Cardiff RFC
Encyclopedia
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union
football club based in Cardiff
, the capital city of Wales
. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens
, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park
where they have been based ever since. They built a reputation as one of the great clubs in world rugby largely through a series of wins against international touring sides. Both South Africa
and New Zealand
have been beaten by Cardiff; and Australia
have failed to beat the club in six attempts. Through its history Cardiff RFC have provided more players to the Welsh
national side and British and Irish Lions
than any other Welsh club.
rules, Glamorgan FC had increased its membership to sixty six by November 1874. 1874 saw Glamorgan's first away game, against Cowbridge Grammar School
, and by 1875 the team played its first encounter with Newport. Around 1875, two further clubs came into existence in Cardiff, they were Tredegarville Football Club, whose ranks included Jas. Bush, father of future Cardiff rugby hero Percy Bush
; and the Wanderers Football Club whose captain and founder was William David Phillips
. Of the three teams, Glamorgan and Wanderers became the most notable, but both teams rarely travelled, and both had difficulty beating the now established clubs of Newport and Swansea
. The supporters of both clubs started an agitation in the summer of 1876 for the two clubs to amalgamate, to give Cardiff town a better chance of beating the neighbouring teams. On Friday 22 September 1876 members of the Glamorgan and Wanderers clubs met at the Swiss Hall in Queen Street, Cardiff and decided to make a single club, to be called Cardiff Football Club. The first team captain was Donaldson Selby of Glamorgan and the vice-captain W.D. Phillips of Wanderers. Initially the club strip was black with a white skull and crossbones
, but after pressure from the players parents to change what they saw as an inappropriate strip, the team adopted the black and blue of Cambridge University
; after club player Thomas William Rees of Caius College
brought his university strip to the club.
Cardiff FC played their first fixture on 2 December 1876, versus Newport at Wentloog Marshes. In 1881, Cardiff beat Llanelli
to win the South Wales Challenge Cup, though the tournament was scrapped soon after due to persistent crowd trouble.
In 1881
, Newport based sports administrator, Richard Mullock
, formed the first Welsh international rugby team. Despite the team losing heavily to England
, Mullock had chosen four players from Cardiff to represent the team; club captain William David Phillips
, vice-captain B. B. Mann
, Barry Girling
and Leonard Watkins
, a reflection on the clubs importance at the time. A month later, on 12 March 1881, Cardiff RFC was one of the eleven clubs present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union
in Neath.
A notable early player was Frank Hancock
. A skilful centre, Hancock first played for Cardiff due to an injury to a first regular. At this time, rugby was played with six backs and nine forwards but Hancock's performance so impressed the selectors that for the next game they selected him as a seventh back and selected only eight forwards. The system was soon adopted by the Welsh national team and the seven backs and eight forwards system exists in rugby to this day. Cardiff RFC and Hancock were jointly recognised by the International Rugby Board
in 2011 for this innovation with induction to the IRB Hall of Fame
.
take part in the Magners League, LV= Cup and Heineken Cup
. The Cardiff RFC club side take part in the Welsh Premiership
.
and the Welsh Rugby Union
. On the site of the old Arms Park stadium, a new stadium was built, Welsh National Rugby Ground (also known as The National Stadium). In 1999, a brand new stadium was built in place of the National Stadium, which was named the Millennium Stadium
. Cardiff Blues
moved from the Arms Park for the 2009/10 season, and it is expected that Cardiff RFC will relocate at some time in the future.
touring squads whilst playing for Cardiff RFC. Gareth Thomas
was selected for the 2005 Lions tour whilst playing for Toulouse
whilst playing for Cardiff RFC.
See also Wales rugby union captains
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
football club based in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, the capital city of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens
Sophia Gardens
Sophia Gardens , currently known as SWALEC Stadium under a naming rights deal, is a cricket stadium on the west bank of the River Taff in Cardiff, 1.6 kilometres north of Cardiff Arms Park. It was named after Lady Sophia Rawdon-Hastings...
, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
where they have been based ever since. They built a reputation as one of the great clubs in world rugby largely through a series of wins against international touring sides. Both South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
and New Zealand
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
have been beaten by Cardiff; and Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
have failed to beat the club in six attempts. Through its history Cardiff RFC have provided more players to the Welsh
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
national side and British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
than any other Welsh club.
