Penygraig Rugby Football Clubis aWelshrugby unionteam based inPenygraig,Wales.Penygraig RFC formed in 1877, one of the earlier rugby clubs to emerge, and by the 1890s were a strong voice in theWelsh Rugby Union,one of four clubs from theRhondda Valleythat held WRU representation.[3]
| Full name | Penygraig Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1877.[1] |
| Location | Penygraig,Wales |
| Ground(s) | Graig Park |
| League(s) | WRU Division Three East Central A |
| 2017-18 | 5th[2] |
| Official website | |
| penygraigrfc | |
Early history
editIn the 1887/1888 season, Penygraig played 19 matches, winning 12, drawing 1, and losing 6. Some notable wins was against Bridgend RFC and Penarth RFC.[4]In the 1888/1889 season, Penygraig played 34 matches, winning 21, drawing 5, and losing 8.[5]
The early history of Welsh international rugby saw players selected not so much for form or ability but club connections. Penygraig were one of the first clubs to break this pattern managing to gaininternational capsfor two of their players,David 'Dai' Evansin 1896 (4 caps) andJack Rhapps(1 cap) in 1897.[6]Both men were early exponents of the 'Rhondda forward', heavy labourers chosen for their aggressive style of play. Despite being based in the heart of the industrial South Wales coalfield, Penygraig also supplied one of the most devastating fly-halves of early Welsh rugby whenPercy Bushwent through the team's ranks before joiningCardiff.
During the turn of the 19th century, Penygraig, like many other successful Welsh clubs, lost several players to the professionalNorthern Union.Scouts from Northernrugby leagueteams approached rugby footballers to play in England for a wage. Penygraig lost Rhapps toSalfordin 1897 andFrank ShugarstoWarringtonin 1904.
In 1908 Penygraig were playing to such a high standard that they were chosen as one of the invitational club teams to face the very first touringAustralianteam. Played at the Athletic Ground inTonypandy,the Australians won 11-3.
Penygraig's ground hosted the first match of the1973 Japan rugby union tour of Wales, England and France,when the touring team played an East Glamorgan representative side.
2002/03 Silver Ball final
editPenygraig RFC beatPontypridd RFC30-25 in the 2003Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophyfinal; but after the game the entire winning Penygraig XV refused to give a drug sample toUK Sportofficials requested by the WRU.[7]The club appealed against the mass suspension the WRU was seeking and it took until January 2004 for a decision to be made. The outcome was the suspension of 19 Penygraig RFC players for 15 months, and the suspension of the club secretary for two years.[8]
Club honours
edit- 1994-95 Welsh League Division 8B Central - Champions
- 2002-03WRU Division Three East- Champions
- 2002-03Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy- Winners
- 2016-17 WRU Division Three East central B - Champions
Games played against international opposition
edit| Year | Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 10 October |  Australia
|
Loss | 3-11 | 1908 Australian tour of the British Isles[9][10] |
Notable players
edit- See alsoCategory:Penygraig RFC players
Percy Bush- David "Dai" Maldwyn Davies
- Dai Evans
- Harry Jones(2 caps)
- Willie Llewellyn(20 caps)
- Jack Rhapps(1 cap rugby union) (2 caps rugby league)
Frank Shugars(8 caps rugby league)- Dick Thomas(4 caps)
- Frank Wrentmore,turned to professionalrugby leaguewithMid-Rhondda RLFCand is also notable as being one of the British soldiers involved in theChristmas truceof 1914.[11]
- Lee Byrne(41 caps)
Notes
edit- ^Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981,David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) p.11ISBN0-7083-0766-3
- ^Official WRU League Tables
- ^Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981,David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp53ISBN0-7083-0766-3
- ^"FOOTBALL.|1888-04-28|South Wales Daily News - Welsh Newspapers".
- ^"CLOSE OF THE FOOTBALLI Iseason;|1889-04-29|The Western Mail - Welsh Newspapers".
- ^Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981,David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp93ISBN0-7083-0766-3
- ^"Rugby Union: Just saying 'no' to drugs test leaves Penygraig in a fix" -Independent on Sunday,Published May 25, 2003
- ^"Rugby drug charges - three cleared",BBC Online,Published 21/01/04
- ^Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981,David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp187ISBN0-7083-0766-3
- ^Rugby Relics website
- ^Christmas Truce 1914Archived2012-04-16 at theWayback MachineThe soldiers