Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyn

Artificial Rugby and Football Pitch Installation.

Completed in 2024, a new FIFA Quality and World Rugby Reg 22 3G artificial grass pitch was constructed at Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw in Pontypool. This £1.4 million project encompassed not just the 3G pitch itself but also a SAB-approved drainage system, access road, pathways, pedestrian lighting, retaining structures, rain garden, and landscaping.

The school requested a hybrid pitch that could serve as both an artificial football pitch and artificial rugby pitch. Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw were keen to install a 3G artificial grass pitch as part of its ongoing commitment to providing exceptional sporting facilities for its students.

As a Welsh medium school, Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw secured funding for the project through the Welsh Government’s ‘Cymraeg 2050’ scheme, which aims to increase the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050. The school and the government saw this initiative as an opportunity to enhance sports education whilst promoting the Welsh language. McArdle Sport Tec produced rule boards and signage written entirely in Welsh to further support the initiative. Beyond benefiting the school’s students, the artificial grass pitch is available to hire by local sports clubs, providing a high-quality training and match venue for the wider community. The hope is that as well as providing a suitable pitch for sports and activities to take place within the school day, it would also bring initiatives to grow the use of the Welsh language to the local community outside of school hours.

A key sustainability feature of the project was the construction of a rain garden adjacent to the 3G pitch. This eco-friendly drainage solution utilises eco-soil to collect excess water, whilst incorporating pond plants to create a wildlife-friendly environment. Additionally, the site required a complex drainage system, incorporating five large storage units and a swale to effectively manage rainwater runoff from both the newly constructed road and the nearby leisure centre. In total, nearly 8,000 tonnes of stone were used in the construction process.  

The completion of the artificial grass pitch is an exciting addition for Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw and its surrounding community. Offering a reliable, 3G playing surface, the 3G pitch ensures uninterrupted PE lessons, training sessions, and competitive fixtures throughout the year. The school has expressed immense satisfaction with the facility, which provides a safe, high-quality environment for students and local athletes.