Early history
The first recognised team to begin playing rugby in Cardiff was Glamorgan Football Club, formed as a club team while Cardiff was still a town. The team was formed by a group of young men during the 1873/74 season, after a circular letter was sent to interested parties by S. Campell Cory. Playing under the Cheltenham CollegeCheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
rules, Glamorgan FC had increased its membership to sixty six by November 1874. 1874 saw Glamorgan's first away game, against Cowbridge Grammar School
Cowbridge Grammar School
Cowbridge Grammar School was one of the best-known schools in Wales until its closure in 1974. It was replaced by a comprehensive school.Founded in the 17th century by Sir John Stradling and refounded by Sir Leoline Jenkins, it had close links with Jesus College, Oxford. The school took both...
, and by 1875 the team played its first encounter with Newport. Around 1875, two further clubs came into existence in Cardiff, they were Tredegarville Football Club, whose ranks included Jas. Bush, father of future Cardiff rugby hero Percy Bush
Percy Bush
Percy Frank Bush was a Welsh rugby union player who played international rugby for Wales on eight occasions. Playing at fly-half, Bush is regarded as one of the most talented Welsh players before the first World War.-Rugby career:...
; and the Wanderers Football Club whose captain and founder was William David Phillips
William David Phillips
William David Phillips was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales...
. Of the three teams, Glamorgan and Wanderers became the most notable, but both teams rarely travelled, and both had difficulty beating the now established clubs of Newport and Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
. The supporters of both clubs started an agitation in the summer of 1876 for the two clubs to amalgamate, to give Cardiff town a better chance of beating the neighbouring teams. On Friday 22 September 1876 members of the Glamorgan and Wanderers clubs met at the Swiss Hall in Queen Street, Cardiff and decided to make a single club, to be called Cardiff Football Club. The first team captain was Donaldson Selby of Glamorgan and the vice-captain W.D. Phillips of Wanderers. Initially the club strip was black with a white skull and crossbones
Skull and crossbones (fraternities and sports)
The skull and crossbones was a common fraternal motiff as a symbol of mortality and warning in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
, but after pressure from the players parents to change what they saw as an inappropriate strip, the team adopted the black and blue of Cambridge University
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
; after club player Thomas William Rees of Caius College
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
brought his university strip to the club.
Cardiff FC played their first fixture on 2 December 1876, versus Newport at Wentloog Marshes. In 1881, Cardiff beat Llanelli
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
to win the South Wales Challenge Cup, though the tournament was scrapped soon after due to persistent crowd trouble.
In 1881
1880-81 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1880-81 Home Nations rugby union matches were a series of international rugby union friendlies held between the England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales national rugby union teams. This season is most notable for the introduction of Wales as an international rugby union nation, playing their first...
, Newport based sports administrator, Richard Mullock
Richard Mullock
Richard Mullock was a Welsh sporting administrator and official, who is most notable for organising the first Welsh rugby union international game and was instrumental in the creation of the Welsh Football Union, which became the Welsh Rugby Union in 1934...
, formed the first Welsh international rugby team. Despite the team losing heavily to England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
, Mullock had chosen four players from Cardiff to represent the team; club captain William David Phillips
William David Phillips
William David Phillips was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales...
, vice-captain B. B. Mann
B. B. Mann
Bathurst Bellers Mann was an Irish-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales...
, Barry Girling
Barry Girling
Barry Edward Girling was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. He won a single cap for Wales, in the country's first international match.-Rugby career:...
and Leonard Watkins
Leonard Watkins
Leonard Watkins was a Welsh international rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales. He won just a single game for Wales when he was selected for the first ever Welsh rugby international.- Rugby career :Watkins was born in...
, a reflection on the clubs importance at the time. A month later, on 12 March 1881, Cardiff RFC was one of the eleven clubs present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
in Neath.
A notable early player was Frank Hancock
Frank Hancock
Francis Escott "Frank" Hancock was an English-born rugby union centre who played club rugby for Somerset and Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. Hancock is best known as being the sport's first fourth threequarter player, which changed the formation of rugby union play that lasts to the...
. A skilful centre, Hancock first played for Cardiff due to an injury to a first regular. At this time, rugby was played with six backs and nine forwards but Hancock's performance so impressed the selectors that for the next game they selected him as a seventh back and selected only eight forwards. The system was soon adopted by the Welsh national team and the seven backs and eight forwards system exists in rugby to this day. Cardiff RFC and Hancock were jointly recognised by the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
in 2011 for this innovation with induction to the IRB Hall of Fame
IRB Hall of Fame
The IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals...
