful as Cambrian clinched the Ivor Williams Cup, by beating Ynysowen by 24 points to 12, at Abercynon. This season also saw the departure of Forwards' Coach, Chris Davies, who went onto pastures new, at Penygraig RFC.

The season of 2007/08 was very successful for the club. For the second time, Cambrian won the Worthington Welsh Districts Cup, comfortably overpowering Bryncethin 20-8, at the Millennium Stadium on April12th 2008. The success continued with the introduction of the new Heineken League Division Six. Cambrian were placed second, narrowly missing out on the League title, after losing out to rivals, Bryncethin.

The season of 2008/09 was, again very successful for the club. Cambrian are the second team in history, to win the Worthington Welsh Districts Cup (Brewers) three times; the only other team to do so was St Albans RFC, Cardiff. We achieved it by comfortably overpowering local rivals, Wattstown RFC 29-18, at the Millennium Stadium. The team continued with this winning streak by proving victorious against Glyncoch RFC for the new newly- formed Presidents Cup competition. This game was played at Abercynon RFC with the final score of 26-5. Outstanding performances on both occasions. Cambrian weren't fortunate enough to complete the Treble this season, by missing out on the Division Six League title.  We look forward to next season with relish!!!! 

May our good fortune continue.......