It's the year 2007 - rugby has been played in Neath for over 135 years. Neath is a rugby town through and through, the town, the club and the personalities have a history of being the first and being the best. Through the innovation and industry of it's personalities Neath Rugby has been at the fore of Wales' national sport from day 1. Consider that Neath were the first rugby club in Wales, the place where the Welsh Rugby Union was founded, home to the Welsh Rugby Union for over 50 years, first winners of the Welsh Cup, first winners of the Welsh League, the Neath club hold the world record for a number of points in a season, hold the world record for a number of tries in a season. Neath is the home to the world's largest supplier of rugby memorabilia. They are the current Welsh League Champions. The first referee to send an international player off was from Neath, even the first player to be sent off in the Rugby World Cup was from Neath. The list goes on,  read on........................

Capt Walter E Rees ran the Welsh Rugby Union from his front room in a Neath Town Centre house for over 50 years, He has been the longest serving secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union. Prior to this he was secretary of Neath Rugby Club. In 1910 he was the assistant manager of the British team's tour of South Africa. His strength of character was legendary and together with Sir John Llewellyn (WRU President 1885-1906) also of Neath, he guided Wales through their first golden era in the early years of the 20th century.

An appreciation of Walter Rees in JBG Thomas' book "Men Matches & Moments

The late Walter Enoch Rees - the most illustrious of Welsh administrators - became a legend in his own lifetime. He was known to his intimate friends as Walter, and to the populace as Captain Rees. About him a thousand tales can be told and he is remembered in Wales as are players like Owen, Trew, Bancroft Gabe and Nicholls, for Walter was truly a character; more than that even, an institution in the game. Indeed, until his death in 1949, at the age of 87, he seemed as old as Welsh rugby itself, an ever-present member of the administration. One might even say that he was THE administration for his powerful 52 years as secretary!

Never in the history of rugby football has one man wielded as much power as this benevolent 'dictator', who served rugby faithfully in his native land and maintained a dignity and a control that was the envy of many. He was Welsh rugby and not even Daniel Craven, the most powerful of modern administrators can match the influence possessed by Walter at the height of his power, in the days between the Wars. 

Many have tried to denigrate this amazing personality; some because they were envious of his power, others because they never understood him, while some felt him pompous because he did not suffer fools gladly. It is true that he had certain weaknesses, as have most benevolent dictators but his fantastic aplomb and capacity to survive in the corridors of rugby power give cause for him to be remembered as one of the most amazing personalities the game has ever known. 

He fascinated me always, even before the War when, as a 'beginner in the trade', I approached him rather nervously for a Press pass, and then later when I knew him more intimately, and sat with him in his dining-room at 'Norwood'... Neath (which was the WRU office for 52 years) sorting out the Press passes for international matches. 

Yes, Walter was an autocrat and ran the Union as he thought fit, but always doing what he thought was in the best interests of Welsh rugby. Whenever I asked awkward questions about the agenda of a monthly meeting of the WRU executive, he used to reply, as we supped a cup of coffee, 'I wouldn't say anything about that! 

Perhaps, in his later years, he took too much upon himself, for immediately before and after World War II he was all-powerful, and it was he who directed affairs under the equally long-serving President, Horace Lyne. When the great administrator from Newport passed away, Sir David Rocyn Jones became President and this dapper, dynamic figure set the Union along a more democratic road. Walter resigned from his post at the great age of 86, the oldest rugby secretary of all time, and no representative official is ever likely to break his record of 52 years unbroken service. 

Some of the legendary stories about this remarkable personality make interesting reading. Few rugby officials have been able to commandeer a whole train and, even fewer, able to drive into Twickenham in a magnificent saloon with a police escort of outriders while his committee travelled by coach! No secretary in my lifetime has ever engaged in a 'grand parade' round the touchlines of his home ground, raising his hat to the salute of the crowd. This was Walter, the supremo of Welsh rugby. 

He was born at Neath on April 13, 1862, and was first employed as a secretary by the Ministry of Labour before becoming the secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1896 in succession to W. H. Gwynne. At the time he was 34 years of age and did not marry until he was 46, and then to a Scottish lady, Miss Elizabeth Peters, of Aberdeen. Becoming the Union secretary, as he did, a few years after their first Triple Crown triumph, he enjoyed taking an important part in the most colourful period of Welsh rugby, through the 'Golden Era' from 1900 to 1911. When World War 1. arrived he was too old for active service, and became the recruiting officer for the Neath, Port Talbot and Bridgend areas. 

