rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...
club based in
Abertillery
Abertillery (; cy, Abertyleri) is a town and a community of the Ebbw Fach valley in the historic county of Monmouthshire, Wales. Following local government reorganisation it became part of the Blaenau Gwent County Borough administrative area ...
. According to their website, they were founded in 1883 by a coal miner named Doug Wallace who was a local resident who moved from Scotland in 1882, Wallace was known for his commitment for the club until he died in 1899 and will be remembered as a special part of the club even to do this day. Every year the club celebrates Wallace's life by competing in a cross country race with 100s of the locals competing in the last 10 years Mr Phelps has won the race 10 times and is now the all-time leading winner in the competition, in one year he run the race twice before anyone had cross the line for the first time.
Club history
1883–1914
According to the club's official centenary book, ''Abertillery Rugby Football Club'', Abertillery were founded on 21 September 1883 in a local public house, ''The Prince of Wales''.Thomas (1983), pg 9. Like many towns and villages in Wales in the late 1880s, Abertillery was home to multiple rugby teams; these included Abertillery Town, Abertillery Harlequins, Abertillery Wednesdays, Heart of Oak and Abertillery Rovers. Abertillery FC and another local team from Abertillery amalgamated around September 1887 into a single club called "Abertillery Football Club". These clubs had periods of growth and decline until two main teams emerged, Abertillery Town and Harlequins; these two sides merged into a single club known as Abertillery RFC in 1901. The early clubs did not originally own a match pitch of their own, so relied on sympathetic landowners to let them play on vacant fields. These included the Gas Works Field and Old Barn Field. The club also did not possess a club-house, so from 1890 they used Wilkinson's Temperance Hotel.
During the first decade of the clubs' existence, matches were difficult to arrange and games often resulted in on-pitch arguments regarding the interpretation of rules. Abertillery would often arrange for a joint team to face more established clubs, and in 1888 an Abertillery team travelled to Cardiff to face Cardiff Harlequins at
Sophia Gardens
Sophia Gardens ( cy, Gerddi Sophia) is a public park in Riverside, Cardiff, Wales, on the west bank of the River Taff. International test cricket matches and county cricket matches are held in the Sophia Gardens cricket ground, the home of ...
; the game quickly broke down into a 'violent war' before a lengthy discussion the game was eventually resumed.Thomas (1983), pg 10. By 1892, Abertillery Town were facing other local clubs including Aberbeeg,
Tredegar
Tredegar (pronounced , ) is a town and community situated on the banks of the Sirhowy River in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, in the southeast of Wales. Within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, it became an early centre of the In ...
and Brynmawr.Thomas (1983), pg 11. 1895 saw Abertillery enter the newly formed Monmouthshire League,Smith (1980), pg 105. and in January 1898 Abertillery were top of the league, but fell away in the second half of the season to finish fifth.Thomas (1983), pg 14. The same year saw the purchase of the Old Barn Field by the local council, and it was renamed the Park and Recreation Ground. Although not available immediately to the local clubs it would slowly become home to the local teams. The 1890s ended with Abertillery Town, proposing in their annual meeting, that they and the Abertillery Harlequins, whose team numbers had reached 40 during the 1897–98 season should merge as a single team. The offer was declined, but a further suggestion was made to form an athletic club for the mutual benefit of all the town's sporting organisations.Thomas (1983), pg 15.
The most notable members of the early 1890s team were the Boots family, consisting of D.J. Boots, G.W. Boots and E. Boots.Thomas (1983), pg 92. David John Boots not only played for Abertillery, but later switched to first class team Newport. D.J. Boots represented Newport from 1899 through to 1907, and was the fullback for the team when they faced the touring
South Africans
The population of South Africa is about 58.8 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. The South African National Census of 2022 was the most recent census held; the next will be in 2032.
In 2011, Statistics South ...
in
1906
Events
January–February
* January 12 – Persian Constitutional Revolution: A nationalistic coalition of merchants, religious leaders and intellectuals in Persia forces the shah Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar to grant a constitution, ...
.
1901 saw the eventual merging of the Abertillery Town and Harlequin teams, whose union formed Abertillery Rugby Football Club.Thomas (1983), pg 16. This was followed during the 1901/1902 season with the formation of the Abertillery Athletic Club, which saw the football and cricket clubs combine. The Abertillery rugby team continued to grow, but would often slip back towards the more lawless style of their early years. In August 1903 the club fell out with the Monmouthshire Football League, refusing to comply with an order to replay a match with
Blaina
Blaina ( cy, Blaenau ) is a small town, situated deep within the South Wales Valleys between Brynmawr and Abertillery in the unitary authority of Blaenau Gwent, ancient parish of Aberystruth, preserved county of Gwent and historic county o ...
,Thomas (1983), pg 18. which was followed in September with a game against Pill Harriers that descended into a brawl.Thomas (1983), pg 19.
The early 1900s saw the emergence of two of Abertillery's first two star players, Joe Winmill and Alfred "Jim" Webb. Winmill was club captain for six seasons between 1902 and 1909, and was chosen to represent Monmouthshire at county level. Winmill's younger brother was Stanley Winmill, who played for Cross Keys and was selected to play for
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
in 1921.Jenkins (1991), pg 174. Webb became the first player to play international rugby directly from Abertillery. He played in three Welsh Championship winning teams and was selected to play for the
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...
team on their tour of South Africa in 1910.