.
Today
Today, Cardiff RFC Ltd runs two sides. The Cardiff Blues now play at the Cardiff City Stadium. The professional regional side, Cardiff BluesCardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
take part in the Magners League, LV= Cup and Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
. The Cardiff RFC club side take part in the Welsh Premiership
Welsh Premier Division
The Welsh Premier Division is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented by the Welsh Rugby Union for the 1990–91 season.-Competition history:...
.
Current squad
The Arms Park
Club Rugby games were moved to what was the cricket ground and a new stadium was built in 1969 as a result of an agreement between the Cardiff Athletic ClubCardiff Athletic Club
Cardiff Athletic Club is a multi-sport club in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It is the owner of the world famous Cardiff Arms Park rugby ground, however, it is also a major shareholder of Cardiff Rugby Football Club Ltd and therefore has a large influence over the rugby club's two...
and the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
. On the site of the old Arms Park stadium, a new stadium was built, Welsh National Rugby Ground (also known as The National Stadium). In 1999, a brand new stadium was built in place of the National Stadium, which was named the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
. Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
moved from the Arms Park for the 2009/10 season, and it is expected that Cardiff RFC will relocate at some time in the future.
Club honours
- Heineken CupHeineken CupThe Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
runners-up: 1996 - Middlesex 7sMiddlesex 7sThe Middlesex Sevens is a rugby union sevens tournament held annually at Twickenham stadium in London, England. It was first held in 1926, and started by Dr J.A. Russell-Cargill, a London based Scot...
winners: 1939 - Snelling SevensSnelling SevensThe Snelling Sevens was an annual Welsh Rugby Union sevens competition that ran from 1954 until 1995....
winners: 1955, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983 and 1984. - Welsh CupWRU Challenge CupThe WRU Challenge Cup , or its full name of the Welsh Rugby Union Challenge Cup, is Wales' premier knockout rugby union competition and is organised by the Welsh Rugby Union....
: 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1994 and 1997 - Unofficial Welsh Club Champions: 1897-98; 1905–06; 1906–07; 1908–09; 1936–37; 1937–38; 1938–39; 1947–48; 1948–49; 1952–53; 1954–55; 1957–58; 1981–82;
- Welsh LeagueWelsh Premier DivisionThe Welsh Premier Division is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented by the Welsh Rugby Union for the 1990–91 season.-Competition history:...
: 1995 - Welsh/Scottish LeagueWelsh Premier DivisionThe Welsh Premier Division is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented by the Welsh Rugby Union for the 1990–91 season.-Competition history:...
: 2000 - Welsh Premiership: 2009
- IRB Hall of FameIRB Hall of FameThe IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals...
: 2011
British and Irish Lions
The following former players were selected for the British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
touring squads whilst playing for Cardiff RFC. Gareth Thomas
Gareth Thomas (rugby player)
Gareth Thomas , known as Alfie, is a retired Welsh professional rugby footballer who played rugby league for the Crusaders RL in the Super League. He also previously played rugby union for the Cardiff Blues and as a fullback, wing or centre.On 26 May 2007, Thomas surpassed Gareth Llewellyn as the...