Walter was particularly interested in public life, being elected to the Neath Town Council in 1900 and becoming the town's mayor in the memorable year of 1905. Prior to his becoming the WRU secretary, he had been secretary of the Neath club and a district member of the WRU, as well as a  representative on the International Board. Thus he was extremely knowledgeable in the ways of public life and in the administration of the game. When he took office in 1896 there were 50 clubs in the Union, but when he retired in 1948 there were 104. Again, in 1896, the receipts for the Wales v England match at Newport were £1,100, while in 1948 the Scottish game at Cardiff produced nearly £10,000. 

Walter was known throughout the rugby world, and in 1910 was one of two managers of the British Lions' 'team in South Africa. Again, he was Neath's senior magistrate for many years and towards the end of his life carried out his duties bravely while suffering ill-health. Public life to him was the very essence of living and, although he enjoyed the plaudits of the crowd, he was a remarkable administrator. Those who worked with him appreciated this, for he possessed unconquerable energy and enthusiasm. 

To the people outside the inner circles of Welsh rugby he will be remembered best as Captain Rees, a short, dapper figure, immaculately dressed, who stood in the foyer of the Queen's Hotel at Cardiff, or the Metropole Hotel at Swansea, on the morning of an international match, producing tickets of admission for late-comers, and particularly those exiled Welshmen who had travelled many miles to see the old country in action. 

When he retired, and I was the only other person present when he handed his resignation to Sir David Rocyn Jones over lunch at the Queen's Hotel in Cardiff, he told me with tears in his eyes, 'I have been very happy in the job, which has been full of pleasant memories. 

'With the retirement of Walter, and his death a year later, Welsh rugby lost one of its most important figureheads. After his passing there followed an era of change and the establishment of proper Union headquarters in Cardiff. The era of 'benevolent dictatorship' had passed, as have so many other traditions in the game in recent years. Critics of Captain Walter Rees there may have been, but there can be no denying his ability, his power and tremendous influence as a top rugby official. I will remember always his saying to me in Paris in 1947, as we marched through an avenue of gendarmes from State Colombes to the official coach in case of crowd troubles, 'Is this a guard of honour for me, Thomas?'

LETTER FROM 1950 & 1952 WELSH GRAND SLAMS CAPTAIN JOHN GWILLIAM TO THE WRU SECRETARY IN 1989 REQUESTING TICKETS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL. 

Gwilliam reminisces about his dealings with Walter Rees (bottom of page 1 and top of page 2) 

" No doubt the post of secretary has changed a lot in recent years. I look back with amusement at dear old Walter Rees who was in charge when I started playing after the war. It was said that he did everything from the front room of his house in Neath. He certainly frightened us as young players, queuing at his table for expenses at trial matches etc. He was quite capable of refusing anyone who claimed for more than a cheap day return."

A Menu card for a presentation dinner in honour of Walter's 50 years serice as Secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union. Held at the Castle Hotel in Neath on Friday, 24th May 1946 (WRM-0188)

Our local MP is Peter Hain. Mr Hain was Chairman of the "Stop The Seventy Tour" campaign. A group set up to oppose the South African "whites only" cricket tour of England and Wales in 1970. The group were successful in having the tour cancelled through the efforts of Mr Hain and his committee. The disruption of the 1969/70 Springbok rugby tour was meant as a dress rehearsal should the cricket tour go ahead. A book was written in 1971 detailing the strategies used by the STST organisation during the tour. We have wrote to Mr Hain requesting permission to use the chapter covering this campaign in our museum. This chapter can be found by clicking on the link below.

CLICK HERE TO READ PETER HAIN'S CHAPTER ON THE DISRUPTION OF THE 1969/70 SPRINGBOK RUGBY TOUR

Local artist Haydn Ford has caricatures adorning the walls of nearly every rugby club in the area. 

This is a booklet published in the 1950s which contains caricatures of Welsh rugby personalities, the proceeds of the booklet went towards the building of the YMCA in Neath, a stone's throw from the Gnoll. The introduction is by Billy Thomas MBE, further information on this great Neath character can by found in Mike Price's history on the Neath RFC website. Hadyn also published a similar booklet with caricatures of the 1948 Australian cricket tourists.

The first referee to send off a player in international rugby was Albert E Freethy of Neath when he sent off Cyril Brownlie, an All Black forward at Twickenham in 1925. The match was always going to be a tough contest to control The English team coming off back to back grand slams in 1923 & 4, hadn't lost match in three years (v Wales in 1922) while the all conquering All Blacks were coming to the end of an unbeaten tour, having swept all before them, their last defeat was against the Springboks in 1921. In the first 8 minutes Freethy handed out 3 warnings to the battling forwards so it was no surprise when Brownlie stamped a prostrate English player, it was time for a player to walk. The Neath mane was without doubt one of the finest referees to grace international rugby, he was the man in the middle at the last Olympic Rugby Final in 1924 as well as controlling all France v England matches in Paris between the wars. Albert Freethy is best remembered for the Brownlie incident and his refereeing but as well as this he was a wonderful coach and a fine administrator, serving on both the Neath and Welsh Rugby Union commitees for a number of years. He was at least half a century ahead of the game when he used the unusual approach of chalking his teams tactics on a blackboard. As a school teacher at Alderman Davies School he guided his team, the Neath Ex-Schoolboys XV  to four invincible seasons between 1922 & 1926. So successful was this team that they drew crowds of 4000 + when they played on the local Cwrt Herbert playing fields.

