SPIRITUAL HOME OF THE BARBARIANS DESTROYED BY FIRE
Penarth, one of Wales’ oldest rugby clubs, have been left in a “state of shock” after a fire destroyed their clubhouse.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Monday and ripped through the building, destroying a memorabilia collection stored inside, before the blaze was contained by South Wales Fire Service.
In a statement, the club said: “Absolutely devastating news to bring you this morning about our beloved Club House. We are all in a state of shock as its such a hub of the community for so many people of all ages. So many memories have been lost but thankfully no one was hurt!
“Special thanks to South Wales Fire Service for their quick response and efforts. Big thanks to everyone who has reached out to Dan & Hubbs offering support and services. Penarth Rugby, Penarth Cricket and Penarth Hockey will all come together and we will rebuild!”
Founded in 1880 as Batchelor XV, the team merged with Penarth Dreadnoughts in 1882 to become Penarth and moved to their home at the Athletics Field after the First World War. They have produced more than a dozen Wales internationals while Rudolf Straeuli, a future South Africa head coach, also briefly represented the club in the 1980s.
Penarth also have a long association with the Barbarians stretching back to 1901. The famous invitational team historically started their tour of Wales with a fixture against Penarth on Good Friday, a tradition that lasted through to 1986. While the Barbarians have no fixed base, Penarth was often seen as a spiritual home.
Many of the club’s historic pictures and plaques were destroyed in the fire which Sean O’Sullivan, the club chairman, estimates caused £500,000 worth of damage. The club hosts up to 400 children every week for local fixtures while the clubhouse was also home to cricket and hockey clubs.
“It is devastating for the community and for the rugby club,” O’Sullivan told the BBC. “We’ll just have to crack and see what we can do. We’ve just got to see how we react to it and go forward. There’ll be insurance, there’ll be fundraising, and we’ll just get on with it.”
2025-12-01T16:05:41Z