Rhymney RFC
Full nameRhymney Rugby Football Club
Nickname(s)The Brewers
Founded1882 (c)
LocationRhymney, Wales
Ground(s)The War Memorial Park
PresidentJustin pinch
Coach(es)Quinton
League(s)WRU Division Three East
2009/103rd[1]
Team kit
Official website
www.rhymneyrfc.org.uk

Rhymney Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in Rhymney in Wales. The senior team presently plays in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Two East league. Rhymney is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.[2]

History

Rugby union was first played in Rhymney in the late 19th century, though the exact date is unverified. The earliest reported match appeared in "The Western Mail" with a match against Pontlottyn on the 23rd of September 1882 at the Rhymney Cricket and Football Field. Rhymney won by 3 goals against 2 touches downs.[3] The earliest international player from the town was Bill Evans, who played for Wales against Ireland in 1882 and Scotland in 1883.[4] The earliest known photograph of a Rhymney team, is dated circa 1887. In 1910, Rhymney RFC applied for and was granted membership of the Welsh Rugby Union, and was allowed to play in competitive matches with other teams in the area, primarily in the Monmouthshire League.

The 1887 Rhymney Stars

Like many Welsh clubs in the depression hit 1920s, Rhymney RFC disbanded in 1924[5] and lost its WRU membership. In 1933, Rhymney RFC reformed and in 1945 regained WRU status. During the 1945 season, Rhymney lost probably their greatest player, Bob Evans, to the top tier team Newport. Club captain Evans went on to represent Wales on ten occasions and in 1950 played for the British Lions.[6]

A period of growth during the 1950s saw the acquisition of a new playing field, viewing stand and the club's first official clubhouse. In 1976, Rhymney hosted Slava Moscow, the first time a Russian team played in Great Britain. Rhymney won 10-8.[7]

Notable players

Keith 'Trigger' Edwards

References

  1. ↑ WRU Official Website Archived 2011-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ BBC News (8 July 2004). "Wales' regional rugby map". BBC. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
  3. ↑ "FOOTBALL.I|1882-09-25|The Western Mail - Welsh Newspapers".
  4. ↑ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp465, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
  5. ↑ Glamorgan County History, Volume VI, Glamorgan Society 1780-1980; Prys Morgan, University of Wales Press, Cardiff (1988) pg.395
  6. ↑ Thomas, Wayne; A Century of Welsh Rugby Players 1880-1980, Ansell Ltd. (1979) pg.113
  7. ↑ Godwin, Terry (1976). The Guinness Book of Rugby Facts & Feats (2nd ed.). Enfield: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 229. ISBN 0-85112-264-7.
  8. ↑ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp465, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)


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