Pontypridd v Brecon – Match Preview
On Saturday 3rd January Pontypridd RFC play Brecon RFC in the Admiral Premiership at Sardis Road. It’s the team’s first match of 2026 and it kicks off at 2:30pm.
The two clubs met on the opening day of this season on Saturday 6th September 2025 at Parc de Pugh, a match which Ponty won by 34 points to 17 following a strong second half performance. Honours were shared between the two sides last season, in what was Brecon’s first campaign at Premiership level. The Valley Commandos triumphed by a 43-11 scoreline at Sardis Road on Saturday 16th November 2024, before Brecon avenged that defeat back on Saturday 29th March following a 36-29 win at Parc de Pugh.
Pontypridd currently occupy 1st place in the league, with Brecon sitting in 13th position, but the Valley Commandos will be under no illusions about the challenge awaiting them at Sardis Road tomorrow afternoon – good luck lads.
TEAM NEWS:
Pontypridd are counting the cost of the recent bruising derby matches and have had to make numerous changes as a result. There are seven changes to the starting XV that beat Beddau on Boxing Day, including three positional switches. On the bench there are five new faces which include another potential club debutant.
There are four new faces in the forwards including an all-new front row with Ben Drew, Connah Hughes and Kian Mattravers all returning to start. The other change sees Jordan Coxley start at no.8, his selection means Joe Miles switches to second row.
The three changes in the backline include Iwan Griffith being recalled to the wing, Rhodri Smith starting at outside half and Lloyd Wilkins, on permit from Bridgend Ravens, starting at fullback. Lloyd has made four prior appearances for the Valley Commandos, the last coming on Friday 8th October 2021 against Cardiff at the Arms Park. The reshuffle in the backs sees a new centre partnership of Jaydan Pugh in the inside and Dale Stuckey in the outside berths respectively.
The five new faces in the matchday squad on the bench are Joe Buckle, Jude Williams, Niall Moore, Cameron Tyler-Grocott and Ellis Fackrell. Cameron, who is on permit from the Cardiff Rugby Academy, has featured for Ponty before during the season. His bench prop-partner is Ellis Fackrell who is on permit from Treorchy RFC, and he will make his debut for the Club if he appears tomorrow afternoon.
Unavailable and out of contention for selection is pretty much everybody else in the Pontypridd squad, such is the nature of the current injury list at Sardis Road.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Brecon is as follows:
15. Lloyd Wilkins. 14. Joe Davies. 13. Dale Stuckey. 12. Jaydan Pugh. 11. Iwan Griffith. 10. Rhodri Smith. 9. Joel Raikes.
1. Ben Drew. 2. Connah Hughes. 3. Kian Mattravers. 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Joe Miles. 6. Cai James. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Jordan Coxley.
Subs: 16. Louis Tovey. 17. Cameron Tyler-Grocott. 18. Ellis Fackrell. 19. Joe Buckle. 20. Ethan Evans. 21. Lloyd Dennett. 22. Niall Moore. 23. Jude Williams.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION:
Tickets – Admission on Saturday will be £12 full, £10 concession access-all-areas and under 16’s free if accompanied by a paying adult. You can purchase tickets on the day or to save time (which is recommended to miss the queues) you can use our online e-Ticket system, here’s the link which includes all our different packages – e-Tickets – Pontypridd v Brecon 3/1/2026
Supporter access is via the Clubhouse end of the ground only – the ground and bars will be open from midday onwards.
Live Sport in the Clubhouse – There will be a selection of live sport on our screens throughout the afternoon and into the evening, so come and join us for some pre-match refreshments.
The post Pontypridd v Brecon – Match Preview appeared first on Pontypridd-RFC.