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Penarth Rugby Club, a historic institution established in 1880, has been left devastated after a severe fire engulfed its clubhouse in the early hours of Monday. The blaze resulted in the destruction of invaluable trophies and memorabilia, deeply impacting the local community. While the fire caused significant damage, it was reported that no injuries occurred during the incident, and firefighters managed to save the club’s cherished historic stand.
The alarm was raised by local residents Alison and Alistair Jones, who live just behind the clubhouse. They were awakened at around 5 a.m. by the outbreak of the fire. Alison Jones recounted how her husband and a club coach were the first to respond, promptly calling emergency services. Four fire engines arrived within five minutes and worked quickly to contain the flames, preventing further extensive damage to the historic structure.
The clubhouse, which had been due to host several festive events and a birthday party scheduled for January, has had to cancel all upcoming activities. Beyond rugby, the facility also serves as a home base for Penarth Cricket and Penarth Hockey clubs, compounding the impact of the fire on the wider sporting community. Alison Jones expressed particular sadness at the loss of decades-old pictures and plaques, which held many cherished memories.
Sean O’Sullivan, Chairman of Penarth RFC, described the clubhouse as a “second home” for the approximately 400 children who play there every weekend. He acknowledged the magnitude of the loss, estimating the cost of the damage at around half a million pounds and signaling that the clubhouse does not appear to be salvageable. Despite this, he emphasized the club’s resilience, noting, “There’ll be insurance, there’ll be fundraising, and we’ll just get on with it.” Meanwhile, Penarth Athletic Club confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and highlighted their gratitude toward the fire service and local community for their swift response. The club is focusing on developing a recovery plan to support all teams that rely on the facility and pledged to keep the public updated
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