James is a Senior Manager at Tata Steel and a former Wales Rugby League U18s International – capped when playing for the original Aberavon Fighting Irish Rugby League Football Club. James is a passionate believer in the adage that ability without opportunity is nothing and is determined that the club will emerge as a platform for wider community improvement in the town.
As Chair of the Club, James will use his extensive range of management and leadership skills to ensure that the club's activities are sustainable, based on sound business principles and held on a firm financial footing. His belief in teamwork, effective communication and collaborative leadership are the qualities by which his stewardship of the club will be defined.

An experienced sports administrator with over 35 years in the public, private and VCSE sectors, John is and a former Captain of Pontypridd RFC and a Wales Students Rugby League international, He is responsible for overseeing the club’s administration with a commitment to ensuring that the club’s governance meets the highest recognised standards and that the club is fully inclusive with a diversity at all levels to reflect the community that it serves.
Like brother Chris, John is a founder member of the original Aberavon Fighting Irish Rugby League Football Club and a former member of the Wales Rugby League Board.

Patrick (Paddy) has been involved as a volunteer in designing and delivering rugby opportunities for young people of the town for as long as anyone can remember. He brings with him wide-ranging experience of what is needed behind the scenes, to ensure the success of a vibrant community sports club. He will work closely with the Director of Rugby, to ensure that playing members of the club are given the very best opportunities to develop their skills and playing ability, as well as improving themselves as members of the local community.
Amongst his wide portfolio, Paddy will be responsible for facilities, kit and equipment.

A former Wales schoolboy rugby union international and award winning Primary Head Teacher, Simon now heads up one of the county’s most successful EdTech companies, Aspire2Be. He has an impressive track record of positioning sport, learning and digital skill at the heart of community improvement; and is widely recognised for both his professional achievements and his support of the local community infrastructure, across the wider Port Talbot area.

As a well-known local solicitor Anthony (Tommy) brings with him a detailed knowledge of the town’s sporting infrastructure and extensive experience of local community matters. He has deeply held belief that involvement in sport has the ability to improve the life chances of our young people by broadening horizons and raising aspirations – as well as helping to develop vital life skills.



Amongst his responsibilities is to create meaningful and sustainable bridges to wider community issues, including social inclusion; community cohesion; improved health and wellbeing; enhanced educational attainment; and how a club can use its reach and opportunities base, to help reduce anti-social behaviour and crime across its catchment area.

A former Cambridge Blue and CEO of Celtic Crusaders with a distinguished coaching CV - including a very successful stint at the helm of Aberavon RFC, the Spanish National Rugby Union team and the full Wales Rugby League as Assistant National Coach and Team Manager. Chris brings with him a wealth of business and sport administration experience and is responsible for the recruitment and development of rugby league players, both within the club and the wider Port Talbot area.
Chris has set his stall out to make the nurturing and development of young local talent his number one priority and is fully committed to producing the town’s next Regan Grace – a native of Port Talbot now setting Super League alight with his blistering pace on the wing for St Helens RLFC

Another who can lay claim to having represented Wales Rugby League at U18 level. Daniel also represented the club while taking further international honours for Wales Students & Great Britain Under 18’s. Daniel is also a former player of the club with a deep affection for the sport of rugby league. A distinguished banking career makes him the ideal person to oversee the club’s finances and to ensure that the prudent use of what will always be limited resources, is undertaken in a manner that will secure the long -term sustainability of the club, as a bedrock of local sporting opportunity.