Four sets of brothers play in same Welsh rugby team as history made

Four sets of brothers have played a part for Aberdare RFC as they secured back-to-back promotions.

The brothers, Liam Enoch, Garin Enoch, Jack Payne, Garyn Payne, Kian Stephens, Ellis Stephens, Kieron Parry and Adam Parry make up half the team that has achieved remarkable success.

Aberdare have now been promoted two years in a row, and will be playing in the Welsh championship next season for the first time in their history.

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"We've got a bit of a tradition of families being involved in our club, we've also got the Watts brothers who turned out three weeks ago for the Athletic (seconds side) team, because that's the way we are," explained club chairman Darrell Williams.

"It is extraordinary that we've got the four (sets of) brothers who are actually on the park together."

Seven of the brothers featured in the recent 54-5 win over Ynysybwl away from home, with Ellis Stephens acting as water boy on the day because he's been nursing an injury. Jack Payne had only just come into the first team after playing in the youth set-up, joining older brother Garyn and the rest of the brothers to complete the set.

Williams continued: "It's a nice mixture of youth and a little bit of experience and it's going well. We've gained promotion two years on the run. As a chairman and as a committee, we didn't expect that. We thought this year we'd bed ourselves in and learn how to operate in division one.

"We play a brand of rugby which is really attractive, we get some really good crowds and local derbies which have been brilliant this year. And because we are a family club, it's a big influence on us all together.

"For all the people who are like myself - behind the scenes, pushing and prodding and making sure, it's fantastic. We are very, very fortunate. And I know clubs like Cambrian Welfare, Mountain Ash, Abercynon and Abercwmboi have all got people like us - doing their best for Welsh rugby and giving players the opportunity. When you've got the brothers coming on, and families coming to watch the game, I just think it's a fantastic advert for us.

"Yes, the pinnacle is the Welsh team and the regions. But there is a system below that, operating on a shoestring, which is the way it should be."

The photos were taken from a selection of local photographers: Paul Jenkins, Dai Juliff, Huw Richards, Ian Shortridge, Matt Addicott.