Merthyr RFC’s final with Pontypridd has been rearranged(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)

Merthyr RFC will now play their delayed Mid District Cup final against Pontypridd RFC in August after a dramatic U-turn following the club’s withdrawal announcement earlier this week.

Merthyr had confirmed on Monday that they would be pulling out of the final, which had been scheduled for May 20, citing player welfare concerns after a gruelling and extended season.

But in a fresh statement issued on Wednesday, the club confirmed that discussions with both Mid District Rugby and Pontypridd had led to an agreement to postpone the fixture until pre-season.

A short statement released by the club read: “Following continued discussion with colleagues at the Mid District and friends at Pontypridd RFC, a decision has been taken to defer the final, instead playing the fixture in August (date tbc) aligned with other pre-season commitments. More information to follow.”

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Ponty wrote, confirming the change, on their website: “The Mid District Premiership final between Merthyr and Pontypridd, scheduled to take place next Wednesday, May 20 has been postponed and will likely be rescheduled for August this year – we will release these details as soon as they are confirmed by all the relevant parties.”

The development comes after Merthyr chairman Craig Dummett explained the reasoning behind the club’s original decision to withdraw from the fixture.

In a lengthy statement earlier this week, Dummett said a combination of fixture congestion, injuries and player unavailability heading into the Whitsun holiday period had left the club unable to “do the competition justice while also safeguarding the wellbeing of our squad”.

Merthyr had initially proposed the idea of staging the final in August during talks with Mid District officials, pointing to a similar approach already used in Gwent rugby.

The club are preparing to lift the Admiral Community Premiership trophy for the second successive season this weekend when they face Cross Keys RFC at Pandy Park in their final league game of the campaign.

The postponement now means the Mid District Cup final will effectively become part of preparations for the 2026/27 season rather than the conclusion of the current campaign.