Posted on: Wednesday 27 March 2024
Today, representatives of Pontypool Rugby Football Club gathered at Pontypool Civic Centre to officially accept and sign a scroll acknowledging their Freedom of the Borough.
Council Leader, Cllr Anthony Hunt, proposed this honour at a council meeting in June 2023, acknowledging Pontypool RFC’s achievements and their invaluable impact on the Torfaen rugby community. The proposal received unanimous support from councillors.
The ‘Freedom of the Borough’ is a tradition that allows the council, to publicly acknowledge and signify the recipients’ importance to the borough and the esteem in which they are held by the council and the whole community.
Graham Price, the former Welsh International, British Lion and Pontypool RFC legend, and the current club president was among the club members who signed the scroll on behalf of Pontypool RFC.
Mr Price, said: “This is a fantastic honour and the scroll will now be framed and presented to Pontypool RFC at their home game against RGC 1404 RFC in Pontypool Park on Saturday, 6 April.”
Cllr Anthony Hunt said: “Over the last 40 years, Torfaen Council has awarded the Freedom of the Borough on just three occasions. Pooler are renowned across the rugby world, and together with our other clubs in Torfaen, contribute so much to our communities. We should be proud to have a club like Pontypool in Torfaen. That’s why we wanted to recognise them in this way.”
A special edition match programme will also be available to buy at the game.
Cllr Hunt added: “Sport plays such an important role for our residents, so the council is working to create an online space where we can celebrate all local sporting achievements, further uniting our communities through sport.”
Pictured signing the scroll are Graham Price and Cllr Anthony Hunt.
Standing back row left to right are Gill Calder, Pontypool RFC's Hospitality Manager, current Pontypool RFC players Callum Davies and Matt Bancroft and club Secretary Jamie Hallam.