was selected for the 2005 Lions tour whilst playing for Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
| John Bevan 1971 Percy Bush Percy Bush Percy Frank Bush was a Welsh rugby union player who played international rugby for Wales on eight occasions. Playing at fly-half, Bush is regarded as one of the most talented Welsh players before the first World War.-Rugby career:... 1904 Billy Cleaver Billy Cleaver William 'Billy' Cleaver was a Welsh international fly-half who played club rugby for Cardiff. He won 14 caps for Wales and was selected to play in the British Lions on the 1950 tour of Australia and New Zealand... 1950 Cliff Davies Cliff Davies (rugby player) Clifton 'Cliff' Davies was a Welsh international prop who played club rugby for Cardiff and invitational rugby for the Barbarians... 1950 Gareth Davies 1980 Gerald Davies Gerald Davies Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for the side between 1966 and 1978.-Biography:... 1968, 1971 Gareth Edwards Gareth Edwards Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey".... 1968, 1971, 1974 Bill Evans 1959 Reggie Gibbs Reggie Gibbs Reginald "Reggie" Arthur Gibbs was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Penarth and Cardiff. He was capped 16 times for his country and captained his team on one occasion... 1908 Rhys Gabe Rhys Gabe Rhys Thomas "Rusty" Gabe born as Rees Thomas Gape, was a Welsh rugby union player who played club rugby for Llanelli, London Welsh and Cardiff and gained 24 caps for Wales, mainly as a centre.-Rugby career:... 1904 Gareth Griffiths Gareth Griffiths (rugby player) Gareth Meredith Griffiths is a former international rugby union player.Griffiths made his debut for Wales on 17 January 1953 versus England and was selected for the 1955 British Lions tour to South Africa. He played club rugby for Cardiff RFC.- References :... 1955 Arthur 'Boxer' Harding Arthur Harding Arthur Flowers Harding was an English-born international rugby union player who played for and captained the Wales national team. Often called 'Boxer' Harding, he was a member of the winning Wales team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks in a game considered one of the greatest in the history of... 1904, 1908 Terry Holmes Terry Holmes Terence David Holmes is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who won 25 caps for as a scrum-half and later played rugby league for Bradford Northern.... 1980, 1983 |
Rob Howley Rob Howley Robert Howley is a former Welsh rugby union footballer. He was considered one of the greatest ever scrum-halves and gained 59 caps for Wales, 22 of them as captain.Howley made his Wales debut in February 1996... 1997, 2001 Neil Jenkins Neil Jenkins Neil Jenkins MBE is a former rugby union football player and current coach. He played fly-half, centre, or full back for Pontypridd, Cardiff, Celtic Warriors, Wales and the British and Irish Lions. Jenkins is Wales' highest ever points-scorer and is the third highest on the List of leading Rugby... 1997, 2001 Barry John Barry John Barry John is a former Welsh rugby union fly-half who played, during the amateur era of the sport, in the 1960s and early 1970s. John began his rugby career as a schoolboy playing for his local team Cefneithin RFC before switching to first-class west Wales team Llanelli RFC in 1964... 1968, 1971 Kingsley Jones Kingsley Jones (Welsh rugby player) not to be confused with Kingsley Jones , Welsh international rugby union player and Sale Sharks coachKingsley Daniel Jones was a international rugby union player.... 1962 Ken Jones Ken Jones (rugby player born 1941) David Kenneth Jones is a former international rugby union player.He was capped fourteen times by Wales as a centre between 1962 and 1966. He scored five tries for Wales... 1966 Keri Jones Keri Jones (rugby player) William Keri Jones is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s who at representative level has played rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Cardiff RFC, playing at Wing, i.e... 1968 Stuart Lane Stuart Lane Stuart Lane is a former international rugby union player. In 1980 he toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for Cardiff RFC.-British and Irish Lions:... 1980 Douglas Marsden-Jones Douglas Marsden-Jones Douglas Marsden-Jones CBE was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and London Welsh. Marsden-Jones was also a member of Ronald Cove-Smith's British Isles team that toured South Africa in 1924.... 1924 Jack Matthews Jack Matthews Jack Matthews OBE is a former Wales rugby union international centre who played first-class club rugby for Cardiff and Newport. Along with Bleddyn Williams, Matthews formed a centre partnership which is regarded as one of the finest in the game... 1950 Cliff Morgan Cliff Morgan Cliff Morgan is a former Welsh rugby union player who played for Cardiff RFC and earned 29 caps for Wales between 1951 and 1958.-Rugby career:... 1955 Willie Morgan William Llewellyn Morgan William Llewellyn Morgan was a Welsh international rugby union halfback who played club rugby for Cardiff. Morgan played international rugby for Wales and in 1908 was selected to join Arthur Harding's Anglo-Welsh tour of New Zealand and Australia.-Rugby career:One of the first clubs that Morgan... 1908 Haydn Morris Haydn Morris Haydn Morris is a former Cardiff, and British and Irish Lions international rugby union wing three-quarter.... 1955 Gwyn Nicholls Gwyn Nicholls Erith Gwyn Nicholls was a Welsh rugby union player who gained 24 caps for Wales as a centre. Nicholls was known as the "Prince of Threequarters".... 1899 |
