Sefydlwyd Clwb Rygbi Y Bala yn 1980 fel tim โiauโ o fewn strwythur Undeb Rygbi Cymru yr adeg honno gan chwarae nifer o gemau cyfeillgar yn erbyn ail neu drydydd timau clybiau rygbi cyfagos. Defnyddiwyd caeau a chyfleusterauโr ysgol ar gyfer y gemau.
Ymhen amser cafodd y clwb fenthyciad gan wr busnes lleol I brynu caeau ar gyfer chwarae rygbi a daeth Maes Tegid yn gartref iโr clwb. Crewyd dau gae ac yna ymhen blynyddoedd daeth cyfle I brynu tir ychwanegol a chreu trydydd cae chwarae. Maeโr clwb yn falch iawn oโr ffaith eu bod yn berchen ar Faes Tegid ac wedi gweithioโn galed i ad-daluโr ddyled.
Y cam nesa yn natblygiad y clwb oedd cael cyfleusterau ar y cae a chyda cymorth gwirfoddol aelodau a chyn-aelodau gyda sgiliau cynllunio ac adeiladu a drwy ymgyrchoedd codi arian llwyddwyd i godi adeilad pwrpasol yn cynnwys pedwar o ystafelloedd newid, ystafell Iโr dyfarnwr, ystafell cymorth cyntaf, cegin a thoiledau. Yn ystod y blynyddoedd yma byddai holl dimau y clwb yn oedolion, ieuenctid a phlant yn mynd Iโr Plas Coch, tafarn yn y Bala am luniaeth ar รดl y gemau. Nid oedd hyn yn ddelfrydol yn arbennig o ran y plant.
Roedd gan Brian โYogiโ Davies, chwaraewr a hyfforddwr a barlyswyd mewn damwain yn y sgrym yn ystod ei gem ola Iโr clwb weledigaeth o godi estyniad Iโr ystafelloedd newid. Byddai yn cynnwys ystafell a chegin fyddaiโn le I blant gael cyfarfod a chael bwyd ar ol ei gemau. Yn anffodus bu farw Yogi cyn gweld ei weledigaeth yn cael ei wireddu ond unwaith eto llwyddwyd I godiโr estyniad sydd yn cael ei adnabod fel Ystafell Yogi. Dyma erbyn hyn lle mae holl dimauโr clwb yn cyfarfod ar รดl gemau am fwyd a diod ac yn le hefyd lle mae cefnogwyr a chyn-chwaraewyr yn medru mynd am ddiod a sgwrs.
Llwyddodd y clwb yn ddiweddar I gael trwydded lawn ac mae cynlluniau ar y gweill I ymestyn y bar. Maeโr datblygiadau hyn yn sicr wedi dyfnhau yr ymdeimlad o berthyn ymysg aelodauโr clwb o bob oedran. O ran datblygiadau eraill maeโr clwb yn ddiweddar wedi prynu y maes parcio gan Barc Cenedlaethol Eryri ac mae cynlluniau Iโw ehangu, yn ogystal a chynllun I ddarparu ystafell ffitrwydd Iโr chwaraewyr. Mae ymholiadau hefyd yn cael eu gwneud ynglyn aโr posibilrwydd o gael cae ymarfer 4G.
Mae Clwb Rygbi Y Bala wedi tyfu o fod ag un tรฎm o ddynion i ymfalchรฏo bellach mewn dros 350 o aelodau syโn chwarae (dynion a menywod ym mhob oedran rhwng 6 a 50 oed). Ar hyn o bryd, mae gan y clwb ddau dรฎm dynion hลทn (tรฎm 1af ac 2il) a thรฎm merched hลทn, pob un wedi’i ategu gan dimau ieuenctid gwrywaidd a benywaidd. Rydym yn darparu rygbi plant i ferched a bechgyn dan 8, dan 10, dan 12, dan 14 a dan 16. Maeโr clwb hefyd yn hwb ar gyfer timau merched Gwylliaid Meirionnydd. Profwyd cryn lwyddiant dros y blynyddoedd gyda tim cyntaf y dynion yn ennill Prig Gynghrair y Gogledd, y Tim Merched Hyn yn ennill y Bowlen Genedlaethol yn Stadiwm y Principality eleniย a Chynghrair y Gogledd ac maeโr llwyddiannau o ran y timoedd iau bechgyn a merched yn rhy niferus Iโw henwi. Mae nifer oโr clwb hefyd wedi cynrychioli Cymru ar wahanol lefelau ac oedran.
