Merthyr RFC set to become new force in Welsh Rugby

First topic message reminder :

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/merthyr-rfc-set-become-new-9377183

Thoughts?

PhilBB wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

It might not be able to hold elite rugby now, but why can't the Wern be improved so that it CAN hold elite rugby ?

The land mass is too small. The access is awful. It cannot host the infrastructure required for 10,000+ people.

It does not need to be for 10,000+ people if we are going by crowds the regions are getting at the moment, and that just proves that you have not been to the Wern as it is right off the A470 and there is acres of land around it.

So thank you very much for proving how much of a fraud you are.

LordDowlais wrote:

It does not need to be for 10,000+ people if we are going by crowds the regions are getting at the moment, and that just proves that you have not been to the Wern as it is right smack bang off the A470 and there is acres of land around it.

So thank you very much for proving how much of a fraud you are.

Three of the four have attracted crowds over 10,000 this season.

I didn't see acres of land around it. I saw a small winding road through a residential area to get to it and a ground surrounded on two sides by more housing. I even gave you the name of the house that faces the training ground.

What difference is that road to the one that goes to Rodney Parade, or the city center you have to navigate to get to the Arms park ? 

There are two major roads in the direct vicinity to Ynysfach where the Wern is, the A470 and the A465, there is a retail park within 5mins walk from there, Cyfarthfa Retail Park, which has restraunts and Rhydicar Retail Park about 10 mins walk from there, add to that the Merthyr town center is in walking distance and there is a car park right next to the rugby club that has 200+ parking spaces.

You really need to do your homework when you are spouting out your hatred for anything outside of our fabulous capital city.

Also, how many times have three of the fab four attracted crowds in excess of 10,000 people ?


Oh, and the bus and train stations are all in the town center and are all within 10/15 mins walk from the ground. Of course, if you had been to Merthyr recently you would have known all this.

So, Merthyr and Swansea through to Premiership then according to the WRU.

munkian wrote:So, Merthyr and Swansea through to Premiership then according to the WRU.

Yep, and there are two spaces left between Bargoed, Pontypool and RGC1404. Should be interesting.

Is there any truth in RGC1404 being the 'chosen ones' by the WRU ?

munkian wrote:Is there any truth in RGC1404 being the 'chosen ones' by the WRU ?

Not that I am aware of, here is the league as it stands:-

Merthyr	23		103
Swansea	24		103
Pontypool	23		88
Bargoed	22		82
RGC1404	22		78

So RGC1404 have a game in hand over Pontypool but have to make up a deficit of 10pts. I think their best chance will be to overtake Bargoed, they have Swansea on Saturday, whilst RGC1404 entertain strugglers Llanharan, we could see the two clubs go level on points this weekend.

After that, Pontypool have to play both Bargoed and RGC1404 at home, it will be very interesting.

munkian wrote:Is there any truth in RGC1404 being the 'chosen ones' by the WRU ?

Seems to be the general consensus. Then again, some have moaned about Pontypool playing ringers (one anyway with Geraint O'Driscoll borrowed from Newport) and such like, so people are understandably nervous.

RiscaGame wrote:

munkian wrote:Is there any truth in RGC1404 being the 'chosen ones' by the WRU ?

Seems to be the general consensus. Then again, some have moaned about Pontypool playing ringers (one anyway with Geraint O'Driscoll borrowed from Newport) and such like, so people are understandably nervous.

I do not suppose there is much difference between that and Stan Thomas paying thousands to players at a semi-pro level though. If the WRU wanted RGC1404 in the prem, they would find a way.

LordDowlais wrote:What difference is that road to the one that goes to Rodney Parade, or the city center you have to navigate to get to the Arms park ? 

There are two major roads in the direct vicinity to Ynysfach where the Wern is, the A470 and the A465, there is a retail park within 5mins walk from there, Cyfarthfa Retail Park, which has restraunts and Rhydicar Retail Park about 10 mins walk from there, add to that the Merthyr town center is in walking distance and there is a car park right next to the rugby club that has 200+ parking spaces.

You really need to do your homework when you are spouting out your hatred for anything outside of our fabulous capital city.

Also, how many times have three of the fab four attracted crowds in excess of 10,000 people ?


Oh, and the bus and train stations are all in the town center and are all within 10/15 mins walk from the ground. Of course, if you had been to Merthyr recently you would have known all this.