Howard Norris Howard Norris Charles Howard Norris is a former international rugby union player.He was capped twice by Wales as a prop, both times against , once in 1963 and once in 1966.... 1966 Bob Norster Bob Norster Robert Leonard "Bob" Norster is a former Welsh international rugby union player. He was selected for the 1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand and the 1989 British Lions tour to Australia. He played club rugby for Cardiff RFC.... 1983, 1989 John O'Shea John O'Shea (rugby player) John Patrick O'Shea is a former international rugby union player.Educated at Lewis School Pengam, along with John Dawes, he was capped five times for Wales as a prop between 1967 and 1968.... 1968 Alan Phillips Alan Phillips Alan John Phillips is a former international rugby union player. A hooker, he played his club rugby for Cardiff RFC his modern game of forward play being so impressive that Cardiff selectors played him straight out of youth rugby . Scored 162 tries in 481 appearances for Cardiff RFC... 1980 Howard Poole Howard Poole Howard Poole was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff. Although never playing for Wales he was selected to play in the 1930 British Lions tour of New Zealand and Australia.... 1930 Maurice Richards Maurice Richards Maurice Charles Rees Richards is a former dual code rugby international for Wales. A winger, he was part of the 1968 British Lions tour to South Africa... 1968 Keith Rowlands Keith Rowlands Keith Alun Rowlands , was a Welsh international lock rugby union player, later administrator who was the first Chief Executive Officer of the International Rugby Board.-Playing career:... 1962 Bleddyn Williams Bleddyn Williams Bleddyn Williams MBE , was a Welsh rugby union centre. He played in 22 internationals for Wales, captaining them five times, winning each time, and captained the British Lions in 1950 for some of their tour of Australia and New Zealand... 1950 Brynmor Williams Brynmor Williams David Brynmor Williams is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who at representative level has played rugby union for British Lions, and Wales, and at club level for Cardiff RFC, Newport RFC, and Swansea RFC, and at invitational level for... 1997 I Williams 1938 Johnnie Williams Johnnie Williams Johnnie Williams was a Welsh international wing who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Club. A three times Triple Crown winner, out of seventeen appearances for Wales he was on the losing side only twice.... 1908 Martyn Williams Martyn Williams Martyn Elwyn Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player. A flanker, he plays for Cardiff Blues and the Wales national rugby union team as an open-side flanker... 2001, 2009 Rex Willis Rex Willis Rex Willis was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff and invitational rugby for the Barbarians... 1950 David 'Dai' Young Dai Young David "Dai" Young is a Welsh former rugby union and rugby league player, presently Director of Rugby at London Wasps.Born in Aberdare in 1967, Young lived in Penywaun for many years, and was regularly seen training with his father on the local sports field, now occupied by the Welsh-language... 1989, 1997, 2001 |
Wales International Captains
The following former players captained the Wales national rugby union teamWales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
whilst playing for Cardiff RFC.
See also Wales rugby union captains
Wales rugby union captains
The following article is a list of Wales national rugby union players who have captained the national team in recognised competitions. The players are listed in chronological order from the first time they were selected as captain....
|
Bernard Turnbull Bernard Turnbull was a Welsh international centre who played club rugby for Cardiff and was capped six times for Wales. Turnbull has been described as a dogged and unimaginative centre, but with the ability to finish off the work of others. Turnbull captained Wales on one occasion in 1927.-Rugby... 1927 Ossie Male Ossie Male was a Welsh international full back who played club rugby for Cardiff and was capped 11 times for Wales and captained his country on three occasions. In 1924, Male was at the centre of an embarrassing decision made by the Welsh Rugby Union that prevented him facing the French rugby team... 1927-28 Cliff Jones (rugby player) Clifford 'Cliff' William Jones OBE was a Welsh international rugby union fly-half who played club rugby for many teams but is most associated with Cardiff and Cambridge University... 