Perthshire Rugby Club is looking forward to maintaining its relationship with Pontarddulais.
The Welsh club travelled north in great numbers - more than 50 - for a friendly match last Friday.
Coupled with the on-field action, there was, of course, plenty of camaraderie, reminiscing and socialising. And a few pints sunk too.
Not since 1993 had Pontarddulais RFC and Perthshire met.
Previously, there were regular matches between the two ambitious clubs over a 25 year period starting on January 31, 1969.
Most years the clubs would visit one another while following the then Five Nations Championships and, particularly, the Scotland versus Wales encounters. The relationship was delightfully rekindled this year.
“The Six Nations Championship is obviously about the international teams and their players but under that is the rugby community across the UK, France and Italy,” said Ewan MacKessack-Leitch, club captain at Perthshire.
“There is a long-established tradition of tours between community teams as they follow their own nation reciprocated annually, especially between Scotland and Wales. For various reasons these get lost over time then re-emerge.
“When I joined Perthshire over 10 years ago, I heard tales of these tours to Wales that had ceased in the 1990s and the friendships forged. I thought maybe for a bygone era.
“Having not toured since 2017, when they went to Las Vegas, Pontarddulais were keen to get on the road again and immediately they thought of re-establishing the link with Perthshire.
“Bob Lindsay, our secretary and veteran of previous Pontarddulais visits and tours, was only too happy to agree and the plans set in motion.”
Pontarddulais, or Bont as they are also known, brought a 50+ strong touring party up with them from South Wales.
For Friday’s match at the North Inch - which finished 26 points apiece - teams were marched onto the pitch behind piper Arran Sheach.
It was a welcome greatly appreciated by the visiting players and supporters, who were cajoled out of the bowling club bar by the skirl of the pipes.
“We were a bit taken aback to be told they had 50+ coming but still we planned for a great afternoon of rugby and it was a cross-club effort to get ready and host the Welsh team and supporters,” MacKessack-Leitch explained to the PA.
“I am really proud that so many current players managed to get their Friday afternoon off work to take part in the match and give Pontarddulais, who are flying high in their own league, a proper game.
“Although they were no doubt disappointed with Scotland’s commanding win over Wales at Murrayfield the following day, they certainly made up for it with the fun they had and, again, their singing was something to listen to, no matter how many pints had been drunk.”
After the success of the rekindling relationship - and following a draw on the field of play - Shire certainly feel obliged to meet again sooner rather than later.
MacKessack-Leitch said: “It would be great to formally re-establish the link and make regular trips to and host Pontarddulais over the years to come.
“There is a sign in the clubhouse that I have always wondered about and it turns out it was a gift from them years ago.
“I don’t know if there is one down in their clubhouse from us so even more reason to organise a tour there next year to find out.”
