Ynys (Aberdare)

As such, a number of places named Ynys were found around the modern playing fields.nb[5][6] Aberdare was described as "very remarkable" for its traditions of Taplasau Hâf (summer games), rhedegfeydi (races) and gwrolgampau (manly sports) as early as 1853.

The text explicitly names this "Ynys" as Glan-rhyd-y-gored near Llwycoed Mill, someway up river from the current playing fields.

[8] By 1875, The Ynys was under the supervision of the Abernant ironmaster, Richard Fothergill who continued to use the land as a place for fêtes and athletic tournaments.

As Fothergill was leasing the grounds to local societies, the area continued to be set aside and remained largely undeveloped, despite the rapid growth of Aberdare and the Ynys' situation as flat open land between the town's two main railways stations.

[9] In August 1875, the Ynys hosted the first of an annual athletic tournament which would also include equestrian events and a brass band competition.

However, the club was soon embroiled in the professionalism scandal with the Welsh Rugby Union, the repercussions of which would see a number of players banned from the sport.

[15][16][17] The success of the match and the large number of paying spectators (gate receipts were reported as £560), highlighted the commercial potential of the Ynys.

[19] The potential of the venue was again demonstrated on 10 November 1908, when the Ynys hosted its second international side as 5,000 spectators watched Aberdare take on the first touring Australian team.

[27] Rugby Union club matches finally returned to the Ynys in the 1960s, when Aberaman RFC began to play fixtures at the old Aberdare ground.

[28] Together with the town's Rugby union and cricket teams, the Ynys now hosts many other sporting facilities constructed in the early twenty-first century.

Dai "Tarw" Jones , formerly of Aberdare's rugby union team would score the winning try in Wales' victory over New Zealand at the Ynys.