This is Terry Mclean's story of the sending off in his book "Great Days in New Zealand Rugby" published in 1959

Photos and reports from a scrapbook on the Invincibles tour of Britain. The cuttings are from a New Zealand based newspaper and therefore are biased in opinion towards sympathy to Brownlie

Englishman Gerald Holmes in his history of Midlands rugby upholds Freethy's actions and describes him as a man of 'moral strength and courage.  

"Of the great referees I have seen in the past I have always had the greatest admiration for A. E. Freethy. This courageous official it will be remembered caused quite a stir when he sent C. Brownlie, the All Blacks' 6 ft. 3 ins. And 15 stone forward from the field at Twickenham in 1925. To get down to the real reason that made this Welsh referee take this drastic course, almost unprecedented in a match of such a character, I would like to take the liberty of quoting his own words. "In some loose play" he said, "the ball had been sent away, and two or three English forwards were lying on the ground. C. Brownlie was a few feet from them, and as he came back he deliberately kicked, on the leg, an English forward lying face downwards on the ground. I had taken my eye off. The ball for a moment, and therefore saw exactly what happened. Previous to this I had warned each side generally three times, and therefore I had no option but to send Brownlie off the field. I much regretted having to do this, but in the circumstances I had no alternative but to take this drastic action. " Personally I thoroughly agreed with his action, drastic as it appeared to be at the time, for whatever the surrounding circumstances, occasion, or player, if he transgresses the rules then he must pay the dire penalty. As a man of strength and moral courage, such as A. E. Freethy undoubtedly possessed, he could do nothing more."

" FIELDS OF PRAISE " the official Welsh Rugby Union history by David Smith & Gareth Williams gives a more detailed view of Freethy's career as a coach, administrator & referee.

"Arguably, it was not the scholastic credentials that provided the basis for the Welsh rugby renaissance, but organisation and opportunity for regular coaching. The best organised, most regularly coached, most attractive and consistently successful side of the 1920s was not strictly a school side at all: it was a team of ex-schoolboys, gathered together and trained under the watchful and authoritarian eye of Albert Freethy of Cwrt Sart School, Neath. Freethy's own playing career as a full-back had been cut short by injury, but he went on to make more than a name for himself as one of Wales's finest referees. The first W.R.U. referee invited to control a club match in England (Blackheath V Cardiff, 6 November, 1920) he officiated at six Varsity matches ,the Paris Olympic Rugby  final of 1924, and sixteen internationals between 1924 and 1931. He immortalized himself by sending off Cyril Brownlie, of the 1924-5 All Blacks, in the eighth minute of their international at Twickenham, in front of the Prince of Wales. It was an action for which he was roundly condemned, although having warned both sides three times already, he was entirely within his rights in sending the next offender off. Whether Brownlie was the real culprit is debatable; he was certainly the offender Freethy saw, but many of those present thought Reg Edwards was very lucky not to be accompanying him. Despite the obloquy heaped on him by uniformed critics (including Welshmen: Teddy Morgan grimaced at 'this nasty decision') and contrary to popular belief, the incident did not blight Freethy's career as an international referee, for he went on to officiate at thirteen matches, five of them at Twickenham. He was elected to the W.R.U. in 1926 and subsequently became a selector, but in Wales at least, his fame stemmed mostly from feats achieved by his ex-school boys team. It was a side composed mostly of of Neath boys who had played in a local schools league and had been invincible in the Dewar Shield schools rugby competition in 1922 and 1923. Freethy kept the side together, and they became renowned throughout South Wales. A noted disciplinarian, the autocratic Freethy instructed his boys in technique on the field, and tactics on the blackboard. They played exciting, attacking, running rugby. In their first full season, 1922-23, they played on the Gnoll and made £100 for Neath and £700 for charities. They went undefeated for four years, and their backs - Trevor Walters, hailed as another Percy Bush at fly-half, Sam Bates and Griff Bevan at centre, Howie Jones and Arthur Hickman on the wings - were easily the peer of the best in senior football. In February 1925 they met a star-studded Christ College, Brecon, side at the Gnoll, and beet them 6 - 3 in front of a crowd of 5,000. In February 1926, they beat Llandovery 18 - 4, Christ College 18 - 5 within a week. Such was the success, and the attractiveness, of Freethy's brilliant youngsters that friction developed with the Neath club. Neath understandably, wanted to include some of them on its own side, but Freethy felt that 'the spirit of Welsh rugby was not that it should be', and asked to be allowed to keep his side together for a couple more seasons; were he to release a few now, the whole side would disintegrate. Smarting at Freethy's refusal, Neath refused him the use of the Gnoll, but playing at Cwrt Herbert, the 'Invincibles' still drew larger crowds than the town team. They lost their invincibility at Cardiff Arms Park on 30 April 1927, to a Cardiff ex-schoolboys team including Norman Fender and Tommy Stone. It marked the end of an era of ex-schoolboy rugby, and the concept of youth rugby would not be revived until the 1940s but several of Freethy's stars orbited into senior football. Neath, certainly, owed its great season of 1928-29, when only four matches in forty nine were lost and 930 points scored, to influx of ex-schoolboys like Howie Jones, Arthur Hickman and Tom Day, all of whom went on to win full international caps in the early thirties."

