Newbridge RFC is a Welsh Rugby Union club based in Newbridge, Caerphilly in South Wales. Newbridge RFC was formed in 1888 and joined the WRU in 1911. They play in the WRU Welsh Championship East

Newbridge RFC
Full nameNewbridge Rugby Football Club
UnionWelsh Rugby Union
Founded1888; 136 years ago (1888)[1]
LocationNewbridge, Caerphilly
Wales
Ground(s)The Welfare Ground
PresidentMr. Robert Collins
Coach(es)Jason Williams, Paul "Dire" Edwards
Captain(s)Matthew Davies and Stuart Vokes
League(s)Welsh Premier Division
2023-2024Welsh Championship East - 5th (promoted) [2]
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
newbridge.rfc.wales

Club history

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Newbridge RFC established in 1888, but only gained admission to the WRU in 1911 when it secured a ground and facilities up to WRU requirements.

In 1925 Newbridge Rugby Club moved to their present home at the Welfare Ground where they signed a 99-year lease at a shilling a year. A new pavilion had been constructed around this time and the club now shares their ground with the local cricket team. The club are presently in their third clubhouse at the site after an explosion and 2 fires caused damage to past buildings.

On the field, Newbridge have been pioneers of a number of well known rugby traits, most of which were brought to fruition by the pioneering coach Dai Harries during his tenure as Club Coach in the 1960s. Most recognisably, these are; the tap signal from the hooker to the scrum half to feed the scrum, the formation of a wall for the taking of penalties and they are also one of the first Club's to introduce the Hooker as the player to throw the ball into the lineout. It was during Dai's reign as coach that the Club captured the Western Mail Championship to be crowned Champions of Wales in the 1964-65 season.

British and Irish Lions

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The following players have played for the British and Irish Lions while playing for Newbridge RFC.

International honours

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The following players have been capped at international level while playing for Newbridge RFC.

See also Category:Newbridge RFC players

Club honours

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Games played against international opposition

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Year Date Opponent Result Score Tour
19511 18 October   South Africa Lost 6–15 1951–52 South Africa rugby union tour of Europe
19622 24 October   Canada Won 16-8 1962 tour of the United Kingdom
19643 24 September   Fiji Draw 11–11 1964 Fiji rugby union tour of Europe and Canada[4]
19664 29 November   Australia Won 12–3 1966–67 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and France[5]
1983 18 October   Japan Lost 14–19 1983 Japan rugby union tour of Wales[6]
1988 15 October   Samoa Lost 15–16 1988 Western Samoa rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland[7]
1989 23 September   Wales Lost 4-25 Special Centenary celebration
1990 8 September   Romania Won 35-21 1990 tour of Wales
1994 9 Mar   Canada A Lost 8-9

1 A joint Pontypool/Newbridge team.
2 A joint Ebbw Vale /Newbridge team.
3 A joint Abertillery/Newbridge team.
4 A joint Pontypool/Cross Keys/Newbridge team.

References

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  1. ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp11 ISBN 0-7083-0766-3
  2. ^ WRU Website [1]
  3. ^ Jenkins, Vivian (ed.). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1981-82. ISBN 9780907574057.
  4. ^ Fiji Rugby.com Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Pontypool". 29 November 1966.
  6. ^ Stephen Jones, ed. (1984). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1984–85. Queen Anne Press. p. 50. ISBN 0-356-10448-6.
  7. ^ Jones, Stephen, ed. (1989). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989-90. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 37. ISBN 0356178625.