It’s probably a sport you’ve never heard of, but Korfball – a Dutch ball sport incorporating elements of Netball and Basketball – is steadily growing in popularity across the UK.
The sport is mostly played indoors and allows men and women to participate together. All ages and abilities can play Korfball, with the emphasis on improving fitness in a fun and social way.
For people living in South Wales, Korfball remains largely unknown, but thanks to the work of several teams in Swansea, Cardiff and Newport, the profile continues to grow year on year with new audiences and communities.
RCT Comets is the latest club to join the ranks of the Welsh leagues and the team is now aiming to get more members of their local community into the sport in 2026.
Based in Pontypridd, RCT Comets was founded in March 2025 by three friends who wanted to make a difference for people in the Rhondda valley.
Nic Allison, Tommy Freeman and Alice McLaren Brown had a shared vision to launch their own club after gaining several years of experience playing the sport together.
Current figures suggest that 42% of people in Rhondda-Cynon-Taf (RCT) live in areas which are classed as having higher levels of health and social deprivation.
Many residents in these areas face significant barriers to physical activity and wellbeing opportunities, as well as a lower healthy life expectancy when compared to wealthier areas of South Wales.
More than 23% of the population in RCT also lives in income poverty, which is higher than the Welsh national average.
To combat some of the barriers to participation in the area, RCT Comets continues to build its presence with local communities by delivering an exercise and wellbeing offer which keeps fees as low as possible for members.
Thanks to funding support from Sport RCT, the club has gone from strength-to-strength since its launch in 2025, with more than 16 full-time members now taking part on a weekly basis.
The club’s ambitious plans for 2026 now include the launch of two squads to compete in the Welsh national divisions, with a competition squad made up of experienced players and a development squad to train new members.
Alice McLaren Brown from RCT Comets, said:
“I started playing Korfball as a teenager and I’ve stuck with it because it’s such a great way to meet people, get fit and make friends, and I would 100% recommend it to anyone not confident in their athletic ability to give Korfball a try and become part of such an inclusive community.”
Ethan Vaughan, Community Sport and Physical Activity Leader at Sport RCT Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC, said:
“We’re delighted to have supported RCT Comets from the very beginning.
“The club offers something a little different for our communities to get active and has created a welcoming, inclusive environment that makes this exciting new sport accessible to everyone.”
How Korfball can help people to live well
Playing Korfball can have many benefits for people who are looking to be more active, including:
- Improved balance, coordination and strength
- Increased stamina
- Improved mental wellbeing
- Increased energy levels
- Greater social interaction
For more information about RCT Comets, visit https://www.meetup.com/
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