Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s £10m investment in 3G and artificial sport pitches has kicked off a surge in sports participation AND realised the ambition for every resident to live within three miles of a high quality 3G facility.
This year marks a decade since the Council first launched a significant investment programme to replace some grass pitches that were in poor condition and unusable in bad weather, with modern 3G pitches that could be used year round.
Two years into that investment programme, in 2018, the quality and importance of the new facilities became clear, leading to a Council commitment to ensure every resident lived within three miles of a 3G pitch.
The positive impact of years of consistent investment, improvement and partnership working has seen:
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A huge range of sport, social, health and wellbeing opportunities using the highest-quality facilities - from professional league games to school sports days, youth open access provision and sports camps.
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Residents enjoy one of the strongest offers in Wales, in terms of the range and standard of facilities offered and the low hire prices. Compared to neighbouring local authorities, adults in RCT pay 30% less to access the pitches. As Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is one of just a few Welsh authorities to apply dedicated junior fees, children pay 60% less.
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More improvements planned, including new web/app booking system, continued strong links with partners to deliver more facilities, continued support for sport and community groups, building on the exceptional work with schools.
Cllr Scott Emanuel, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “The Council made a commitment in 2018 to ensure every resident lived within three miles of a 3G pitch because it recognised the importance of these facilities.
“Significant, sustained investment, combined with partnership working, has delivered an exceptional range of facilities.
“The pitches are maintained to the highest professional, sporting standards for the benefit of the clubs and teams that use them, and for the schools, youth services, community groups and more using them for sports days, sports camps and other sessions.
“The explosion in usage rates and the sporting inspiration the investment has sparked - we recently helped Ysgol Afon Wen open a regional Hockey Centre of Excellence - is exactly what we wanted to see when we set our ambition all those years ago. It’s great to not only see it realised, but to see sporting opportunities thrive.”
Since 2018, the Council has worked with high profile professional bodies such as Sport Wales, FA Wales, Wales Rugby Union and Cymru Football Foundation to invest a further £4.5m in facilities, plus £1m to improve changing rooms.
Rhondda Cynon Taf now boasts 15 3G pitches, three small-sided 3G pitches, an indoor 3G pitch and three All Terrain Pitches (ATPS). A new booking system, via and app and web, is set to be in use by September 2026.
The Council continues to support sports clubs and teams, community groups, schools, professionals and more to deliver and improve their own facilities, develop sporting teams/leagues and increase participation. These include Llantwit Fardre FC, Cwm Welfare, and Cambrian Village Trust.
Pitches that were once used by just a few hundred people are year are now thriving, with people playing rugby, football, hockey and more via junior and adult leagues, organised groups and community events. For example, girls’ hubs at Sobell, Baglan, Abercynon and Maritime 3Gs see 139 teams a week playing.
Overall, usage across the pitches has increased 250%. Usage at Darren Park 3G in Ferndale has increased from 417 in 2022/3 to 41,280 in 2024/5, while Baglan 3G in Treherbert rose from 3,293 in 2021/2 to 33,600 in 2024/5.
More improvements are planned, with a new booking site, strengthened relationships with funding partners, continued work with clubs and associations and focused programmes to ensure pitches remain accessible and maintained to the highest, and often professional, standards people need and expect.
Read the full report here
Find out more information on 3G pitches, bookings and how you could benefit from using one.
Posted on 23/03/2026