Memories....

A new exhibition of Pontypool RFC memorabilia has just been put on display in the Torfaen Museum and I went along for the opening. When you walk past the pictures of great players and great teams of the past it makes you feel truly nostalgic. It is only about twenty five years ago that the Pooler were the most feared side in Britain with a formidable record of league titles to their name. Playing in the Pontypool pack was virtually a ticket into the Welsh team and many went on from there to represent the British Lions. Everyone in Wales has heard of the Pontypool front row but what about a back row of Squire, Butler and Cobner and a second row of Perkins and Moseley. What went wrong you wonder? Why is a club with our proud history now being pushed by the WRU down the road to obscurity? 

I guess the answer lies in the word history. History does not mean very much at all to the current incumbents of the corridors of power and nor does it seem that the future matters much either. What really matters is the present and how much money can be extracted from sponsors and benefactors so that the players and coaches get rewards that match those available in other countries. This is leading to an upward spiral in the cost of the game that probably cannot be sustained in a world where soccer has primacy. Unfortunately few people and companies in Wales are passionate about rugby and have enough spare cash to allow Welsh regions let alone clubs to compete in this world.

In his speech at the opening of the Pooler exhibition, Eddie Butler agreed that it was a sad occasion but exhorted us to fight for the very existence of our club. I think we understand how to fight on the pitch as we have shown over the last few seasons but the battle these days, however, is not on the field but off it. This is a different ballgame with politics and marketing to the fore and one that we are not particularly well equipped to play.

It was interesting to read that Pontypool were Welsh champions in 1920-21 and over the summer of 1921 lost twelve players to the Northern Union. This seems to be a close parallel to what is happening with the successful Welsh team. Money was a magnet then and it is certainly a magnet now.

So the final of the Heineken Cup will be between two Irish clubs: Leinster and Ulster which is a blow for the wealthy English and French clubs who have splashed out big money on players from all over the world. The Irish provinces seem to have managed to generate amazing team spirit and passionate support that carries them through difficult games. These were the hallmarks of Welsh club rugby at its best but it does not seem possible to recreate it at regional level even though clearly evident at international level. I wish I knew what the answer was to this conundrum.

I have just reread this and it does seem a bit gloomy but that's what a bit of nostalgia does!