1938 Haydn Tanner Haydn Tanner was a Welsh international rugby union player who also played for the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians.... 1947-49 Bill Tamplin William Ewart 'Bill' Tamplin was a Welsh international rugby union lock who played club rugby for Cardiff. He won seven caps for Wales and captained his country in their victory over the 1947 touring Australian team.... 1947 Jack Matthews Jack Matthews OBE is a former Wales rugby union international centre who played first-class club rugby for Cardiff and Newport. Along with Bleddyn Williams, Matthews formed a centre partnership which is regarded as one of the finest in the game... 1951 Bleddyn Williams Bleddyn Williams MBE , was a Welsh rugby union centre. He played in 22 internationals for Wales, captaining them five times, winning each time, and captained the British Lions in 1950 for some of their tour of Australia and New Zealand... 1953-55 Rex Willis Rex Willis was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff and invitational rugby for the Barbarians... 1954-55 Cliff Morgan Cliff Morgan is a former Welsh rugby union player who played for Cardiff RFC and earned 29 caps for Wales between 1951 and 1958.-Rugby career:... 1956 Lloyd Williams (rugby player) Lloyd Hugh Williams was a Welsh international rugby union player. He captained the Wales national rugby union team on three occasions in 1961-62. Williams played his club rugby for Cardiff RFC and was the younger brother of another Welsh international rugby union player and captain, Bleddyn... 1961-62 Gareth Edwards Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey".... 1968-74 |
Gerald Davies Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for the side between 1966 and 1978.-Biography:... 1978 Terry Holmes Terence David Holmes is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who won 25 caps for as a scrum-half and later played rugby league for Bradford Northern.... 1985 Jonathan Humphreys Jonathan Matthews Humphreys is a former international Wales rugby union player who during his career also captained Wales. A hooker, he played his club rugby for Cardiff and Bath and was in the Wales squad during the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1999 Rugby World Cup.-Notes:... 1995-97, 2003 Dai Young David "Dai" Young is a Welsh former rugby union and rugby league player, presently Director of Rugby at London Wasps.Born in Aberdare in 1967, Young lived in Penywaun for many years, and was regularly seen training with his father on the local sports field, now occupied by the Welsh-language... 2000-01 Martyn Williams Martyn Elwyn Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player. A flanker, he plays for Cardiff Blues and the Wales national rugby union team as an open-side flanker... 2003-09 Gareth Thomas (rugby player) Gareth Thomas , known as Alfie, is a retired Welsh professional rugby footballer who played rugby league for the Crusaders RL in the Super League. He also previously played rugby union for the Cardiff Blues and as a fullback, wing or centre.On 26 May 2007, Thomas surpassed Gareth Llewellyn as the... 2003-07 |
Other notable former players
- See also :Category:Cardiff RFC players
Norman Biggs Norman BiggsNorman Witchell Biggs was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Cardiff and county rugby for Glamorgan. Both Biggs and his brother Selwyn played international rugby for Wales, though they never played together in the same match for Wales...
Ronnie BoonRonnie BoonRonald Winston "Ronnie" Boon was an international rugby union wing for Wales who played club rugby for Cardiff. Boon possessed a tremendous self-confidence in his own ability and this was reflected in his nickname Cocky. Boon was a quick runner, representing Wales at the 220 yard sprint, and was...
Richie Collins Fred CornishFred CornishFrederick "Fred" Henry Cornish was an English-born rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. Cornish 'Went North' in 1899 switching to rugby league, joining Hull.-Rugby career:...
Dai FitzgeraldDai FitzgeraldDavid "Dai" Fitzgerald was a Welsh rugby centre who played club rugby under the union code for Cardiff and later switched to professional rugby league team Batley...
Mike GriffithsMike GriffithsMichael "Mike" Griffiths is a former Welsh rugby union player and British Lion, currently coaching Ystrad Rhondda RFC in the Welsh Rugby Union Division 2 East. He plied his trade with Pontypridd RFC between 1997 and 2003, making 73 appearances.Griffiths's father is George Griffiths, a builder, and...Viv Huzzey Viv HuzzeyViv Huzzey was a Welsh rugby union wing who played club rugby for Cardiff and won five caps for Wales. Huzzey was also an international baseball player.-Club career:...
Cliff JonesCliff Jones (rugby player)Clifford 'Cliff' William Jones OBE was a Welsh international rugby union fly-half who played club rugby for many teams but is most associated with Cardiff and Cambridge University...
Emyr LewisEmyr LewisEmyr Lewis is a former Wales international rugby union player. A flanker, he attained 41 caps for Wales between 1991 and 1996. He also captained the national team....
B. B. MannB. B. MannBathurst Bellers Mann was an Irish-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales...
Mike RayerMike RayerMichael 'Mike' Anthony Rayer is a former Wales international rugby union player. A full-back, he played his club rugby for Cardiff RFC and Bedford. He is currently coach to Bedford Blues. A talented and popular player, he played during a period where there was little success in Welsh rugby...
