 Social amenities were rudimentary even before the formation of the Rhondda Urban District Council in 1897 . Due to the geographic layout of the valleys , land was a scarce resource , and therefore leisure activities that took up little space , time and money were sought . This saw the popularity of activities such as greyhound races , cockfighting , open air handball courts ( often attached to a public house ) , boxing booths , foot racing and rugby union . 