RP and CAP have major train lines and bus stations within walking distance. I understand that Merthyr is the end of a one track rail. Hardly comparable.

RP and CAP have significant parking within a 10 minute walk. Merthyr doesn't.

Like at PyS, retail parks won't allow rugby event goers to use their facility, so mentioning those venues is a red herring.

I was in Merthyr on Monday morning, Champ. I drove though, of course.

PhilBB wrote:I was in Merthyr on Monday morning, Champ. I drove though, of course.

Of course you did.

PhilBB wrote:RP and CAP have significant parking within a 10 minute walk. Merthyr doesn't. 

Yes it does. There is a massive car park within 5mins walk, by the college and there is a multi-story car park in the town center less than five minutes away from the college car park. 

So sorry to burst your bubble, Champ.

Here you are Phill, over 1000 parking spaces all in Merthyr town center and all in walking distance to the Wern:-

http://www.welovemerthyr.co.uk/public/pages/parking-information

Of course, a constant visitor to Merthyr like yourself would already know this.

LordDowlais wrote:Here you are Phill, over 1000 parking spaces all in Merthyr town center and all in walking distance to the Wern:-

http://www.welovemerthyr.co.uk/public/pages/parking-information

Of course, a constant visitor to Merthyr like yourself would already know this.

Ample parking I see.
Herds of wild beasts running about too I imagine.

LordDowlais wrote:
Yes it does. There is a massive car park within 5mins walk, by the college and there is a multi-story car park in the town center less than five minutes away from the college car park. 

So sorry to burst your bubble, Champ.

That multi story is closed on a Sunday, isn't it?

And doesn't it only have 269 spaces?

LordDowlais wrote:Here you are Phill, over 1000 parking spaces all in Merthyr town center and all in walking distance to the Wern:-

http://www.welovemerthyr.co.uk/public/pages/parking-information

Of course, a constant visitor to Merthyr like yourself would already know this.

I'm not a constant visitor. I've been half a dozen times this year and stay for as short a time as possible.

Still, it's good to know that your exposure to pro rugby makes you think that 1000 spaces will be enough. It's almost as though you think that those spaces won't be used for anything else.

PhilBB wrote:Still, it's good to know that your exposure to pro rugby makes you think that 1000 spaces will be enough. It's almost as though you think that those spaces won't be used for anything else.

So the parking spaces in Cardiff and Newport are reserved just for the rugby now is it ?

Just keep backtracking, your like Micheal Jackson.

LordDowlais wrote:

So the parking spaces in Cardiff and Newport are reserved just for the rugby now is it ?

Just keep backtracking, your like Micheal Jackson.

Hang on, are you trying to compare car parking availability between Merthyr and Cardiff?

I'm not sure why you think I've backtracked from the idea that 'The Wern' is not a suitable venue for professional rugby, as I haven't backtracked from that opinion.

Still, are you trying to play billy big balls over the parking in Merthyr compared to Cardiff?

Just to point out that since the redevelopment and the new stand RP now has a capacity of less than 10,000, so it's impossible for us to get a 10k plus crowd!

PhilBB wrote:Hang on, are you trying to compare car parking availability between Merthyr and Cardiff?

No you questioned the parking situation within walking distance to the Wern, I rebuffed your crap and put you right.

PhilBB wrote:I'm not sure why you think I've backtracked from the idea that 'The Wern' is not a suitable venue for professional rugby, as I haven't backtracked from that opinion. 

I never said the Wern was suitable for professional rugby, I have said it could be built to be suitable, I think my words were "Rome was not built in a day".

PhilBB wrote:Still, are you trying to play billy big balls over the parking in Merthyr compared to Cardiff?

I have never questioned Cardiff's infrastructure to support professional rugby, it was you who started going on about parking and roads leading to the ground and the what not.

I was just pointing out the many holes in your argument against the ability for Merthyr or any other area of the valleys for that matter to sustain professional rugby.

Griff wrote:Just to point out that since the redevelopment and the new stand RP now has a capacity of less than 10,000, so it's impossible for us to get a 10k plus crowd!

OMG however do you manage ?

PhillBB's insistence that the world ends outside the city of Cardiff is getting quite boring now.

LordDowlais wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Hang on, are you trying to compare car parking availability between Merthyr and Cardiff?

