Do a lot of behind the
didn’t go down well with the boys’ father, Derek.
Derek played for Cilfynydd in his youth, as did the boys’ grandfather, so they have strong family ties to the club.
“My father wasn’t happy when some of us went to play for Rhydyfelin,” Delme laughed.
“I mean he supports us whatever, and he’s always there for us, but I suppose it’s that local team rivalry as Rhydyfelin is only up the road. He didn’t mind when I went to Llantrisant.”
As the eldest King, Delme hopes to see this sense of loyalty to the club continue over the years.
Rhys, 31, and Garryn, 28, still have a few years left in them but Delme knows he won’t last forever. For now he’s enjoying taking to the pitch with his brothers in a place they call home.
Delme said: “It’s the friendships that bring us back. We all grew up together and we all want to play together.
“You get people who went to Pontypridd High School together who play for us and even though all players may not necessarily be from Cilfynydd they all know each other through school or mutual friends.
“Not everyone who lives in the town can play for Pontypridd RFC so they look for other local clubs like Cilfynydd, Ynysybwl and Glyncoch. I just hope more young players continue to come through.”
The pitch used by the players today was built by the miners who worked at the Albion Colliery. It is still regarded as one of the best pitches in the area. But the colliery itself, which was situated just above the pitch, is perhaps most remembered for a tragic disaster.
It was made infamous by the massive explosion that took place on June 23, 1894. At 3.50pm two big explosions were heard above the ground and the incident left 290 men and boys dead along with 123 horses.
Only 16 men were brought out alive and just five eventually survived. The incident also saw 150 widows and 350 fatherless children left behind.
At the time it was the blackest day in mining history with only the Senghenydd Mining Disaster of 1913, where 439 men lost their lives, seeing a greater loss of life.
But the origins of Cilfynydd RFC are actually believed to coincide with the sinking of the colliery.
Today, players run out onto the pitch every Saturday and honour those who lost their lives. The coal mine’s winding tower takes pride of place on the team’s badge along with Pontypridd bridge, the Welsh daffodil, and the Prince of Wales’ feathers.
The village has changed a lot over the years but one thing that’s stayed firmly in its place is the clubhouse. It was built in 1966 and is now aptly known as “The Hive” to many of the players. The building is tucked away on the site of the former Cwm Cottages which were thought to be the earliest dwellings in the village. Now it acts as a social hub for the people who live in the area.
It’s run under the watchful eye of Dicky Smith and his partner Kay.
Dicky, 51, has been running the club for more than 10 years – but that wasn’t his original plan.
He said: “Initially we only took it over for a week as the previous manager suddenly quit. But we’ve been here ever since. When we started, the club needed a bit of work so we put some of our own money into it. We invested a lot into it but we wanted to give it some life.”
Even though it’s taken a while for the couple to get the club up to scratch, it’s been worth it. As well as gaining a great sense of satisfaction from the business he’s built, Dicky is able to socialise with the locals every week behind the bar.
“The best thing about running the club is seeing all the people from the community gathering together,” Dicky added.
“It’s mainly supporters who come here but you also get some older people who come to the club on a Thursday night for their two pints and then go home.
“What I like about it is the atmosphere – it’s not just the players who make the atmosphere good, it’s the older people too.
“They say things that make the younger ones laugh – it works both ways.”
And Dicky’s right – the atmosphere is definitely the reason why so many people love visiting the club.
When you walk in you see everything you expect to see at a village rugby club – old-fashioned chairs mounted with a red velvet-like material that have probably been there for years, a group of lads trying their luck on “the bandit” in the corner, and walls and cabinets plastered with trophies and pictures of former players.
It’s not posh, and it’s far from new, but it has that endearing sense of familiarity that will make anyone feel welcome.
Like many people have pointed out, the clubhouse is a place for families and you see that the moment you walk in. Everyone knows each other, everyone speaks to each other, and everyone looks after each other. While some pubs in the village have died out over the years Cilfynydd RFC has stood strong.
Thanks to its regular customers, and the recent development of a women’s team, trade is looking good at the club and it’s hoped this will continue to grow.
“The women’s team has also brought a lot to the club,” Kay added.
“It gets really busy here on a Sunday now because the boys support the women and they all come back here after a game. It’s good to see.”
And the players are known for making their own fun after a game – it doesn’t take much to get them going.
On a Saturday evening one of the boys will usually connect their phone to a speaker and host what can only be described as a homemade disco.
If you’re a regular at the club you’ll know what’s coming your way – Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline and Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You played on a loop.
And if you’re lucky you’ll hear Gala’s Freed From Desire performed by the players, which has become the team anthem.
The players sing a parody version of the song – just like Northern Ireland football fans did at Euro 2016 with their chant of “Will Grigg’s on fire”.
A different player may be “on fire” each week – but more often than not loyal player and supporter Sion Griff will be the star of the show.
Yet among the madness there’ll also be little ones running around outside or playing pool. Kay said parents know their kids feel safe at the club as it’s a friendly environment for them to grow up in.
But they know it’s going to be a busy day behind the bar when the families arrive.
Before kick-off you’ll find Kay looking for stray pint glasses that have been left in bushes next to the clubhouse. She’ll then get ready to feed the players, and their kids, after the game.
“People don’t realise how much work goes on behind the scenes to keep the club going,” she added.
“From getting the stock in to keeping the area tidy to doing the cleaning – we do all that ourselves. I probably spend about six hours every Saturday preparing, cooking, and serving food to the boys. It’s a lot more than just pulling pints.”
Rugby clubs in the valleys are not just about chucking a ball around and going on the lash – they’re about family.
They’re full of lots of different people who work together to form their own community
Clubhouses are places were people of all ages come together to support their local village and, essentially, have a good time. Without them, some towns and villages would be pretty lifeless.