A significant fire has engulfed the clubhouse of Penarth Rugby Club, located near Cardiff, Wales, early this morning. The blaze, which broke out around 5am, has caused extensive damage to the club's main bar area and resulted in smoke damage throughout the premises. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

Fire crews and emergency services responded promptly to the scene, managing to bring the fire under control within three hours. The Penarth Athletic Club, which also serves as the headquarters for the town’s cricket and hockey teams, confirmed the incident, stating, "Penarth Athletic Club can confirm that a fire caused significant damage to its facilities in the early hours of Monday 1 December. Emergency services responded swiftly, and the fire has now been fully extinguished."

The club expressed relief that there were no injuries to staff or visitors, emphasising that the safety and well-being of everyone involved remains their highest priority. An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway in collaboration with the relevant authorities.

Co-Club Chairs Gareth Hubback and David Carter expressed gratitude for the rapid response from the fire and rescue service, stating, "We are tremendously grateful for the swift response of the fire and rescue service and for the support from our local community at this time. We will work hard to recover as quickly as possible."

The Lavernock Road ground is a vital facility for Penarth RFC during the winter months and Penarth Cricket Club in the summer. It also serves as a base for the town's hockey teams. Established in 1880, Penarth Rugby Club is one of the oldest in Wales and has a long-standing tradition of hosting matches against the Barbarians since 1901.

The club is now assessing the full extent of the damage and developing a recovery plan to minimise disruption for Penarth Rugby Club, Penarth Cricket Club, Penarth Ladies' Hockey Club, and their loyal supporters. Further updates will be provided as they become available.