The future of Bridgend RFC looks brighter following confirmation that the club has received a significant inward investment through Llandarcy Park Ltd.
The investment will help to secure the future of rugby at the Brewery Field and will, it is hoped, provide a springboard for the Ravens to return to the Welsh Premiership in the coming seasons in addition to ensuring that a vital production line of young rugby talent will continue to produce future Ospreys and Welsh internationals.
The winners of the final WRU Premiership title prior to the arrival of regional rugby in 2003, Bridgend have struggled in recent seasons, and were relegated from the Premiership last season after finishing bottom. After continuing to struggle this campaign, they currently sit in 10th place in the Swalec Welsh Division One West table, two places off the bottom but 13 points clear of Builth Wells, with Cwmllynfell a further three points behind.
Ospreys Elite Performance Director, Andrew Hore, said: “The news of this investment is a huge boost for rugby in the Bridgend area. It is an important part of the region, and over the years, has proven to be a tremendous breeding ground for young talent. The club and the wider Bridgend area in general, have a long tradition of developing excellent rugby players, and were for many years one of the leading lights in Welsh rugby. A quick glance at the current Ospreys squad will give you a clear indication of this, with a substantial number of players coming from the area, including exciting young talent such as Tom Prydie, Gareth Owen and Ryan Bevington.
“Bridgend RFC is a great club with a proud history, and what this investment from Llandarcy Park Ltd will do is safeguard its future and bring some much needed stability. A successful Bridgend RFC is important for the future of the Ospreys, that much is clear. The Bridgend district is central to our long term plans to develop a self sufficient Ospreys region, there is a thriving age-grade set-up with which we work very closely, to increase our playing base, but the local development pathway for players in the district needs a strong Bridgend RFC at the top of it.
“This investment from Llandarcy Park Ltd safeguards the future of the club, and as such, ensures that this valuable production line isn’t lost forever, which would be a huge blow for the local community, as well as for the Ospreys and Welsh rugby in general. Here at the Ospreys, we are extremely excited about the future at the Brewery Field. The club has had a difficult time in recent seasons, but there are some tremendous rugby people working hard and doing a great job there. We already have an excellent working relationship with the club, which we look forward to building on to help them strengthen as a club, and hopefully, to regain its place in the Premiership while continuing to develop young talent for the region and for Wales.”
David Rees, the Managing Director of Bridgend RFC commented:
“The culmination of this business arrangement with our friends and colleagues at Llandarcay Park has come as a huge release of stress to all of us at Bridgend Ravens. In particular to Derrick King and myself who have strived over the last 5 years in particular to secure the short and long term future of the Ravens.
“This is not just in the interests of the Club but for all the Clubs in the area and for the Borough as a whole. It is no secret that we have been under a great deal of financial stress and without the help of Llandarcy Park Limited we face the very real prospect of being forced into administration.
“Now that the situation has been stabilized it is to be hoped that our band of loyal supporters will be joined by many others in order to ensure that Bridgend returns to the top flight of rugby which is what our area needs.
“The Llandarcy management are anxious that the club retains its unique identity and to that purpose all the current management will remain in post with the added advantage of being supported by Llandarcy business and coaching support.”
