Bonymaen
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Bonymaen
Bonymaen RFC is a terrific example of a well-run community
establishment that plays an important role in their local
community. They are based at Park Mawr on Cefn Hengoed
Road in West Glamorgan and their first team currently
competes in Division 1 West Central of the Swalec National
League.
They have made a positive start to their current league
campaign, putting together a record of four wins and two defeats
from their six matches. This has left them sitting in the top half of
the table with nineteen points on the board and should provide
them with a good platform from which to build over the course
of the season.
We caught up with their Secretary Alun Evans to find out
more about the good work that they’ve been doing lately. He
told us, “I have been involved in Bonymaen RFC ever since I can
remember. One of my Grandfathers, my Father and his brother
all played for the club. I remember my father pointing out a team
picture on display in the club showing himself and my Uncle
with a young blonde boy of about two years of age being held
up in the back row. It was me being held by a supporter as my
mother worked on Saturdays and the only way my father could
play was to bring me with him to the games!
“I think Bonymaen RFC would have been classed as a
Community Club long before the term came into existence! We
always have had a strong Social Section and actively encourage
all local people to join us – our Senior Citizens are fully involved
in the club as well as our youngest in the Junior Section.
“We have a successful Junior section, Youth Team, Second
XV and Senior Side. Now that we are completely amateur again
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we rely predominantly on home grown talent from our Junior
and Youth Sections – they are an integral part of the club and we
could not survive without them.
“It is also a pleasure to see our boys go on to bigger and better
things but even more so when they come back to us to share their
experiences as most have done. Players such as Malcolm Dacey,
Richard Webster, Dai Fox and Simon Davies have all returned to
coaching roles with us. Alun Wyn Jones is of this generation and
of the future Rory Thornton, the Captain of Wales Under 20 this
year still keep in touch with us.
“We have players in the current Premiership – Richard
and Ian Brooks, Greg Cunniffee, Richard Williams and Rhys
Williams currently play for Llandovery, Duane Eager at Llanelli,
Neil White and James Bija at Aberavon.
“We are still suffering from the hangover of the open
professional game that most clubs in Wales bought in to. We still
have debts from that which causes us most headaches.
“In the next 5 years the main challenge I see is achieving
financial sustainability. We own outright 2 pitches, a large clubhouse, dressing rooms etc. - all the facilities and more a club such
as ours need. Due to the financial pressure we have a feasibility
study looking at whether we should sell all we have and enter
a joint venture with our local comprehensive school – Cefn
Hengoed and the Council in an East Side Community Initiative
where we would develop and use the school facilities. There are
many views on this project within the club and there will be a lot
of debate about what is the best route. Meanwhile everybody at
the Club is trying to remain positive.”