Pontypridd v Merthyr – Match Preview
On Saturday 2nd May Pontypridd RFC welcome Merthyr RFC to Sardis Road for an Admiral Premiership match, kick off is at 2:30pm.
Merthyr visited Sardis Road twice last season and won on both occasions – 33-19 in the league on Saturday 22nd March and 26-14 in the Mid District Premiership Cup Final on Saturday 17th May.
In more recent times, the last time the two clubs went head to head was earlier this season in the league, and it was the Ironmen who prevailed that afternoon as well by 38 points to 28 despite the Valley Commandos crossing for five tries at The Wern.
Tomorrow’s match sees 3rd take on 2nd, and from a Pontypridd point of view nothing less than a win will suffice for two reasons. The first being the team’s slim chances of still finishing top of the pile in the Admiral Premiership, and secondly the Valley Commandos finishing in the top two of the Mid District Premiership Cup standings and qualifying for the Grand Final against Merthyr.
Regarding the Mid District Premiership Cup, Ponty currently sit in third, three points behind Beddau in second with Beddau having completed all their matches in this competition. However, Pontypridd have two matches to play against Mid District opposition – Merthyr tomorrow and Brecon the following week, but due to points difference Ponty require at least a win and draw from their two remaining league games to leapfrog Beddau into second place in these particular standings – pob lwc bois!
TEAM NEWS –
Ponty have made four changes, two in the forwards and two in the backs, from the starting XV that played Beddau last Saturday. In addition to that there are four new faces on the bench, one being a potential debutant.
In the backline Dale Stuckey returns to start on the left wing and Rhodri Smith earns a start at fullback.
In the pack Ben Drew is drafted back in to start at loosehead prop and Jordan Coxley is recalled to the blindside flanker berth.
The four new faces on the bench are Lloyd Riley, Finian Murray, Dan Cotterell and Harry Kinsey. Harry Kinsey is part of the Cardiff Rugby Academy and will make his Ponty debut should he appear off the substitutes bench.
The Pontypridd team selected to play Merthyr is as follows:
15. Rhodri Smith. 14. Joe Davies. 13. Aaron Bramwell. 12. Tommy Morgan. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Logan Jones. 9. Joel Raikes.
1. Ben Drew. 2. Louis Tovey. 3. Cameron Tyler-Grocott. 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Joe Miles (c). 6. Jordan Coxley. 7. Cai James. 8. Ioan Davies.
Subs: 16. Connah Hughes. 17. Dan Cotterell. 18. Finian Murray. 19. Lloyd Riley. 20. Iestyn Harris. 21.Lloyd Dennett. 22. Jorge Lucey. 23. Harry Kinsey.
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 Merthyr 2/5/2026
Supporter access is via the Clubhouse end of the ground only – the ground and bars will be open from midday onwards.
RCS Club Shop – New Club merchandise partners RCS will be present from 1:00pm in the ‘sizing room,’ which is the old club shop. They will have some 150th Anniversary Ponty RFC merchandise available for supporters to purchase –
150th Anniversary Ponty RFC Pin Badges – For supporters who have ordered and paid for commemorative badges, you can collect them from the Can Bar next to the main Grandstand during the match.
Player(s) of the Year Voting – Ponty fans who are unable to vote for the individuals they feel are their player(s) of the season in the respective categories online, you can via paper slips in the Clubhouse – please read our recent article with all the relevant information: Pontypridd RFC Player(s) of the Year 2026
We look forward to welcoming both sets of supporters to Sardis Road tomorrow afternoon.
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