No you questioned the parking situation within walking distance to the Wern, I rebuffed your crap and put you right.

PhilBB wrote:I'm not sure why you think I've backtracked from the idea that 'The Wern' is not a suitable venue for professional rugby, as I haven't backtracked from that opinion. 

I never said the Wern was suitable for professional rugby, I have said it could be built to be suitable, I think my words were "Rome was not built in a day".

PhilBB wrote:Still, are you trying to play billy big balls over the parking in Merthyr compared to Cardiff?

I have never questioned Cardiff's infrastructure to support professional rugby, it was you who started going on about parking and roads leading to the ground and the what not.

I was just pointing out the many holes in your argument against the ability for Merthyr or any other area of the valleys for that matter to sustain professional rugby.

Hang on, the 'many holes' seem to be an insufficient number of parking spaces (you boasting about 1,000 shows not in favour of your argument but mine, but the sad thing is that you're not bright enough to see that) and the fact that the ground isn't suitable for professional rugby, as that's all you've pointed out.

Well done.

LordDowlais wrote:

PhillBB's insistence that the world ends outside the city of Cardiff is getting quite boring now.

It's not quite as boring as your complete fabrication of that claim and your continual lie about it.

You do know that you're not fooling anybody with it, right?

LordDowlais wrote:

Griff wrote:Just to point out that since the redevelopment and the new stand RP now has a capacity of less than 10,000, so it's impossible for us to get a 10k plus crowd!

OMG however do you manage ?

PhillBB's insistence that the world ends outside the city of Cardiff is getting quite boring now.

I made the point as I fully expected YOU to lambast the Dragons for not getting a 10k crowd this season

PhilBB wrote:RP and CAP have significant parking within a 10 minute walk. Merthyr doesn't. 

I was replying to this little beaut that you came out with. I suppose you are going to backtrack on that now as well are you, champ.

I also see you have conveniently dodged the question I put out to you about how many times have three of the fab four attracted crowds in excess of 10,000 people ?


I bet I can count on one hand the amount ALL the regions have achieved over that qty.

Griff wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Griff wrote:Just to point out that since the redevelopment and the new stand RP now has a capacity of less than 10,000, so it's impossible for us to get a 10k plus crowd!

OMG however do you manage ?

PhillBB's insistence that the world ends outside the city of Cardiff is getting quite boring now.

I made the point as I fully expected YOU to lambast the Dragons for not getting a 10k crowd this season

Why would I lambast Dragons for not getting 10k through the gates every week. I will only lambast them when they show their @rses and lose every week. Getting in crowds of 10k is a problem the four regions have, not just Dragons.

LordDowlais wrote:

I was replying to this little beaut that you came out with. I suppose you are going to backtrack on that now as well are you, champ.

I also see you have conveniently dodged the question I put out to you about how many times have three of the fab four attracted crowds in excess of 10,000 people ?


I bet I can count on one hand the amount ALL the regions have achieved over that qty.

No, there's nothing to backtrack on. The thousand spaces you pointed to aren't enough. You do realise this, yes?

This season the crowds above 10k probably aren't that many, but who would expect them to be? Obviously the powder has been kept dry by three of the four with regards to recruitment, waiting until Roger had gone.

That noted, are you seriously of the opinion that Merthyr RFC could host professional rugby at the location of its present ground?

LordDowlais wrote:

Why would I lambast Dragons for not getting 10k through the gates every week. I will only lambast them when they show their @rses and lose every week. Getting in crowds of 10k is a problem the four regions have, not just Dragons.

Why have you added in the extra clause of 'every week'?

PhilBB wrote:That noted, are you seriously of the opinion that Merthyr RFC could host professional rugby at the location of its present ground?

No not yet, but with time and changes then yes. At the moment it is good enough for what it needs to be, although it could be better, but there would obviuosly need to be improvements for pro rugby.

Just out of interest, where are all the car parks, train stations, bust stations in Llanelli ? They have pro club, where is their infrastructure. Where are all the thousands of parking spaces around Rodney Parade ?

PhilBB wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Why would I lambast Dragons for not getting 10k through the gates every week. I will only lambast them when they show their @rses and lose every week. Getting in crowds of 10k is a problem the four regions have, not just Dragons.

Why have you added in the extra clause of 'every week'?

