Rumours about the demise of Narberth Rugby Club Athletic team appear to be premature.
In an article for Saturday's programme for the first team match at home against Glamorgan Wanderers, club secretary Tony Jones said: "A rumour is apparently circulating currently that we are to disband the Athletic team at the end of the season. I can categorically state that not only has there not been a decision to do so, there has not even been a suggestion put forward by any club committee member that we should do so. We are proud to have a Second XV. As the 1st XV become more of a district side, representing, as the highest divisional side in those counties, the interests of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion at the level in which they play, we recognise the growing importance of retaining the Athletic team as a Narberth town side with players being recruited via our Junior Section and from the immediate locality. The side provides local players with an excellent standard of rugby at senior level and also provides increasing numbers of supporters with enjoyable rugby to watch. What is true and possibly has been behind the rumour is that the pyramid of clubs advocated by the Scarlets will relate to the 1st XV and to the youth team and does not relate directly to the Athletic team or any of the Second XVs in the other clubs involved with the Scarlets.
"The Athletic team will continue to provide an opportunity for players of top ability to compete for a place in the 1st XV as will the other partner clubs in our district. What the 1st XV will not necessarily provide is players for the Athletic team, unless perhaps they originated in our club, as it is likely that players provided by local clubs for the 1st XV will, as part of the arrangement, be expected to be offered back to play for those feeder clubs if not in the 1st XV squad. In the same manner we would expect Narberth players who succeed in obtaining a place in the Scarlets squad to be made available for consideration by Narberth if not picked for that team.
"At the present moment in time Second XV teams have been struggling for players. There are only a few teams now playing in the Pembrokeshire Junior Union. The same appears to be applying elsewhere in Wales as what is a very large club base competes for a diminishing player base because of the competition of other sports. One of the objectives of the Scarlets' initiative is to retain as many of the 16-year-old rugby players as possible playing rugby at senior level as there is a massive fall out at that age. If this succeeds there will be ample players to ensure the future of present teams and to reinstate some which have failed.
"This season, Narberth Athletic team has struggled for players and through the work of team managers, coaches and players in particular, has succeeded in recruiting more players. They currently are able to field a side and have grown in strength. They still need more players, however, so if any supporter knows of a player who may be interested in joining the Athletic aquad, let us know. They have excellent coaching provided by John Chinn and a very high standard of rugby in playing in the Naylor Drainage Championship against such teams as Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins Second XVs."