Albert Freethy was not a bad cricketer. According to the Mid Glamorgan Herald & Neath Gazette dated 4 Jul 1908 he was a previous captain of Old Melyn Cricket Club and was selected to play for Glamorgan against Wiltshire that week.

The above photo is of Albert Freethy, pictured on the right in his Neath RFC blazer meeting the Prince of Wales (later to become the Duke of Windsor) prior to a Varsity match at Twickenham. Freethy refereed the annual Oxford v Cambridge classic match on 6 occasions, 1923, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1932.

Yet another great administrator from Neath was Eric Evans, primarily responsible for founding the Welsh Secondary Schools Rugby Union, he took over from Walter Rees as secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1948. A post which he held until shortly before his death in 1955.  

An excerpt from " FIELDS OF PRAISE " the official Welsh Rugby Union history by David Smith & Gareth Williams..................

"By then a generation of schoolmaster coaches had arisen to sustain the moment generated by the founding of the W.S.S.R.U. Eric Evans (1894-1955) had gone from to Neath to Cambridge just before the War. After serving in Gallipoli he had returned to the University, where he narrowly missed a blue and played for Neath during vacations. After graduating in 1922, he became English master and rugby coach at Cardiff H.S. As founder secretary of the W.S.S.R.U. from 1923 to his appointment as successor to Walter Rees as secretary of the W.R.U. in 1948, he saw the number of schools in the union rise from 13 to 91. At Cardiff he constructed and set in motion a conveyor belt of schoolboy internationals of whom the brothers John and Bill Roberts and the Bowcott were the first to emerge. Another stream of schoolboy talent was to flow from Llandovery College , where sports master D.R. Williams was in 1927 Joined by his brother T.P. At Brecon was W.A.G. Howell; at Gowerton W.E. Bowen was about to transform the rugby initiative of the school which had recently produced Rowe Harding into a notable tradition." 

The first recorded match in Wales is one between Swansea and Neath on 7th February 1872. Dr TP Whittington, pictured above is credited as being the founding father of Neath rugby. In 1873 he played for Scotland but was listed as Merchiston College.    

(WRM-218)

In 1890, one of the great Neath characters made his bow. He was Bill Jones, originally a wing, who later moved into the pack “due to failing eye-sight” and captained the Club for some seven seasons before becoming its first Life Member.

32 Welsh caps 1947 - 1957 (most capped Welsh forward at the time)

British Lions 1950

Welsh Selector

British Lions Selector

Founder of Neath Athletic RFC

EXTRACTS FROM REES' JOURNAL

Rees' first match in 4 years.

"Saturday Sept 22nd 1945 - Up colliery in morn & did pay books as Lloyd away early. Left about 12 o'clock as playing for Neath against Cardiff. First match I've played in for 4 years so expect I shall be out of training. Had a massage with Thomas before game. Kicked off punctually at 3.30 & we were all over them especially the forwards. I scored a try from a line out but got knocked out in crossing. Eventually after a good and fast game we lost by 11 - 9 but it should have been a draw. Saw Jackie Matthews, Trew Hart & St John Rees after the match. Feeling rather stiff. Had a good tea and off to flics with Mike and then went to bed early."

Match Report from the Cardiff game

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Rees is approached by a Rugby League scout. 

Rugby League scouts were the scourge of Welsh Rugby from the inception of the 'Northern Union in the 1895/6 season until the game turned professional in 1995. Many a Welsh player was lured away by the promise of big bucks, Rees Stephens was no exception.

"Saturday Oct 13th 1945 - Up early and had breakfast with Doug then took him to station to meet 9.5 train. Haydn Vernon there to see him off. Took Haydn home and then took togs to be pegged. Phoned colliery, everything OK. Left Neath for Newport by bus & arrived there about 2.30. Quite a large crowd there. Lovely pitch but very heavy. In the first few minutes they scored 2 lucky tries and this upset the whole side. Anyway after a good game of open football they won 22-11. After bathing a Leeds scout asked G Hughes and myself if we would like to "GO NORTH". I told him to "GO TO HELL". Arrived Neath about 8.15 after talking with Frankie all the way down. Saw Tom and after a walk I buzzed off home as tired."  

