Editing Aberdare (section)

=== Rugby Union ===
[[File:Aberdare RFC Rugy Football Club by Aberdare Blog.jpg|thumb|right|The modern Aberdare Rugby Club near the Ynys. The signage displays the initials as RUFC rather than RFC, distinguishing it as the town's rugby union club.]]
A rugby club representing Aberdare was recorded as early as 1876, but the modern [[Aberdare RFC]] traces its history back to a foundation of 1890.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4344986/4344992/64/football|title=MERTHYR. I&#124;1876-12-02&#124;The Western Mail - Welsh Newspapers|website=newspapers.library.wales}}</ref> The club had great success in the early twentieth century with local star [[David Jones (rugby)|Dai 'Tarw' Jones]] captaining the club from 1905 to 1907. Jones gained recognition as a player in club, representative and international games. Most notably, Jones played an important part in the "''[[Match of the Century (Rugby Union)|Match of the century]]''", when Wales defeated the New Zealand All Blacks. In 1907, Jones and the Aberdare club played a pivotal role in the [[Professional sports|professionalism scandal]], with the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] permanently suspending the club's entire committee and a number of players (including a lifetime ban for Jones). These events would quickly lead to many of the town's players and fans switching to rugby league, with the first ever rugby league international and the founding of [[Aberdare RLFC]] in 1908.<ref name="Lush 1998 9">{{cite book |last=Lush |first=Peter |author2=Farrar, Dave |title=Tries in the Valley: A History of Rugby League in Wales |year=1998 |publisher=London League Publications |location=London|page=9  |isbn=0-9526064-3-7}}</ref>

Despite the suspensions, rugby union continued in the town as the club (renamed Aberaman RFC) moved to Aberaman Park. The Ynys Stadium would host its first international rugby union side on 12 December 1935, when the [[1935–36 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and Canada|1935-36 All Blacks]] played a tour match against a Mid-Districts side. The All Blacks won the match 31–10 in front of a crowd of 6,000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tegeltija |first1=Sam |title='It was like preparing for a royal visit' The day the All Blacks visited Aberdare 80 years ago on Saturday |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/it-like-preparing-royal-visit-10567023 |access-date=7 August 2022 |agency=Wales Online |date=8 December 2015}}</ref>

Aberaman RFC returned to the Ynys in the 1960s. In February 1971, a clubhouse was opened at the old Crown Hotel in Gloucester Street, this was followed by the construction of a grand stand at the Ynys costing £20,000. Following the advent of professionalism in rugby union, the WRU sanctions against Aberdare were no longer applicable. As such, the club took the name Aberdare RUFC once again. Aberdare is also home to [[Abercwmboi RFC]] and Hirwaun RFC.