News

Pontypridd RFC Head Coach Justin Burnell paid a visit to the club today, to donate a pair of All Blacks boots to our famous Museum of Sporting Memorabilia. Justin was welcomed by Club Chairman Wynne Jones who gratefully accepted the boots of Owen Franks, the double Rugby World Cup winner in 2011 & 2015, as an addition to the World Famous display. 

Justin is also heavily involved with Pontypridd Schools Rugby Union, and he explained that the schools had been gifted the boots by a loyal sponsor and with his permission, they had agreed to present the boots to the Athletic's collection. He said " I have brought down Ponty Schools to play at Athletic Park on a couple of occasions against Roy Bergiers' Carmarthen & District Schools, and all the boys & staff were in awe at the club's fantastic collection". 

Prop Owen Franks won a phenomonal 108 caps for New Zealand and his boots will become the thirteenth All Blacks boots on display at the clubhouse. He joins fellow countrymen: Sir Colin Meads, Mac Herewini, Wayne Shelford, Billy Bush, Sid Going, Grant Batty, Graham Mourie, Jonah Lomu, Grant Fox, Frano Botica, Ian Kirkpatrick and Dan Carter.

Our collection began in 1967, when the All Blacks were on a UK tour. There was a 'Foot & Mouth' epidemic in the UK at the time and the tourists were unable to take their rugby boots back to New Zealand. By coincidence, Club President Gwynne 'King' Morgan met the legendary Colin Meads at his Angel Hotel room in Cardiff and acquired his boots. They were the first pair of boots and the rest, as they say is history.

We are extremely grateful to Mr Burnett and Pontypridd Schools RU for their kind gesture.

Photo: Our latest addition to the Museum of Sporting Memorabilia - Mr Owen Franks.