NEATH - RUGBY -TOWN

The birthplace of Rugby Football in Wales   

 

Rugby has been played in Neath for over 150 years. Neath is without doubt the most influential town in Welsh rugby history, the teams, the players and the personalities have a history of being the first and being the best. Through the innovation and industry of the people, Neath Rugby has been at the fore of Wales' national sport from day one. When you look at the facts there is no disputing this. 

  • Neath RFC were the first rugby club in Wales.

  • Neath was the place where the Welsh Rugby Union was founded. 

  • Neath was home to the Welsh Rugby Union for over 50 years.  

  • Neath RFC were the first winners of the modern day Welsh Rugby Union Challenge Cup.

  • Neath RFC were the first winners of the Welsh National League. 

  • Neath RFC hold the world record for a number of points in a season. (1988-89 - 1,917 points)

  • Neath RFC hold the world record for a number of tries in a season. (1988-89 - 345 tries)

  • A Neath man refereed the last Olympic Games Final. 

  • The same referee was the first to send off an international player.   

  • The first player to be sent off in the Rugby World Cup........  from Neath

We add the last fact because anyone that knows Neath will know that the club and the town is as infamous as it is famous. The club is built on a foundation of fury and passion ! Men at work all week, grafting in industry in most cases, historically mining, tin, iron & steel have been the industries of the area. Men let loose on a Saturday to play for, or support their beloved All Blacks. 

The players are chiselled out of granite while the supporters are known for their knowledge, humour and above all the ability to see the game through only one eye ! a black one ! There is no shame in this, just a long lasting pride that will live for ever. Players and supporters will for all eternity remember that great sound

NEATH NEATH NEATH NEATH NEATH NEATH NEATH NEATH !   

 

LATEST UPDATES.............

 

 

NEATH RFC fixtures and results - information added to the following pages

1945-46-1949-50   -   1950-51-1959-60   -   1960-61-1969-70   -   1970-71-1979-80   -   1980-81-1989-90   -   1990-91-1999-2000   -   2000 to date

  

 

 

For longevity Rees Stephens can hardly be matched in the post-second world war era. making his debut for Wales during 1945/6 in a victory international against France at the age of 23, he played his last game for Wales in Paris in 1957 just a few days short of his 35th birthday! Indeed he was still playing the odd first-class game at 40. At the time he left the international scene he was the most capped Welsh forward - his nearest rival being George Travers, who retired in 1911. 

One of the few sons of a Welsh international to play for Wales himself, Rees Stephens had a lot to follow. His father, Glyn, had played for Wales in 1912 and 1913 before reappearing against the N.Z. Army XV of 1919. Glyn Stephens also became President of the Welsh Rugby Union. Rees was born in Neath in 1922 and very soon showed his prowess on the Rugby field by being capped for the Welsh schools at under 14 level. Big for a young lad he then went on to Llandovery school where he won a further Welsh secondary Schools' honours. Working in his father's mines during the war Rees played as much scratch Rugby as he could. When war ended he soon made his mark in senior rugby............ READ MORE

REES STEPHENS JOURNALS

 

 

MIKE THOMAS 

NEATH PLAYER, COACH, TEAM SECRETARY & FORMER PLAYERS SECRETARY

A member of the 1972 Cup Final winning team Mike was a favourite at the Gnoll in the early 1970s. Together with Dai Morris & Wilson Lauder he formed one of, if not the finest back row that the club has ever seen. Not a lot of people realise however that Mike played far more games for Swansea than Neath and that he scored the winning try when he captained Swansea to victory over Ken Catchpole's 1966 Wallabies. So what colour is his heart ? Is it black or white ?

CLICK HERE FOR N INTERVIEW WITH MIKE THOMAS      

 

 

 

The Castle Hotel, birthplace of the Welsh Rugby union - CLICK HERE for more info

 

 

 

Please click on the links below to view more about rugby in the town of Neath..............

  NEATH RFC  -  EARLY DAYS  -  MINUTE BOOKS 1887+  -  MALTESE CROSS & NEATH CAPS  -  TOURING TEAMS IN NEATH  -  ARTICLES FROM CLUB HISTORIES  -  1945-46 - 1949-50  -  1950-51 - 1959-60 - 1960-61 - 1969-70 - 1970-71 - 1979-80 - 1980-81 - 1989-90 - 1990-91 - 1999-2000 - 2000 to date

PLAYERS & PERSONALITIES  -  HAYDN FORD  -  ALBERT FREETHY  -  PETER HAIN  -  MIKE THOMAS  -  WALTER REES  -  REES STEPHENS

THE WELSH RUGBY UNION IN NEATH   -  CASTLE HOTEL

  

 BUY NEATH RUGBY MEMORABILIA

www.rugbyrelics.com   -   www.world-rugby-museum.com

www.neath-rugby-town.com