Our History

The first Ynysddu game recorded was in 1894. It was against Abercarn and was played in the Church Field at Mynyddislwyn.

Ynysddu originally played in an all-black strip, but thanks to Mrs Ironman, Ynysddu now play in Black and Red. During the mid 1920's Ynysddu fell upon hard times and failed to raise enough money to buy a much needed new strip. Mrs Ironman (a local lady with a charitable bent) volunteered to provide a new strip. Whether the Ynysddu committee knew how she was going to do this is a mystery, but she proceeded to knit a black kit for the DDU's. Three-quarters of the way through this mammoth knitting exercise Mrs Ironman noticed that there wasn't actually enough wool for the kit. Being a resourceful woman, and not one to let 30 years of tradition stand in her way, Mrs Ironman used up some spare red wool and introduced red hoops into the jerseys. Victory in the jaws of adversity! Players were reported to have been quite pleased with the kit until the actual kick-off , when it started to rain. Within minutes all jerseys had increased in length to just above the knee line. And tripled in weight. If that wasn't enough (you've guessed it) the kit then shrank in the wash!

Ynysddu had a purple patch in the mid thirties, twice winning the Ben Francis cup. In the not so distant past the sides have not reached the same heady heights of achievement unless you count the extraordinary drinking performances of first team and youth sides.

Ynysddu have always had great tours - we've even played rugby on some of them. Ynysddu were one of the first Rugby clubs to charter an aeroplane to France, and be allowed to come back on the same aircraft.

Ynysddu now has a focus on rugby - we now aim to produce the highest level of performance on and off the field. Ynysddu has regularly produced excellent youth and junior sides and a number of players have gone on to play youth international and 1st class rugby.

In 2011 /12 Ynysddu finished 3rd in Division 5, gaining promotion to Divison 4 East. The following year we again finished 3rd, although only 2 teams were promoted that season. 2013 /14 made it three consecutive seasons of finishing 3rd, but thanks to a WRU reorganisation ( unusual I know ! ) moved up to Division 3 East. Due to the number of players now available a decison was made to run a second team, and River Rat Rugby was born. From not having a full side at the start of the season the Rats progressed from strength to strength, finishing second in the League and only losing in a replay of the semi final of the Rocyn Jones Cup.

2014 / 15 Ynysddu finished second, gaining promotion to Division 2 East. Not only that the DDU's made it to the semi-final of the Swalec Cup, drawing the game 22 all, only to lose on try count. The season was finished on a high however, with Ynysddu winning the inaugural Ben Francis Cup, Plate section, beating Talywain 37 - 17 in the final.

The Rats continued their progress with the standard of rugby, as well as playing numbers, continuing to peak, and again finishing second in the League.

2014 / 15 also saw BG Ladies move to Ynysddu, as well as the formation of a Ladies under 16 team.. the Panthers.

( There's a few old photos that can be viewed in the Golden Oldies folder in the Image Gallery. However, if anybody has any old Ynysddu photo's of their own we would be pleased to add them to the collection. Can you please mail the images to me at yrfc@btinternet.com. You can also drop the photo's off at the club in an envelope with your contact details on .. I will then scan them and return them to you ).