 The Gnoll in 2011 | |
 Interactive map of The Gnoll | |
| Full name | The Gnoll |
|---|---|
| Location | Neath,Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°39′48″N3°47′50″W / 51.66333°N 3.79722°W /51.66333; -3.79722 |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Tenants | |
| Neath Cricket Club (1848–present) Neath RFC (1871–present) Wales national rugby league team (2024–present) Wales women's national rugby league team (2024–present) Neath F.C. (2008–2012) South Wales Scorpions (2010–2013) Ospreys (rugby union) (2003-2005) | |
The Gnoll (Welsh:Y Gnol) inNeath,Wales is a sports ground, with a capacity of 6,000 (formerly 15,000). It is used primarily forrugby union,rugby league, andcricket, in addition to having previously been used forassociation football.
In July 2009, Neath RFC presented plans for the redevelopment of the Gnoll, including building a community centre on the site, which were criticised by Neath town councillors as being "too woolly".[1]
The Gnoll is the traditional home ofNeath RFC, one of the leadingWelsh clubs in the pre-regional era of rugby. It has hosted Neath since the club was founded in 1871.[2] The ground has a capacity of 6,000.[3]
The Gnoll has been used as the home ground for theWales women's national rugby union team, including during the2016 Women's Six Nations Championship where it was the site of a victory overFrance following a try byMegan York which qualified the team for the2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.[4]
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South Wales Scorpions played at the Gnoll from their formation in 2010 until 2013.[5] The ground hosted aWales national rugby league team match during the2010 European Cup, where Wales defeatedIreland 31–30.[6] It also hosted Ireland at the Gnoll in at the2011 Rugby League Four Nations. Wales won the game by 30 points to 6.[7] The stadium also hosted Wales vCook Islands at the2013 Rugby League World Cup; it was the smallest venue used at the tournament and only hosted a single game.[3]
In July 2024, the stadium became the official home ground of all Welsh national rugby league teams ran by theWales Rugby League.[8]
Welsh Premier League clubNeath Athletic played at The Gnoll between 2008, and their liquidation in 2012.[2] The ground hosted its first ever football match when Neath Athletic playedSwansea City in a pre-season friendly in July 2008.[9]
The Gnoll started to host someGlamorganCounty Championship fixtures in the 1930s, and in 1954 an indoor cricket school was opened at the site. However, problems with the pitch meant that from the late 1960s the ground was only used for one-day matches - in 1969 the Gnoll staged the county's first-ever home game in the Sunday League. In 1974, the Gnoll was dropped from the county's 1st XI fixture list, although it played host to Glamorgan's matches against the touring Australians in 1985 and 1993.[10] Championship cricket returned to The Gnoll between 1986 and 1992 with Glamorgan staging five home games there, and one furtherfirst-class cricket game was played against a Young Australia team in 1995.[11] Glamorgan returned to The Gnoll in August 2022, scheduling two 50-over matches in the2022 Royal London One-Day Cup.[12]