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First match for Wales

First match for Wales against the NZ Services XV "The Kiwis". After the war caps were not awarded until the resumption of the Five Nations in 1947. Although picked for Wales Rees was not capped at this game.

"Saturday January 5th 1946 - Up about quarter to eight. Packed bag. Had breakfast. Dad ran me down to catch the 9.5 train. Packed with people. Stood all the way up and talked with a fellow in the ???? who turned out to be Frankie Williams cousin. reached Cardiff about 11 & saw Graham Hughes. Strolled around and had a cup of tea in a cafe. met Ivor at 12 as arranged & went to have some sandwhiches. Back to dressing rooms to report for forwards meeting, but couldn't do much. started changing at 1.30 and off to field at 2.30. Introduced to Premier of New Zealand Mr Peter Fraser and General Freyburg V.C. Wales kicked off. Just missed 2 pen goals in first quarter of an hour by a hairs breath. Half time 0 - 0 and we had their run but a hard game so far. Finished up 11-3 after a faulty kick by our full back , Sherratt their wing catching the ball & scoring between the posts. They then had two penalty kicks  kick on knee. Had lunch in club room & had autographs. Gave my address to C A Meates their wing. Home by 6 train. Bed early."

match programme pasted into journal

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Ken Hardwicke 

The majority of rugby players in Wales were manual workers, heavy industry and mining were the major employers. Conditions were harsh, all men in these industries run the risk of injury or even death. Ken Hardwicke a colleague of Rees' at Neath paid the ultimate price at the colliery in which he worked.

"Friday February 15th 1946      ........................ when I got down heard some terrible news which seemed incredible. Young Ken Hardwicke our wing three-quarter had been fatally injured at a local colliery and it knocked the stuffing out of me & all the rest of the boys. Saw Harold Parker in the evening and talked over it. He is a reserve for next Saturday's game. Bed Early." 

Rees has then pasted a photo of the Neath team that faced the Kiwis into his journal.

"Saturday February 16th 1946 - Up colliery in morning & did some homework. Down about 12 & had food & off to field where we play Llanelly. All the players felt it about young Ken & all of us had white armbands around our jersey and all stood for 2 mins on the field before the kick off. Good game to watch and all the forwards and backs played well - something like the Kiwis - slinging the ball about and playing open football - we won 25 - 9, in the last 3 games we have scored 92 pts to 12 against. Had a nasty kick on the knee - limping most of the game - should really have come off - After the game had a massage with Thomas & stayed in the rest of the evening so didn't see Tom or Frank. Had another rub with Tom about 9. Cardiff lost their record to Newport 7 - 3"

******

FORMATION OF WELSH RUGBY UNION

The Castle Hotel in Neath is the birth place of the Welsh Rugby Union, however the Neath club were not present at the meeting and do not appear as founder members of the WRU, Smith and Williams in their Welsh history go on to explain why, "There was one club however a leading club in Welsh rugby, which was quite strikingly conspicuous by its non-attendance at the Castle Hotel. Distance or communication difficulties can hardly have explained its absence, for that club was Neath itself. The moves culminating in the formation of the W.R.U. had not merely taken the wind out of the sails of the S.W.F.U. The tacit involvement of the other clubs in these manoeuvres meant that the crew had deserted it as well. There were just two people left aboard the Marie Celeste of the old union, secretary Sam Clarke and president John Llewelyn. Both were from Neath. Smarting from the indignity of other clubs’ collusion with Mullock, Neath declined to attend the foundation meeting which was taking place on its own door step. Clarke, in particular, quite understandably had no intention of lifting a finger to dig a pit into which he was invited to jump. But the wound soon healed: Neath were mollified by being awarded the final trial of October 1881; Clarke would be awarded two international caps by the Union which had deposed him; and Llewellyn would in time become it's President. Neath did not compete for the cup in the 1881-2 season, but re-entered the lists in 1882-3, and at the end of that season D.J. Price of Neath became a western district representative on the W.R.U. match committee. From 1883, Neath never failed to be represented at Union meetings, and in the persons of Walter Rees and Eric Evans, would make the greatest individual club contribution in the history of the W.R.U. by monopolizing the secretaryship from 1896 to 1955." (text from Smith & Williams - Fields of Praise)  

THE MALTESE CROSS

The Maltese cross, Neath's famous badge is said to have originated from a cap worn by 'EC Moxham' in the 1870s. Sam Clarke, writing of it in 1936 said "Moxham came on to the ground one afternoon wearing a small Maltese Cross in his cap. The boys immediately caught up a suggestion to adopt it as a badge to break up the monotonous black". And so the Maltese Cross became the emblem all Welsh clubs were to fear. It is not known where Moxham's Maltese Cross hailed from, there is no record of a Moxham having attended Rugby School during the latter part of the 19th century so this question remains unanswered.