OK then, lets just use the word ever. When have Cardiff had a crowd of over 10k, Christmas time wasn't it ? And that's it.

LordDowlais wrote:

No not yet, but with time and changes then yes. At the moment it is good enough for what it needs to be, although it could be better, but there would obviuosly need to be improvements for pro rugby.

Just out of interest, where are all the car parks, train stations, bust stations in Llanelli ? They have pro club, where is their infrastructure. Where are all the thousands of parking spaces around Rodney Parade ?

I've never been to a bust station in Llanelli but they do have car parking to accommodate at least a 9.5k crowd, as I was part of it last week. Many people seemed to park in the Tata steel works car parks.

You seem now to have added 'all the thousands' with reference to Newport. Why have you added another clause to change the entire context of the piece? This is odd behaviour and makes you appear excitable rather than logical. The answer, of course, is in the residential area.

What changes need to take place at The Wern to host pro rugby and why would it be prudent to make those changes there rather than simply build a purposeful stadium outside of a residential area?

LordDowlais wrote:
OK then, lets just use the word ever. When have Cardiff had a crowd of over 10k, Christmas time wasn't it ? And that's it.

You seem to have answered a different question from the one you asked. You answered as to when the last time there was a 10k crowd but you seemed to ask about how many 10k crowds have been achieved.

That's odd.

What's the fascination with 10k?

PhilBB wrote:What's the fascination with 10k?

Because it was you who brought it up in the first place, now all of a sudden it does not matter. FFS, you have been proved wrong, just face it. 

PhilBB wrote:but they do have car parking to accommodate at least a 9.5k crowd

No they do not. They have enough for 450 cars within walking distance, and the rest they have to use the steel works and retail parks. When you add them all up that is a lot less than Merthyr, as you would expect with half the population.

PhilBB wrote:The answer, of course, is in the residential area. 

Oh so there are no "residential areas" in Merthyr.

LordDowlais wrote:
Because it was you who brought it up in the first place, now all of a sudden it does not matter. FFS, you have been proved wrong, just face it. 

Proved wrong about what, sorry?

LordDowlais wrote:
No they do not. They have enough for 450 cars within walking distance, and the rest they have to use the steel works and retail parks. When you add them all up that is a lot less than Merthyr, as you would expect with half the population.

Well, I parked in a car park of greater than that number of cars, not in the steel work or retail park, and walked into PyS.

So, are you sure?

LordDowlais wrote:
Oh so there are no "residential areas" in Merthyr.

Yes, just a smaller number.

PhilBB wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:
Because it was you who brought it up in the first place, now all of a sudden it does not matter. FFS, you have been proved wrong, just face it. 

Proved wrong about what, sorry?

That there is inadequate parking within walking distance to the Wern.

LordDowlais wrote:

That there is inadequate parking within walking distance to the Wern.

No, no. You showing me 1000 spaces shared with other users doesn't, as noted above, support YOUR argument. It just shows your inability to comprehend the requirements of pro rugby.

PhilBB wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:
No they do not. They have enough for 450 cars within walking distance, and the rest they have to use the steel works and retail parks. When you add them all up that is a lot less than Merthyr, as you would expect with half the population.

Well, I parked in a car park of greater than that number of cars, not in the steel work or retail park, and walked into PyS.

So, are you sure?

Yes I've been to PYS as well. It does have a big car park there, but not enough for 10,000 people.

http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/travel/car_parking.php

LordDowlais wrote:

Yes I've been to PYS as well. It does have a big car park there, but not enough for 10,000 people.

http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/travel/car_parking.php

Well how did we all manage a couple of weeks ago?

PhilBB wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

That there is inadequate parking within walking distance to the Wern.

No, no. You showing me 1000 spaces shared with other users doesn't, as noted above, support YOUR argument. It just shows your inability to comprehend the requirements of pro rugby.

Where is the parking for Newport and Cardiff then that other users do not use. Oh, and other users use the parking at PYS for things besides the rugby as well.

PhilBB wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Yes I've been to PYS as well. It does have a big car park there, but not enough for 10,000 people.

http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/travel/car_parking.php

Well how did we all manage a couple of weeks ago?

Because lots of people will travel without cars as well you see. Also there are other parking facilities that can be used around PYS, the only "dedicated" parking is the parking by the stadium and that alone is not enough for your demands.

