The official date for the formation of the club is 1876, although its first recorded matches appear to have been played in the 1877-78 season.

The earliest matches were played at Taff Vale Park, which was later used for the Welsh Powderhall professional sprint championship with a top prize of £100 - a fantastic amount in those days and even more than many rugby players earn today!

The team first wore jerseys with Cardinal and Black hoops, before changing to their Black and White strip some time before the Second World War.

The ground at Sardis Road - christened 'The House of Pain' by former captain and present team manager Nigel Bezani - is built on the site of an old mine known as 'Dan's Muck Hole'.

The old bridge ('pont' in Welsh) at the north end of the town gives the town and club its name, and its distinctive shape is incorporated into the club badge and adorns the top of the rugby posts at Sardis Road.

THE FANS

Regarded by many other clubs as the 'best supporters in the world' - partly because of the noise they make, but mainly because of the impact they have on the bar takings at away games!

Pontypridd fans favourite chant is "ole, ole ole ole, Ponty, Ponty".

Pontypridd's home ground has a capacity of 7,800, and the best place to soak up the atmosphere is the enclosure ('the bob bank') and the best place to drink is the clubhouse.

Rumours abound within the club of a secret group of fanatical supporters known as 'Meibion Yr Hen Bont' (Sons of the Old Bridge) whose mission in life is to liberate referees' guide dogs and return them to the wild (the referees, that is).

HONOURS

Pontypridd won the Welsh club championship in 62-63, 75-76, 77-78, 78-79 and 96-97.

Pontypridd are the current holders of the Welsh Principality Cup, beating Llanelli in last year's final by 20 - 17.

Pontypridd were the only club side to figure in all of the first six years of the European Cup.

Last season Pontypridd narrowly lost to Sale in the Parker Pen Shield final by 22 - 25, having beaten Saracens and London Irish along the way.

THE PLAYERS

Seven Pontypridd players have figured in the Welsh squad this season - Robert Sidoli, Mefin Davies, Ceri Sweeney, Gethin Jenkins, Richard Parks, Michael Owen and Sonny Parker, and Robert, Mefin, Ceri, Gethin and Michael played in the six nations.

Neil Jenkins - 'Jinks' or 'The Ginger Monster' - is a legend in the game. He has played 223 games for Ponty and scored 3043 points. Say no more!

Dale McIntosh - 'the Chief' - is a cult figure with Ponty fans. He got his nickname due to his alleged resemblance to the native American character in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest'. He has played No 8 for Scotland A and Wales - not bad for a full-blooded Maori?

Brent Cockbain - 'Biscuit' - is the younger brother of Australian international Matt Cockbain, and looks a good bet to wear the Welsh jersey following his qualification for his adopted homeland this summer.

Duncan Bell - a rarity, Duncan is a top-rank English player earning his corn in Welsh rugby. He went with England on that disastrous tour to South Africa in 1998, and could still do a good job at tight head for England.

Scrum half Paul John - 'Johnsy' - illustrates the 'family' nature of Pontypridd RFC. His father Dennis captained the club from scrum half in the early 1970s, and coached Ponty very successfully from 1991 to 1999.

Other 'family' men are Jason Lewis, centre and brother of club coach Steele Lewis, and Michael Owen, No. 8 and son of former Ponty lock Colin Owen.

Gareth Wyatt - 'Qwyatt' - a brilliant footballer at full-back (where he got his only cap for Wales), outside-half or wing (his usual position). His guidance to all young players at the club is always respected, especially his advice not to play cards with Jason Lewis!

Jon Bryant - 'JB' is a hard centre - ask Brendan Venter of London Irish.

Brett Davey - a former professional soccer player, Brett has turned his kicking skills to rugby and scored all Ponty's points (try and 5 penalties) in last season's Welsh Cup final.

EX-PLAYERS

John Edward Brooks was apparently selected to play alongside team mate Edward Treherne in the first international against England in 1880, but failed to turn up because nobody told him that he was in the team - nothing much changes in Welsh rugby!

Glyn Davies was capped at outside-half in the 1946 Victory International while still a schoolboy at Pontypridd Grammar School, and also captained Cambridge University.

Russell Robins gained a reputation as 'the best number eight in the world' during the British Lions tour to South Africa in 1955, where he played in all the tests and in more games than any other player. He 'went north' to Leeds in 1958, but is still to be seen on the 'bob bank' at most home games.

Cenydd Thomas - former player, club secretary, and chief executive during the difficult transition to professional rugby. He survived the double handicap of being a police officer and an international referee to become a highly respected figure in Welsh rugby.

Bob Penberthy - 'the bionic elbow' - the king of the lineout played a colossal 877 games for Ponty between 1961 and 1985, and captained the side in its centenary season.

Tommy David - Welsh international and British Lion - played in the famous Barbarians victory over New Zealand, and when Grant Batty took offence at being banged into touch, big Tom gently picked him up and patted him on the head like a naughty schoolboy - making Grant even more batty.

Steele Lewis - 'Stella' - club backs coach and former centre who played 393 games for the club. A forthright character who is famous for the often undeleted expletive.

Nigel Bezani - 'Baz' - a fearsome prop and club captain in the 'golden era' of the mid 90s, and now team manager. Baz is a keen motorcyclist - and definitely one of Hell's Angels.