Mark RingMark RingMark Gerarde Ring played rugby union for Cardiff RFC, Pontypool RFC and Wales between 1982 and 1996. He was regarded as among the most gifted players of his generation but his career was hampered by serious injury.- Club career :...John Scott John Scott (rugby player)John Scott is a former rugby union international who represented England from 1978 to 1984.-Rugby career:A back row forward, he played most of his club rugby for Cardiff RFC. Winning 34 England caps between 1978 and 1984, he formed a strong partnership with No. 9 Steve Smith. He also roomed with...
William StaddenWilliam StaddenWilliam James Wood "Buller" Stadden was a Welsh international rugby union half back who played club rugby for Cardiff and Dewsbury. Stadden won eight caps for Wales over a period of seven years and is most remembered for scoring the winning try in 1890 to give Wales their first victory over England...
Anthony SullivanAnthony SullivanAnthony C. Sullivan is an English-born former rugby league and rugby union player who represented Wales at international level...
Hemi TaylorHemi TaylorHemi Takatou Taylor is a former international Wales rugby union player. A back row forward, he was part of the Wales squad for the 1995 Rugby World Cup.-Notes:...
Nigel WalkerNigel WalkerNigel Walker is a former Welsh athlete and Wales international rugby union player. He is currently National Director at the . He was born in Cardiff....
Games played against international opposition
| Year | Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 | 22 December |  New Zealand NativesNew Zealand Maori rugby union team New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often... |
Win | 8-3 | 1888 New Zealand Natives tour 1888-1889 New Zealand Native football team The 1888–1889 New Zealand Native football team was a New Zealand football team that toured Britain, Australia and New Zealand in 1888 and 1889. The team was composed mainly of players of Māori ancestry, although several Pakeha were included in the squad. The tour was a private endeavour, and was... |
|
| 1905 | 26 December | Loss | 8-10 | 1905 Original All Blacks tour | ||
| 1907 | 1 January | South Africa South Africa national rugby union team The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental... |
Win | 17-0 | 1906 South Africa rugby union tour 1906 South Africa rugby union tour The 1906-07 South Africa tour of Britain, Ireland and France was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the South Africa national rugby union team against the four British Home Nation teams... |
|
| 1908 | 28 December | Win | 24-8 | 1908-09 Australia rugby union tour of the British Isles and France | ||
| 1912 | 21 December | Loss | 6-7 | 1912-13 South Africa rugby union tour 1912-13 South Africa rugby union tour The 1912–13 South Africa rugby union tour was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the South Africa national rugby union team against England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France. The tour also took in several matches against British and Irish club, county and invitational teams... |
||
| 1919 | 29 March | NZ Army | Draw | 0-0 | New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919 New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919 The New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919 was a rugby union team which represented New Zealand after the end of the First World War. Although spoken of as a single team, there were several New Zealand Services teams playing in Britain at the conclusion of the War... |
|
| 1924 | 28 November | Loss | 8-16 | 1924-25 New Zealand tour of United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Canada The Invincibles (rugby union) The Invincibles was a nickname given to the 1924-25 New Zealand rugby union team which toured the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Canada. The team was captained by Cliff Porter, and numbered among its top players George Nepia and brothers Cyril and Maurice Brownlie.Between September 1924 and... |
||
| 1926 | 6 November | Loss | 8-18 | |||
| 1926 | 28 December | Loss | 3-5 | |||
| 1931 | 21 November | Loss | 5-13 | 1931-32 South Africa rugby union tour 1931-32 South Africa rugby union tour The 1931-32 South Africa tour of Britain and Ireland was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the South Africa national rugby union team against the four British Home Nation teams. The tour also took in several matches against British and Irish club, county and invitational teams... |
||