LordDowlais wrote:
Where is the parking for Newport and Cardiff then that other users do not use. Oh, and other users use the parking at PYS for things besides the rugby as well.

You seem to be missing the point that all of those venues have sufficient capacity to handle 10k capacities and the normal traffic.

LordDowlais wrote:
Because lots of people will travel without cars as well you see. Also there are other parking facilities that can be used around PYS, the only "dedicated" parking is the parking by the stadium and that alone is not enough for your demands.

Yes, but those options aren't so easy at The Wern, right?

There's also not enough room there for a 15k stadium.

PhilBB wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:
Where is the parking for Newport and Cardiff then that other users do not use. Oh, and other users use the parking at PYS for things besides the rugby as well.

You seem to be missing the point that all of those venues have sufficient capacity to handle 10k capacities and the normal traffic.

So can Merthyr. It might surprise you, but Merthyr is quite the bustling busy town, now it might not be the metropolis that is Llanelli or Newport or a capital city like Cardiff, but Merthyr as a town could quite manage a few thousand visitors every other week, especially when most of them would already be living here.

PhilBB wrote:There's also not enough room there for a 15k stadium

And you know that as a matter of fact do you ? 

feck me, not only are you an expert on all rugby and infrastructures, but your a friggin surveyor and all.

Anyway, we would not need one that big.

PhilBB wrote:Yes, but those options aren't so easy at The Wern, right? 

Yes, yes they are, the furthest parking space in Merthyr town center, is closer to the Wern than the car park outside city hall is to the Arms Park, or the multi-story by St David's shopping center.

Pavements are the new car parks in any case.
Every fecker seems to think it's ok to plonk their vehicle on them even though they are not designed to take the excessive weight and therefore paviours get damaged/cracked. Fecking winds me up.

I was in Merthyr this morning. I had to go to court there on two charges of not paying off my £2.63 bartab in Ponty Weatherspoons then turning up to the job centre smelling of booze

While I was waiting for the judge to sentence me I got a taxi to take me for a little trip around the Wern. When I was doing a runner from the taxi I couldn't half help but notice how crap it was

Anyway...the judge sentenced me to 10 hours community service chasing people who chuck bricks at the Valley Line service trains and also informed me that Cardiff RFC are the only club within a 3000 mile radius capable of having any team sport whatsoever

Hoping Phil can give me a lift up there next week when he is on another tour of Merthyr...as I'm on my other charge for knocking over a load of strawberries on Ponty market and telling the smelly bloke on the stall that I didn't care about what I did

I can't give you any petrol money Phil but you will enjoy my company

Steffan wrote:I was in Merthyr this morning. I had to go to court there on two charges of not paying off my £2.63 bartab in Ponty Weatherspoons then turning up to the job centre smelling of booze

While I was waiting for the judge to sentence me I got a taxi to take me for a little trip around the Wern. When I was doing a runner from the taxi I couldn't half help but notice how crap it was

Anyway...the judge sentenced me to 10 hours community service chasing people who chuck bricks at the Valley Line service trains and also informed me that Cardiff RFC are the only club within a 3000 mile radius capable of having any team sport whatsoever

Hoping Phil can give me a lift up there next week when he is on another tour of Merthyr...as I'm on my other charge for knocking over a load of strawberries on Ponty market and telling the smelly bloke on the stall that I didn't care about what I did

I can't give you any petrol money Phil but you will enjoy my company

Tipsy, Boy?

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Steffan wrote:I was in Merthyr this morning. I had to go to court there on two charges of not paying off my £2.63 bartab in Ponty Weatherspoons then turning up to the job centre smelling of booze

While I was waiting for the judge to sentence me I got a taxi to take me for a little trip around the Wern. When I was doing a runner from the taxi I couldn't half help but notice how crap it was

Anyway...the judge sentenced me to 10 hours community service chasing people who chuck bricks at the Valley Line service trains and also informed me that Cardiff RFC are the only club within a 3000 mile radius capable of having any team sport whatsoever

Hoping Phil can give me a lift up there next week when he is on another tour of Merthyr...as I'm on my other charge for knocking over a load of strawberries on Ponty market and telling the smelly bloke on the stall that I didn't care about what I did

I can't give you any petrol money Phil but you will enjoy my company

Tipsy, Boy?

Nah...sober as the judge who sentenced me sadly