Perthshire revel in rekindling relationship with Welsh rugby club Pontarddulais

Perthshire Rugby Club is looking forward to maintaining its relationship with Pontarddulais.

The Welsh club travelled north in great numbers - more than 50 - for a friendly match last Friday.

Coupled with the on-field action, there was, of course, plenty of camaraderie, reminiscing and socialising. And a few pints sunk too.

Not since 1993 had Pontarddulais RFC and Perthshire met.

Previously, there were regular matches between the two ambitious clubs over a 25 year period starting on January 31, 1969.

Most years the clubs would visit one another while following the then Five Nations Championships and, particularly, the Scotland versus Wales encounters. The relationship was delightfully rekindled this year.

“The Six Nations Championship is obviously about the international teams and their players but under that is the rugby community across the UK, France and Italy,” said Ewan MacKessack-Leitch, club captain at Perthshire.

“There is a long-established tradition of tours between community teams as they follow their own nation reciprocated annually, especially between Scotland and Wales. For various reasons these get lost over time then re-emerge.

“When I joined Perthshire over 10 years ago, I heard tales of these tours to Wales that had ceased in the 1990s and the friendships forged. I thought maybe for a bygone era.

“Having not toured since 2017, when they went to Las Vegas, Pontarddulais were keen to get on the road again and immediately they thought of re-establishing the link with Perthshire.

“Bob Lindsay, our secretary and veteran of previous Pontarddulais visits and tours, was only too happy to agree and the plans set in motion.”

Pontarddulais, or Bont as they are also known, brought a 50+ strong touring party up with