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Gowerton RFC (nicknamed The Starch), have played competitive Rugby Union since 1884.

Sharing this “start date” with Ystalyfera, we both were founder members of the “West Wales League” in 1927, Gowerton finished 12^th, ‘Fera 7^th. Next season Gowerton finished 4^th, ‘Fera winning our first meeting 3-0 at Ynysydarren, and ending up Champions. The next three seasons saw a win and two draws in Ystalyfera and three wins for Gowerton at their Athletic Ground.

In season 1933-34 ‘Fera and Gowerton played each other in both our first ever West Wales Cup game – a 11-5 home win for Gowerton. In 1938-39 (last season before World War 2), both sides again seemed to ‘match up’ with each other – Gowerton won the West Wales League (25wins, 2draws, 3losses, and the Championship Shield beating Ystradgynlais in the final). Ystalyfera won the West Wales Cup for the first time (beating Loughor 7-3 in a replay following a 0-0 draw). After the War both sides only met on occasion with inconsistent results. The West Wales League changed name to the West Wales Championship in 1950. In 1957-58 Gowerton lost a top four play-off game, and in 1961 Gowerton resigned from the West Wales Championship.

1968 saw a return to West Wales, and in 1974 Gowerton were founder members of the new West Wales Section ‘A’. In the 20-year period of West Wales Sections, Gowerton were relegated seven times and promoted four times – finishing Champions of Section C in 1982-83. Ystalyfera and Gowerton met 14 times in this time, with an equal record of five home wins, a home draw and a single home defeat each.

1994 saw Gowerton founder members of the National League Division Seven West. Steady progress saw them advance into Division Four West, where in 1999-00 Gowerton were relegated in 13^th (bottom) place. Ystalyfera finished 7^th with a 60-12 home win at Ynysydarren, and a 11-15 away loss to Gowerton. The next twelve seasons for Gowerton saw consistency within the level of Division Five, other than a relegation move to Division Three in 2003 and return to Division Five in 2005.

2012-13 saw the start of a “Golden” period for Gowerton, three consecutive promotions as Champions lifted the club into Division One West, plus in 2014 winning the West Wales Plate for the first time over New Dock Stars 33-14. A year later Gowerton narrowly lost the West Wales Bowl to Brynamman 17-23. Steady Division One progress up to and thru the COVIT years earned Gowerton a 3^rd place promotion into the level of the Championship for the first time in 2024. This achievement was accompanied by a first West Wales Cup loss to Dunvant 23-34.