Neath jersey

Rugby School Cap

A cap from Rugby School dated 1886. Each school house had caps, the Maltese Cross belonged to the house called 'Hutchinson'. The inside of the cap has the matches in which the pupil (F Agnew) played embroidered onto patches which are then sewn inside. The matches which include Rugby v New College Oxford and Rugby v Old Haileyburians 1887 and the 'Sixth Match (Sixth form against the rest of the school)'. The first record of caps being worn at 'Rugby School' is in 1839 when Queen Adelaide paid a visit. The boys paraded for the royal visitor in the 'quadrangle' with plush crimson velvet caps with gold tassels. The queen, having heard of the spectacle that was football, requested a match take place later that day. The boys retained their caps and this is the first recorded occasion of a uniform being worn in a match. The practice of cap wearing was retained into the 1840s, so that fellow team players could be distinguished in a scrummage and not mercilessly hacked by a team mate. There were two classes of player at this time in Rugby School, those who wore caps and were allowed to 'follow up' or play the ball, and those without caps, normally the younger pupils who acted as 'goalkeepers'. There was no hard rule as to how a boy won his cap, it was on the whim of the the 'house captain' as to whether he was good enough, a player was 'invited' to pick up his cap.  (WRM-0185)

NEATH CAPS

The earliest known Neath cap is dated 1883-4. In the 1889-90 season, 18 caps were ordered, paid for and presented to worthy individuals. The ‘worthy individuals’ turned out to be the team that played Llanelli on 18^th January 1890 . So impressed were the committee about the performance of the team they arranged a special presentation before the next home game. Possibly the occasion could have been the taking of Llanelli's long standing ground record. The home team were undefeated in the 1888-89 season.

1889-90 Neath football team (WRM-0207)

In the back row W Thomas, H Evans & E Hughes are all wearing their brand new size 6 7/8 caps as sanctioned by the committee on Dec 16th 1889. 

Illustrated left, the meeting in which it was decided to order caps and to the right a list of players who received those caps, including cap sizes.

The Neath cap of Bill Millett 1920-1 

Excerpt from the Neath v Rees Stephens International XV programme 26th September 1957

No.1 Man in the Neath Rugby Club this season is a man who practically lives for sport, and indeed, who can claim to have a son (Ron) who has been " capped " at both Rugby and Soccer. Bill Millett is now the chairman of the club for which he played on the wing in 1918-19-20, and with which he has been closely associated ever since - including the past 10 years as committee-man. He also played for Swansea and Briton Ferry. With his playing days over, Bill Millett was secretary of Briton Ferry R.F.C. for about ten years, and later on he did similar work Briton Ferry Town Cricket Club for the same period of time. He has always maintained an almost passionate interest in boy's club's and has done much good work for them. He is at present the chairman of the Sports Committee of the Welsh association of Boys' Club. On top of all that, he finds time to sit on the executive committee of the Welsh Youth Rugby Union. With such a background of administrative experience, he is bound to be an asset to Neath R.F.C. during his year of office. (WRM-0183)

The caps of Fred David, Neath 1902-3, and Glamorgan County 1906/7 

David was a regular in the Neath side for over a decade and also appeared for Neath Excelsiors. He captained Neath against the 1912 Springboks. on the left is his Neath cap while the cap on the right is his Glamorgan cap.  (WRM-0184/0186)

The 1908 Wallabies were the first tourists to play at Neath, the tourists won 15-0 against the combined side. An account of the Aussies time at Neath can be read in the biography of Tom Richards, one of the stars of the touring side, penned by Australian author Greg Growden the account recounts the warm welcome and hospitality shown to the Australians...........

"If this was not emotional enough the tour went into overdrive involving endless dramas , when it crossed the border with Wales, and headed for the grim, dim town of Neath. There was a brief stop in Tonypandy to play Penygraig where there was 20 stoppages for supposed injuries to the miners before they were revived with a swig from a mysterious black bottle, and then they continued to Neath.

Situated just north of Swansea, Neath is the ultimate ugly Welsh town, a tough hamlet of miners, steelworkers and wild men, most of appeared in the black jersey of Neath with the white Maltese cross on the front. The home ground, the Gnoll, is the most inhospitable of places, with the changing rooms more akin to pithead baths than a first-class arena.

