The first record we have of rugby in Merthyr is a game between Merthyr and Brecon at Goitre, Merthyr on the 25th November 1876 when the game was started at 4.00pm and lasted until dark. The result is believed to have been a draw.The Club were also present at that eventful meeting at the Castle Hotel in Neath on the 12th April 1881 and the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union. The Club then played at the Plymouth Ground at Pentrebach and were then known as Merthyr Alexandra.Following the First World War the Club played at Gwynnes Field, Cefn Coed and also at Penydarren Park although during World War 2 there was very little Rugby played in Merthyr. However that was to change in 1948 when a meeting governed by Cyril Williams, Monty Warrington and Ron Gethin was so enthusiastically supported that the game of Rugby Union returned to Merthyr Tydfil and has continued ever since.The Club played out of Dix’s field, Danydarren, and then on to Glyndyrus field Abercanaid, before moving to the current ground, The Wern in Ynysfach in 1958.

September 1960 saw the opening of the New Clubhouse in Ynysfach and two years later Merthyr Youth were formed and remain an integral part of the Club to this day producing many fine players who have represented the Club and gone on to greater things. By way of one of example we record with pride the exploits of Robert Sidoli a member of Wales Grand Slam side of the 2004/5 season and current Squad Member, and the holder of over 25 International Caps. The Club currently occupy the recently refurbished former RAFA Club premises in Georgetown approximately a quarter of a mile from the groundThe side played Amateur District Rugby in the Rhondda and East Glamorgan District until they defeated Mold RFC at Abercynon to secure promotion and entry to the Fifth Divison of the Heineken League under the Captaincy of Craig Dummett in 1993/4Promotion immediately followed from the fifth to the fourth,then the third to the first in successive years. This is not a typing error but was caused by the WRU creating the Premiership in 19 thus turning what had been the old Second Divison into the First.Merthyr remained in the First Division for 6 seasons before being relegated to Division 2 following a players’ strike and it has taken three seasons to achieve promotion back to the First Division.

The Clubs ambitions lie in achieving Premiership Status and developing Rugby for all thus encompassing both Semi Professional Rugby alongside Community Rugby.