ย Ochr yn ochr รข’r nod craidd o hyrwyddo rygbi yn y Bala, mae gan y clwb rรดl bwysig wrth ddarparu cyfleoedd i unigolion o bob gallu ac oedran gadw’n heini a mwynhau’r gรชm. Yn ystod ac ar รดl COVID, roedd perygl sylweddol o bobl ifanc yn cael eu hynysu ac yn dioddef o broblemau iechyd meddwl mewn cymunedau gwledig fel y Bala. Mae’r clwb wedi cymryd rรดl flaenllaw wrth weithio gydag ysgolion a sefydliadau lleol i ddarparu lle diogel i fechgyn a merched gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau iach rheolaidd. Mae’r bobl ifanc hynny nad ydynt yn arbennig o awyddus i chwarae yn cael eu hannog i wneud rhywfaint o waith ffitrwydd ac i wirfoddoli yn y clwb.
Bala Rugby Club was established in 1980 as a ‘junior’ team within the structure of the Welsh Rugby Union at that time playing a number of friendly matches against the second or third teams of neighbouring rugby clubs. The school’s fields and facilities were used for the games.
Eventually the club received a loan from a local businessman to buy pitches for playing rugby and Maes Tegid became the club’s home. Two pitches were created and then within years came the opportunity to buy additional land and create a third playing field. The club are very proud of the fact that they own Maes Tegid and have worked hard to repay the debt.
The next step in the development of the club was to have facilities on the pitch and with the voluntary support of members and former members with planning and construction skills and through fundraising campaigns it was possible to build a purpose-built building with four changing rooms, a referee’s room, a first aid room, a kitchen and toilets.
During these years all the club’s teams of adults, youth and children would go to Plas Coch, a pub in Bala for refreshments after the games. This was not ideal especially when it came to the children. Brian ‘Yogi’ Davies, a player and coach who was paralysed in a scrum accident during his last game for the club, had a vision of building an extension to the changing rooms. It would include a room and kitchen that would be a place for children to meet and have food after games.
Unfortunately Yogi died before seeing his vision come true but once again he was able to erect the extension known as the Yogi Room. This is now where all the club’s teams meet after matches for food and drink and is also a place where fans and former players can go for a drink and a chat.
The club was recently successful in obtaining a full licence and plans are underway to extend the bar. These developments have certainly deepened the sense of belonging among club members of all ages. In terms of other developments the club has recently purchased the car park from the Snowdonia National Park and there are plans to expand it, as well as a scheme to provide a fitness room for the players. Enquiries are also being made regarding the possibility of having a 4G pitch.
Bala Rugby Club has grown from having a single men’s team to now boast over 350 playing members (men and women at all ages between 6 and 50 years old). Currently, the club has two senior men’s teams (1st and 2nd team) and a senior women’s team, each complemented by both male and female youth teams. We provide children’s rugby for girls and boys under 8, under 10, under 12, under 14 and under 16. The club is also a hub for the Gwylliaid Meirionnydd women’s teams. Considerable success has been experienced over the years with the men’s first team winning the Northern League Prix, the Senior Women’s Team winning the National Bowl at this year’s Principality Stadium and the Northern League and the successes in the boys’ and girls’ junior teams are too numerous to name. A number of the club have also represented Wales at different levels and ages.
ย Alongside the core aim of promoting rugby in Bala, the club has an important role to play in providing opportunities for individuals of all abilities and ages to keep fit and enjoy the game. During and after COVID, there was a significant risk of young people being isolated and suffering from mental health problems in rural communities such as Bala. The club has taken a leading role in working with local schools and organisations to provide a safe space for boys and girls to take part in regular healthy activities. Those young people who are not particularly keen on playing are encouraged to do some fitness work and to volunteer at the club.