1907 was a key year for Abertillery; Jim Webb earned his first cap for Wales, against Scotland in the
1907 Home Nations Championship
The 1907 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-fifth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 12 January and 16 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Although not official ...
and as the senior team topped the Monmouthshire League, they earned the right to face Australia on their 1908 tour of Britain.Thomas (1983), pg 23. The one downside to the season was the draw of professional
rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...
on the club, losing one of their best players, wing E.J. Watkins to Warrington RLFC for the sum of £180.Thomas (1983), pg 22.
The 1908–09 season began with the arranging of an impressive fixture list, which as well as the Monmouthshire League teams, include matches to be played against Swansea,
Llanelli
Llanelli (" St Elli's Parish"; ) is a market town and the largest community in Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is located on the Loughor estuary north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarth ...
and Neath.Thomas (1983), pg 24. The highlight of the season was the game against the touring Australians which took place on 22 December 1908. This was the first time Abertillery faced international opposition, and the town came to a standstill to welcome the tourists. The collieries finished work early, shops closed and the schools had a half-day holiday. Hundreds of people waited outside the train station and greeted the Australian team with cheers and song. This was the twenty-seventh match for the Australians, and so far the team had only lost three games, against Llanelli, a Combined Midlands team and the Wales national team. Abertillery, led by Winmill held them to a 3–3 draw and became the first team to prevent Australia from scoring a try. Australia took the lead in the game with a penalty, before Billy Bowen equalised for Abertillery.Thomas (1983), pg 25.Fred Wood, the Australian vice-captain, said later, that the Abertillery pack were the finest the team had met on the tour.
The 1909/10 season saw Abertillery win the Monmouthshire League for the third time, losing just a single game during the campaign. The Club decided that the Monmouthsire League was now to small for Abertillery, and decided to leave the competition to challenge larger teams.Thomas (1983), pg 27. The season ended with Jim Webb being called to join the British Isles team in South Africa as a replacement. Over the next few seasons, Abertillery continued improving their fixture lists, and on 21 October 1911, beat Llanelli for the very first time. This result, along with a similar upset caused by Pontypool beating Swansea, was described in the '' Western Mail'' as 'History in the making...'Smith (1980), pg 183.
By the end of the 1914, Abertillery had produced three internationals, with
Jake Blackmore
Joseph Henry "Jake" Blackmore (unknown - 26 March 1964) Scrum.com was an international Jack "Bedwellty" Jones (1914) joining Jim Webb. The team had also settled on their team strip with the green and white colours being worn at every game.Thomas (1983), pg 29. With the outbreak of World War I, all organised rugby matches came to a halt, and about 2000 men from the town signed up to join the British Army.
Abertillery have been Welsh Champions twice. They have provided players for
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
Haydn Morgan
Haydn Morgan (30 July 1936 – 20 July 2018) was a Welsh international flanker who played club rugby for Abertillery and Bicester Rugby Union Football Club. He was awarded twenty-seven caps for Wales and toured with Ronnie Dawson's 1959
...
, Allan Lewis,
Rupert Moon
Rupert Henry St. John Barker Moon (born 1 February 1968) is a former Wales international rugby union player. He played club rugby for Welsh clubs Abertillery and Neath but is most associated with Llanelli, who he captained during their unpre ...
Welsh Championship
The WRU National Championship (or Admiral Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the second tier of professional rugby union in Wales. The league was reformed by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 2012.
The current National Championship champion ...
Champions – 1930–31
*
WRU Division Five East
The Welsh Rugby Union Division Five East (also called the SWALEC Division Five East for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby union league in Wales.
Competition format and sponsorship
Competition
There are 11 clubs in the WRU Division Five East. Dur ...
Champions – 2006-07
*
WRU Division Four East
The Welsh Rugby Union Division Four East (also called the SWALEC Division Four East for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby union league in Wales.
Competition
There are 12 clubs in the WRU Division Four East. During the course of a season (which las ...
Champions – 2011-12
*
WRU Division Four East
The Welsh Rugby Union Division Four East (also called the SWALEC Division Four East for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby union league in Wales.
Competition
There are 12 clubs in the WRU Division Four East. During the course of a season (which las ...
Runners-Up (Promoted) – 2007–08, 2009–10
*
WRU Division Three East
The Welsh Rugby Union Division Three East (also called the SWALEC Division Three East for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby union league in Wales.
Competition format and sponsorship Competition
There are 12 clubs in the WRU Division Three East. D ...
Champions – 2012-13
*
WRU Division Two East
The Welsh Rugby Union League 2 East (also called the SWALEC League 2 East for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby union league in Wales.
Competition format and sponsorship Competition
There are 12 clubs in the WRU League 2 East. During the course ...
Rupert Moon
Rupert Henry St. John Barker Moon (born 1 February 1968) is a former Wales international rugby union player. He played club rugby for Welsh clubs Abertillery and Neath but is most associated with Llanelli, who he captained during their unpre ...
*
Haydn Morgan
Haydn Morgan (30 July 1936 – 20 July 2018) was a Welsh international flanker who played club rugby for Abertillery and Bicester Rugby Union Football Club. He was awarded twenty-seven caps for Wales and toured with Ronnie Dawson's 1959
...
Jim Webb
James Henry Webb Jr. (born February 9, 1946) is an American politician and author. He has served as a United States senator from Virginia, Secretary of the Navy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Counsel for the United States ...
(19 caps)
Kieran Knapp / 20 caps for wales
Callum Kelly / 2 caps for wales
Justin Phelps / International Jogger and 7s player
Caine Phillips / Jockey and former youth captain
Games played against international opposition
1 A joint Abertillery/ Cross Keys team 2 A joint Abertillery/ Ebbw Vale team 3 A joint Abertillery/ Newbridge team