For decades, Neath had been renowned for their underhand mischievous play, being known throughout Wales as the hillbillies of the local club scene. Even countless decades after the first Wallaby tour, Neath were upsetting Australian teams. In 1992 Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer described the town as 'the bag snatching capital of Wales', after his players were grabbed by the testicles, spat on, had their eyes gouged and were stomped on during a midweek game. If Dwyer had perused the match report of the first Australia-Neath game of 1908, he would have expected nothing less.

It was one never ending stink. After the time of the game had been put back one hour to 4pm to allow the local miners to get to the ground on time, they had plenty to jeer and cheer about after one of their players was knocked unconscious in the opening minutes, after which their full back Dick Hughes was winded.

The 8000 strong crowd immediately called on the referee Edgar Johns from Swansea, to send Australia's Normie Row off, as he was the man closest to hand each time a Neath player collapsed. Johns ignored their pleas. By the second half, they were virtually baying for blood when their skipper DH Davies could not resume because of broken ribs, but went silent when Dix complained to the referee that he had been bitten, showing the teeth marks on his hand. Not surprisingly when Johns whistled full-time in darkness he required a police escort to leave the field, while  the Australian team returned to their hotel with "a 'mounted' policeman on the conductor's step."

Rusty described the match as "a most unpleasant one, the crowd were out to see that their football heroes were right and come what may, the Wallabies were wrong. This crowd was an extraordinarily catankerous one, especially after Davies their vigorous leader of a wild forward game, was led injured from the field. Then there was hooting, booing and shouting. There was some reckless kicking, and many stray punches going round which reflected badly on both sides.

(WRM-0223)

As you can see from the report the Australian's were warmly welcomed to Neath as are most touring teams. The author has neglected to mention that it was in fact a combined Aberavon and Neath team and seven of the players were from Aberavon. Reading between the lines it's obvious that the Australians intimidation and cheating succeeded in rousing the wrath of the Neath players who were reluctantly forced to defend themselves. Was it a co-incidence that Normie Row just happened to be standing next to each 'flat out' player or that DH Davies ribs were broken. There are no references to Australian injuries, only Dix who was bitten 'on the hand'. Obviously a self inflicted injury where the player was trying to gain the sympathy of the referee. Who in their right mind would bite somebody's hand, there's no easier way to get a 'smack in the gob' than that. On the other hand if it was Neath teeth (I've been waiting years to put that in a sentence) then what was Dix's hand doing near the home team player's mouth, was he gouging maybe ! In conclusion, the Wallabies no doubt having heard reports that the 1905 All Blacks and the 1906 Springboks had met tough and determined sides in Wales who continuously out thought and out played them, had decided that they should intimidate Welsh teams. Proof of this is the fact that a Neath player was laid out flat in the opening minutes, the desired result was that the opposition would become unsettled and un-nerved, I'm afraid on this occasion it worked as the tourists triumphed 15 - 0.   

A year later Neath are touring themselves to the Midlands with matches against Leicester & Coventry. (WRM-0194)

A comedy of errors unfurled at the Talbot Athletic ground as the combined team were thrashed soundly by an awesome Springbok midweek side. The opening act saw the Springboks jog around while the national anthem was played. Unfortunately for the organising committee the wrong song had been played, instead of the anthem "Sarie Marie" a delightful South African ditty came over the loudspeakers. The South Wales Echo reported "It was rather as if the serried ranks at Twickenham were upstanding whilst Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green was being played. Not to be outdone one member of the team much to his amusement found that on tackling Ryk van Schoor he was left with a pair of shorts in his grasp while the cheeky Rhodesian tobacco farmer sprinted almost the length of the field to the howling laughter of the crowd. There was not much fun for the home team during the rest of the afternoon as Springbok wing Marais ran in three tries for the tourists. Almost the same team were to go on one week later to run up a record score against Scotland 44 - 0.  (WRM-221/187)

 (WRM-PL)

 (WRM-PL)

The Bird in Hand Field is where the old Civic Centre and car park opposite now stand. Rosser St is still standing, the Gnoll is approx 75 metres to the right of the photograph. The early days of Neath RFC saw the club move both headquarters and grounds on several occasions, financial considerations were always top of the agenda. 

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NEATH RFC 1989/90

Arguably, Neath’s greatest side was the 1989/90 side led by Kevin Phillips that won the WRU Cup, the Western Mail championship (Neath’s 10^th such success), the Whitbread Merit Table and Anglo-Welsh Pennant.

The Welsh All Blacks carried virtually all before them. Only Bath (when Neath were depleted due to Wales calls), Llanelli and then world champions New Zealand lowered Neath’s colours.

The rugby produced by Neath was simply awesome. In two games fewer, they just failed to emulate the world record-breaking feats of the previous year’s side of 1,917 points and 345 tries. Those world records still stand but the 1989/90 side got within 50 points (1,866) and one try (344) of their immediate predecessors. The points record might well have tumbled had not injury restricted Paul Thorburn to 205 points for the season but outside-half Paul Williams compensated with 284 including 17 tries. Jason Ball scored 136 points including 21 tries while his brother-in-law to be Colin Laity (today Cardiff ’s assistant coach) got 16 tries.