| 1935 | 26 October | Loss | 5-20 | 1935-36 New Zealand rugby union tour of the British Isles and Canada 1935-36 New Zealand rugby union tour of the British Isles and Canada -Matches:-Three-Quarters:* N. Ball * H.M. Brown * G.F. Hart * N.A. Mitchell * C.J. Oliver -Five-eighths:* J.L. Griffiths * T.H.C. Caughey * J.R. Page... |
||
| 1945 | 15 September | Australian Air Force | Win | 28-3 | ||
| 1945 | 3 November | NZ Services | Win | 14-3 | ||
| 1945 | 26 December | NZ Kiwis | Loss | 0-3 | ||
| 1947 | 27 September | Win | 11-3 | 1947-48 Australia tour of the British Isles, Ireland, France and North America 1947-48 Australia rugby union tour of the British Isles, Ireland, France and North America Between July 1947 and March 1948 the Australia national rugby union team – the Wallabies – conducted a world tour encompassing Ceylon, Britain, France and the United States on which they played five Tests and thirty-six minor tour matches... |
||
| 1951 | 22 September | British and Irish Lions | Loss | 12-14 | ||
| 1951 | 20 October | Loss | 9-11 | 1951-52 South Africa rugby union tour 1951-52 South Africa rugby union tour The 1951-52 South Africa tour of Britain, Ireland and France was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the South Africa national rugby union team against the four British Home Nation teams and France. The tour also took in several matches against British, Irish and French club,... |
||
| 1953 | 21 November | Win | 8-3 | 1953-54 New Zealand tour of the British Isles, France and North America 1953-54 New Zealand rugby union tour of the British Isles, France and North America -Matches:-External links:*... |
||
| 1955 | 7 September | Win | 6-3 | |||
| 1956 | 5 May | NZ Navy | Win | 40-10 | ||
| 1956 | 1 September | Win | 25-0 | |||
| 1956 | 3 October | Win | 8-3 | |||
| 1957 | 14 December | Win | 14-11 | 1957-58 Australia tour of Britain, Ireland and France 1957-58 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and France Between late 1957 and February 1958 the Australia national rugby union team - the Wallabies - conducted a world tour encompassing Britain, Ireland, France and Canada on which they played five Tests and thirty-six minor tour matches. They won 22, lost 16 and drew three... |
||
| 1960 | 29 October | Loss | 6-13 | |||
| 1963 | 23 November | Loss | 5-6 | 1963/64 All Blacks tour of the British Isles, France and Canada | ||
| 1966 | 3 September | Win | 41-3 | |||
| 1966 | 5 November | Win | 14-8 | |||
| 1969 | 13 December | Loss | 3-17 | |||
| 1972 | 27 May | Win | 24-6 | |||
| 1972 | 4 November | Loss | 4-20 | 1972 All Blacks tour of the British Isles, France and North America | ||
| 1975 | 1 November | Win | 14-9 | 1975-76 Australia tour of Britain and Ireland 1975-76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland The 1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland was a series of matches played by the Australia national rugby union team... |
||
| 1976 | 2 October | Loss | 25-29 | 1976 Argentina tour of Wales and England 1976 Argentina rugby union tour of Wales and England The 1976 Argentina rugby union tour of Wales and England was a series of six matches played by the Argentina national rugby union team in September and October 1976.... |
||
| 1976 | 30 October | Win | 54-22 | |||
| 1978 | 21 October | Loss | 7-17 | 1978 All Blacks tour of the British Isles | ||
| 1979 | 19 September | Win | 19-8 | 1979 Canada rugby union tour of England, Wales and France 1979 Canada rugby union tour of England, Wales and France The 1979 Canada rugby union tour of England, Wales and France was a series of six matches played by the Canada national rugby union team in England, Wales and France in September 1979. The Canadian team won three of their tour matches, drew one and lost the other two. The team designated France 'A'... |
||
| 1980 | 18 October | Loss | 9-16 | 1980 All Blacks tour | ||
| 1981 | 6 June | Win | 34-17 | Overseas tour | ||
| 1981 | 13 June | Win | 35-23 | |||
| 1982 | 23 October | Loss | 10-17 | |||
| 1984 | 24 October | Win | 16-12 | 1984 Australia tour of Britain and Ireland 1984 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland The 1984 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland was a series of eighteen matches played by the Australia national rugby union team in Britain and Ireland between 17 October and 15 December 1984... |
||
| 1985 | 12 October | Win | 31-15 | 1985 Fiji tour of the British Isles | ||
| 1989 | 14 October | Loss | 15-25 | 1989 New Zealand rugby union tour of the British Isles and Canada | ||
| 1994 | 22 October | Loss | 6-11 | |||
| 1995 | 28 October | Win | 22-21 | 1995 Fiji tour of Wales | ||
| 1996 | 26 November |  Western SamoaSamoa national rugby union team The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was... |
Loss | 29-53 | ||