Llanelli - Sport

Sport

Rugby union — The town's rugby union teams—the Scarlets regional side, competing in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 League, and Llanelli RFC, competing in the Principality Premiership—play at Parc y Scarlets, opened in November 2008 just outside of town in Pemberton.

Previously, the two teams had played at Stradey Park, home to Llanelli RFC for over 130 years. It was one of the stadiums used during the 1999 Rugby World Cup, hosting the Argentina v Western Samoa game on October 10. Stradey Park is now being re-developed.

The Welsh folk song Sosban Fach ("Little Saucepan") is mostly associated with Llanelli RFC. Many rugby clubs have notable scalps collected from touring international sides, but on 31 October 1972, Llanelli claimed perhaps the greatest by beating the New Zealand All Blacks. The Scarlets side emerged 9–3 winners at Stradey Park.

There is also a strong junior rugby core in Llanelli, including club sides such as Felinfoel, New Dock Stars and the Llanelli Wanderers. In 2005, Coedcae School won the Inter-Schools Cup of Wales with an 8 - 5 victory over Brynteg Comprehensive.

Rugby league — Llanelli's rugby league club are called the West Wales Sharks and play in the Welsh Conference Premier. The Sharks play out of Llanelli Wanderers RFC's home ground of Stradey Park.

Football — Stebonheath Park is the home of football club Llanelli A.F.C.. Although Llanelli has a rich rugby heritage, football is also a very popular pastime. As a result there are many active local football teams such Trostre Sports AFC, which is one of the area's best local football teams. Bowls — Llanelli hosts the annual Llanelli Open Bowls Tournaments, the oldest and most prestigious of which, the Roberts-Rolfe Open Singles event, has been run since 1926, and now has a first prize of £600. These are held from July to September in Parc Howard.

Golf—- The Llanelli area has three golf courses, including the Machynys Peninsula Golf & Country Club, Machynys Peninsula Golf & Country Club which is and has been the host of the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe since 2005; and Glyn Abbey Golf Club which was named Welsh Golf Club of the Year 2009.

Motorsports — The Pembrey Circuit is known as the home of Welsh Motorsport, providing racing for cars, motorcycles, karts and trucks. The Team Wales Racing team is also based here.

Boxing — Llanelli is the home of former British Superfeatherweight Champion Neil Haddock, and former Welsh Heavyweight champion Chris Jacobs.

Snooker- Llanelli is also the birthplace and home to Terry Griffiths OBE, snooker world champion in 1979 and runner up in 1988.Currently a world respected coach to players of all calibre and runs The Terry Griffiths Matchroom in the town centre.