Alan Edmunds clocked up a remarkable 45 tries and came as close as anyone ever has to beating Dan Jones’ record of 59 Neath tries (73 in all games) in 1928/29. Rupert Moon scored 30 (5 at Maesteg) despite sharing the No.9 shirt with Chris Bridges (13). Allan Bateman got 22 tries while fellow backs Chris Higgs (12) and Jonathan Griffiths (10) also figured regularly on the score-sheet. Of the forwards, Rowland Phillips bagged 16 and Mark Jones 13 while front-rowers Andrew Thomas (12) and prop David Joseph (11 including two hat-tricks) figured heavily too.

No fewer than 10 players were capped by Wales during the season : Paul Thorburn, Allan Bateman, Alan Edmunds, Brian Williams, Kevin Phillips, Jeremy Pugh, Gareth Llewellyn, Phil Pugh, Martyn Morris and Mark Jones while Chris Bridges and Glyn Llewellyn won their first caps on the summer tour to Namibia .

Reserve strength was crucial – internationals like Adrian Davies, Rupert Moon, Jeremy Pugh, John Davies, Gareth Llewellyn, Derwyn Jones, Lyn Jones, David Pickering and Phil Pugh did not make the Cup final XV. Neither did wonderful players like Graham Davies, Mike Whitson, Paul Jackson, Lloyd Isaac and Adrian Varney.

No wonder many consider it Neath’s finest team of all time – it really was a remarkable squad !

"MADE IN NEATH" 

Our earliest Welsh ticket is dated 1903, printed by the Neath Printing Co, situated just behind the market in Neath, a short walk from Walter Rees' home. presumably this cut down on the cost of delivery and should any problems occur Walter was only a stone's throw away. The Neath Printing Co held the contract to print Welsh tickets even up until the late 1980s. Nearly 40 years on, Walter Rees' influence is still in evidence in Welsh rugby.

TO VIEW OUR TICKETS PRINTED IN NEATH - CLICK HERE

Wales v England at Swansea

Jehodia Hodges scored 3 tries in a 21 - 5 victory (WRM-0239)

Wales v England

3 - 3 draw at the Arms park  (WRM-0240)

Wales v Waratahs

press ticket - Wales lost 18 - 8  (WRM-0262)

First French victory over Wales   (WRM-0246)

11- 3 loss against the English   (WRM-0241)

Old Internationals ticket, a 13 - 8 win for Wales    (WRM-0255)

A dropped goal by Ronnie Boon helped Wales to this first win over England for 10 years  (WRM-0245)

Another great victory over the All Blacks

13 - 12   (WRM-0251)

The gates were closed 2 hours before kick off, the ground was full, the crowd rushed the gates and stormed into the ground.   (WRM-0259)

seats inside the ropes

v Ireland 1938 at Swansea 

  (WRM-0248)

Elvet Jones, top try scorer on the 1938 Lions tour made his debut for Wales in this 11-3 welsh victory  (WRM-0261)

Wales v NZ Kiwis   (WRM-0260)

last victory over the All Blacks in 1953,  13 - 8   (WRM-0252)

last international at St Helen's Swansea, postponed match played on 10th April  (WRM-0321)

v International XV - celebrating the Empire Games, held at the Arms Park one year later in 1958   (WRM-0250)

v Ireland 1959

8 - 6 victory to Wales  (WRM-0249)

Press messenger - this ticket will only admit a boy - v South Africa 1960, a day before the Arms Park was flooded  (WRM-0258)

Press Box

Terry Price a Llanelli schoolboy makes his debut 

v New Zealand 1963   (WRM-0253)

North Enclosure ticket 5/- (25p)

v England 1965

Stuart Watkins scores 2 tries in 14-3 victory  (WRM-0242)

first Australian victory over Wales,  international debut for Barry John (WRM-0237)

opening of the new Cardiff Arms Park, ticket for the NEW NORTH STAND (WRM-0254)

Start of the 1970s, first five nations match in the NEW NORTH ENCLOSURE - Gareth Edwards commented "The singing of the crowd was tremendous, it inspired every one of us. (WRM-0257)

Phil Bennett started it, Gareth Edwards finished it, the greatest try ever scored, this is on the half way line on that side of the field.   (WRM-0235)

Lions v Rest of the World. First official Lions match on British soil.   (WRM-0236)

New floodlights for this night time international against France   (WRM-0247)

W v E 1993 - Ieuan Evans touched down or this great victory. (WRM-0243)

19,000 saw Wales' first victory over the Barbarians 31-10  (WRM-0238)

last international at the Arms Park (WRM-0244)

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