Our History

Carmarthen Athletic  Rugby Football CLub is one of two rugby union clubs in the ancient county town of Carmarthen in West Wales.  The club is a full member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is also affiliated to various other bodies within Welsh rugby. The club has a tradition of nurturing players for the first-class circuit which now includes the Scarlets region. Recently added to the long list of the club's international players (see 'Club Senior Internationals' on the drop down menu) are Josh Adams and Sam Parry. 

The club also run a second team called the "Druids" who currently play in the Carmarthenshire Tyre Services League, a youth team plus age grade teams from under 7's to under 16's. At the end of the 2012-2013 season the Youth side won the Webb Ellis Welsh Youth Cup at the Millenium Stadium for the second time in their history.     

The Athletic  was founded in 1944. The idea was mooted on the 6th June (D-Day during WW2) with the first committee meeting taking place in November. Through  hard work, the club's home games were eventually played at Five Fields and also at the council owned Carmarthen Park pitch. The clubhouse was situated at Friars Park in the centre of the town.

However, as a result of the sale of Five Fields for re-development, in 2009 the club re-located to  Johnstown, where land had been  purchased from Trinity College (now UWTSD). 

The new facilities include a large indoor training barn with the most up-dated IRB & FIFA approved artificial playing surface.There is also a ' state of the art ' dressing rooms building which includes a physio/medical room, members fitness suite, disabled washroom facilities, spectator refreshment/snack bar and office accommodation. The spacious and comfortable clubhouse  incorporates approximately 600 pieces of interesting & unique sporting memorabilia.

Approved flood lighting, a covered 150 seated area for spectators and secure parking for 80 vehicles, the new ground (known as ATHLETIC PARK) has proved to be  popular with both players and supporters.

The Athletic are also known as the ' Red and Blacks ' due to Club colours which comprise of : red and black hooped jerseys, black shorts and black socks with red tops.

ATHLETIC PARK

On Friday 28th August 2009 a new chapter was created in the history of the Club when Mr. Dennis Gethin (President of the Welsh Rugby Union) opened the new Clubhouse and ground complex known as ATHLETIC PARK in Johnstown. Mr. Gethin was full of praise for the hardworking members of committee and volunteers who had done so much towards the superb facilities now afforded to playing members and social members alike. He went on to say that the facilities were amongst the best of their kind of any Club of equal status in Wales and he congratulated all for the continued dedication to the game of Rugby Football in Carmarthen and west Wales. He then presented a 2009 British & Irish Lions signed by the playing squad and management on behalf of Lions Manager Gerald Davies along with his best wishes. Gerald had originally accepted our invitaion to open the new facilities, but due to a family committment he was unfortunately unable to attend. The President then unveiled the commemorative Welsh slate plaque to warm applause.

A large crowd was present to witness Rev Father Phil Jones the Club Chaplain & Vicar of Llansteffan, give a moving blessing on the field. He was flanked by players and officials from both Athletic and West Wales RU XV's before an exciting match took place to commemorate the occasion. Fittingly, Athletic won the encounter by 37 points to 7.

Athletic Park represents a significant milestone in the Club's history and confirms that this Club is as progressive as it has always been.