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14 March 2022 / Team News

Next opponents TATA Steel...

TATA Steel goes back to 1908 when the club was historically known as The S.C.O.W, Steel Company of Wales. Like many other rugby clubs during the earlier part of the 20th Century, playing numbers started to dwindle and the Club successfully joined up with a local District side called St Josephs Old Boys RFC. This jump established the Club and they quickly established themselves.

They changed their name to British Steel Port Talbot RFC in 1971 when the steel manufacture British Steel evolved from The SCOW. Although it was considered as a "works side" traditionally, over the years there has been a mistaken belief that the steel industry itself have sponsored the team, which is untrue. Since 1980, the club has been totally self-sufficient due to the work of the committee and sponsors. Most of its players never worked within the industry but were Margam and Port Talbot parishioners. Today, since the formation of the professional era the club has lost its local player base, but this is being effectively managed. Ystalyfera played a number of friendlies both home and away during this ninety-year period.

In 1994 British Steel became founder members of National League - Division Eight Central 'B’. They were bottom of the WRU League in 1995-96, only to finish Division Eight Central ’A' Champions the season after – Ystalyfera lost at home 16-17 and won 27-5 away that season. Success bred success and they Champions of Division Six Central ‘A’ in 1997-98. this lifted them into Division Four West. Winning promotion again in 1998-99 British Steel Port Talbot entered Division Three West. In 2002-03 another promotion lifted the side into Division Two, with another name change as Corus Saints RFC (Port Talbot). After establishing themselves another promotion in 2007 saw the side enter Division One West. In 2011-12 the current name Tata Steel (Port Talbot) RFC was adopted following the demise of Corus (locally the team is still known as "The SCOW"), and a further Championship was won. This set the side up in the National WRU Championship where they have established themselves for the last ten consecutive seasons.

Ystalyfera played TATA Steel in 2019-20, winning 20-13 at Ynysydarren. Having lost all their games so far this season, TATA Steel will be hoping to make a mark soon.

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