Bryncethin R.F.C. founded in 1890 soon became a major contender in Welsh Rugby and in 1903 reached the final of the South Wales Cup where they lost to Llwynypia who fielded nine internationals.
The team was built around the brothers Tatchell, Pugsley, and Bayliss. In 1906 a combined team from these families beat the rest of Bryncethin. In 1914 Bryncethin at local giants Bridgend in the Welsh Cup. After the Great War a syndicate of businessmen promoted sport in the area and Bryncethin played at Pandy Park in the middle of a planned racecourse.
This lead to our most successful senior side who included Percy Pugsley, Alf Tatchell and of course Ivor Thomas who won a cap for Wales whilst playing for Bryncethin.
The club was forced to drop out of the W.R.U. in the late 20’s. This lead to a short period of disbandment, but rugby was still played on the Common by a team called Bryncoch United.
The club was reformed and after the Second World War affiliated to the Welsh Districts. Bryncethin was one of the founder members of the Welsh Youth and included Ken Richards, Ray Hollow and Bob Pugsley in early Welsh Youth teams. 1n the late fifties, Bryncethin had an excellent youth side which in 1959 lost only one game. This side included Dai Baylis, Brian Nicholas and Ron Evans. The members at this time were responsible for building the Pavilion at Bryncethin. The senior side disbanded in 1965 but the youth continued until 1970 and in this time produced a player, Wilson Lauder who went on to play for Scotland. The arrival of a soccer team spurned some ex-players to regenerate a senior side which was captained by G. Greenslade. The following two years saw the start of fine senior side captained by Dai Watkins. In 1977 Dai Watkins was selected as captain of the Welsh Districts, along with Glyn Evans.
A Clubhouse was opened at the Old Brickyard in 1979 and since then the Youth side has produced many fine players from the village two of whom, Huw Williams Jones and Peter Rogers have been full Welsh Internationals.
In 1995, Paul Watkins current head coach, gained Welsh Districts international honours. He was selected to go on tour to Sri Lanka, where he played in two tests. Also he was selected to play against Denmark.
In 2006 Bryncethin won the Worthington Welsh Districts Cup at Sardis Road, Pontypridd. In the same year brothers Andrew and David Bayliss represented the Welsh Districts against Germany. Andrew Bayliss was given the honour of captaining the Welsh Districts side that day.
In 2007 Bryncethin again had more Welsh District honours. Brothers Rhoddy and Gareth Davies, along with Andrew Bayliss represented the Welsh Districts against Germany at Sardis Road, Pontypridd. This was the first time in Bryncethin's history they had three players in the starting fifteen against a national side. Andrew Bayliss was again given the honour of captaining the Welsh Districts side that day.
Bryncethin is a small, spread out village where the Rugby club and playing field are natural focal points. The club still encourages interest in the game and acts as nursery of talent for the bigger clubs. The senior side are there for those who wish to play the game seriously and for those who just want to play and enjoy the game. Bryncethin is being well coahced by Paul Watkins and Nigel Evans.
It is our wish that in another hundred years rugby will still be played at Bryncethin.
Events have shown that the hopes of the founders of Bryncethin RFC, have been more than fulfilled, two members of the club, namely, T.J. Williams (Tom Pop) and S..J. Howe (Sid), were given District Life Membership, for their work over the years.
