Penarth Athletic Club has issued two major updates following the fire that caused significant damage to its main building earlier this week.
Senior members returned to the site on Tuesday to assess the destruction and begin planning the next stage of recovery, confirming that while the main room suffered extensive fire damage, the Long Room escaped with only smoke impact and is already undergoing a deep clean.
The club said specialist contractors will be required due to the scale of the damage, although they expressed gratitude for the many local residents and businesses who have offered help.
The goal is to make the Long Room safe and usable by the weekend so supporters can gather ahead of the Rugby First Team’s cup fixture.
The WRU has stepped in to provide transport to the venue, with Cricket Wales supplying portable toilets to support limited reopening on Sunday for junior training.
Messages of support have poured in from across Wales and beyond. Tenby United RFC said they looked forward to seeing the club “rebuilt and back to where they were”, while local residents praised the “incredible resilience” of staff and volunteers.
Others urged the committee to consider launching a fundraising page to help the refurbishment effort. Offers of practical help have also come in, including from a fire and flood restoration specialist.
In a second update, Penarth RFC confirmed that Saturday’s Division 1 Cup match against Lampeter will now be played at Cardiff Arms Park. The iconic venue offered to host the fixture following the fire, with the WRU providing four supporters’ buses from Penarth and two returning buses after the final whistle.
Supporters are invited to gather at the Athletic Club for a 2pm pre-match meet-up, with buses departing at 3.30pm. Kick-off at Cardiff Arms Park is scheduled for 5.30pm.
With the club determined that “the show must go on”, the focus now is on safely reopening part of the site while longer-term restoration plans take shape. The strength of the community response, both locally and from the wider rugby family, has already proved a powerful lift during what has been a challenging week for Penarth Athletic Club.
The update comes just days after a major fire tore through the historic Penarth Athletic Club clubhouse in the early hours of December 1, destroying large parts of the 120-year-old building and forcing the multi-sport hub to close.
Fire crews from Penarth, Barry and Cardiff Central spent nearly three hours tackling the blaze after being called at 4.59am. The roof was left “well alight” and the building “severely damaged,” according to South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
The clubhouse has long served as the shared home of Penarth RFC, Penarth Cricket Club, Penarth Ladies’ Hockey Club and Penarth Men’s Hockey Club, making the impact immediate across all four sports.
Early indications from club officials suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical failure, though investigations remain ongoing.
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