Beddau welcome Llangennech RFC to Mount Pleasant Park this Saturday for our first home fixture of the 2026/27 Admiral Community Premiership season.

It brings together two proud community rugby clubs and continues what has become an increasingly competitive fixture in recent seasons.

For supporters who may not know too much about our visitors from West Wales, Llangennech have a long and proud rugby history stretching back more than 140 years.

The Bois y Llan

Known as “Bois y Llan”, Llangennech RFC were founded in 1885 and are based in the Carmarthenshire village of Llangennech, close to Llanelli.

The club’s formation came during a period when rugby was spreading rapidly through the communities of West Wales, with enthusiasm for the game in the area reportedly boosted by Llanelli’s success in the South Wales Challenge Cup.

Llangennech played their first matches in 1885 and, remarkably, the club has fielded a side in virtually every rugby season since, with the two World Wars providing the major interruptions.

Like Beddau, Llangennech’s story is very much one of a rugby club sitting at the heart of its community.

Climbing Through the Divisions

The modern history of Llangennech provides a great example of progression through the Welsh club game.

The club were West Wales Rugby Union Section B champions in 1984/85, before beginning a climb through the WRU league structure.

They won Division 8A West in 1994/95, followed by Division 7 West in 1996/97 and Division 5 West in 1997/98.

Further success followed when Llangennech became Division 3 West champions in 2000/01.

The club also lifted the West Wales Rugby Union Cup in 2004/05.

More recently, Llangennech were crowned WRU Division One West champions in 2022/23, another important step in a rise which eventually took the Carmarthenshire club into the top level of community league rugby in Wales.

They are now firmly established amongst the clubs competing in the WRU Community Premiership.

A Club With International Connections

For a village club, Llangennech can also boast an impressive list of players who have gone on to achieve honours at a higher level.

Perhaps the most historic name associated with the club is Rhys Gabe, who was born in Llangennech and became one of the leading Welsh players of the early 20th century.

Gabe won international honours for Wales and was part of the famous Welsh side which defeated the touring New Zealand All Blacks in Cardiff in 1905.

Other players associated with Llangennech who went on to play international rugby include Cliff Williams, Idwal Davies, Terry Davies, Alun Thomas, Brian Davies, Gavin Evans, Adam Warren and Sam Parry, while Welsh international Lowri Harries is another name connected with the club.

There are sporting connections beyond rugby union too, with former England cricketer Steffan Jones among those associated with Llangennech, while multiple Mr Olympia 212 bodybuilding champion Flex Lewis played youth rugby at the club.

Recent Meetings

Last season’s two meetings between Beddau and Llangennech could hardly have been more contrasting.

The first came on the opening afternoon of the 2025/26 Community Premiership campaign when the Green & Golds travelled west to Llangennech.

It proved to be one of the most dramatic games of Beddau’s season.

The home side led 14-12 at the interval before a closely fought second half eventually saw Beddau edge the contest by the narrowest of margins, 22-21, to begin their league campaign with an important away victory.

By the time the sides met again eight months later, Beddau were involved in a three-way battle with Merthyr and Pontypridd at the top of the Premiership.

Llangennech arrived at Mount Pleasant Park sitting sixth in the table and having recently demonstrated their quality on the road with impressive victories at both Ystrad Rhondda and Neath.

The return fixture, however, produced a quite extraordinary result.

On the final afternoon of the league campaign, Beddau ran out 89-5 winners at Mount Pleasant Park, securing the bonus-point victory they required to guarantee a superb runners-up finish in the Community Premiership.

It was a remarkable conclusion to a league campaign which had begun with a single point separating the sides at Llangennech and ended with Beddau producing one of their biggest victories of the season.

Those two matches also provide a reminder that very little can be taken for granted when the clubs meet again at Mount Pleasant Park this Saturday.

Saturday at Mount Pleasant Park

Saturday now brings another chapter in the developing rivalry.

Both clubs represent exactly what the Community Premiership should be about – ambitious rugby clubs with long histories, strong local identities and pathways stretching from junior rugby through to their senior sides.

Llangennech’s journey from the lower reaches of the Welsh league pyramid to Premiership rugby is one to be admired and Saturday will provide another stern test for Lee Davies and his Beddau side.

After opening the new campaign with a 26-20 victory away at Bedwas, the Green & Golds return home looking to build on that result in front of the Mount Pleasant Park support.

We extend a warm welcome to everyone making the journey from Llangennech – players, coaches, officials and supporters – and hope they enjoy their afternoon with us at Mount Pleasant Park.