They Think It’s All Over…

Pontypridd talisman Dale McIntosh admitted emotions will be running high this evening at the club prepares for their last game in Europe at their Sardis Road home.
The Valleys club has flown the flag with distinction, sometimes dubiously, for Wales on the continent over the years having claimed some of the biggest scalps in European rugby.
But the end of the era is in sight as the club prepares to to merge with Bridgend next season for all cross-border competitions under the new provincial structure in Welsh rugby.
And that, as if the prospect of an Anglo-Welsh clash was not enough, is sure to create a highly charged atmosphere at this evening’s Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final second-leg.
‘It is going to be a big and a sad occasion,’ admitted McIntosh, now in his 14th season at Pontypridd.
‘I know the reasons for rugby moving on and they are the right reasons but that doesn’t camouflage the fact that it’s going to be a sad day for the club, especially the senior players and coaches.
‘It’s going to be pretty emotional for the likes of myself, Neil Jenkins, Paul John, Steel Lewis (assistant coach), Nigel Bezani (team manager) Jason Lewis and many others who have been here for a long time.
‘All those guys have fought many a battle, some we have won some we have lost, and to think we won’t be going to war together as Pontypridd any more is pretty sad.
‘I’m sure there are going to be a few tears shed after the game this evening, especially among the supporters as we pride ourselves on being a club that is at the heart of the community.’
Pontypridd competed in the first six seasons of the Heineken Cup and among the memorable European nights at Sardis Road were victories over Bath in 1996, eventual finalists Munster in 2000 and perhaps most notably inflicted the only defeat on Leicester during their march to the title in 2001.
‘We won all those games because we dug our heels in, played well and showed passion,’ said McIntosh.
‘Those are the qualities we are going to have to show to beat Wasps tonight.’