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11 unusual facts about Newport RFC


Abercarn RFC

Abercarn RFC have produced some famous players including Paul Turner (Newport RFC, Pontypool RFC, Newport Gwent Dragons Coach) and Nathan Budgett (Wales & Bristol RFC).

Ebbw Vale RFC

The season was also marked by a remarkable cup run which saw them defeat Newport, Carmerthen Quins and Swansea, before drawing 19-19 to Cross Keys in the semi-final (Cross Keys subsequently progressed by virtue of tries scored 2-1).

Glamorgan County RFC

Newport RFC's first acknowledged game was against this team, which ended in a draw.

Hugh Ingledew

Under the captaincy of Newport and Wales rugby superstar Arthur Gould, the game was a draw with a goal from each side.

Machen RFC

One of the club's earliest and most notable players was Frank Purdon, who would later go on to play from Newport and Wales.

Penarth RFC

This fixture marked the start of the "Baa-Baas" annual South Wales tour from their "spiritual home" of Penarth, which also encompassed playing Cardiff RFC on the Saturday, Swansea RFC on Easter Monday and Newport RFC on the Tuesday.

Pill Harriers RFC

During this period Pill Harriers provided a stream of intelligent, strong players who would first move to first class team Newport before playing for Wales.

Pontypool RFC

Pontypool's first international player to be capped directly from the club was Cliff Pritchard, who after playing his first games for Wales as a Newport player, joined Pontypool in 1905 and was capped as part of the 1906 Home Nations Championship.

Public School Wanderers

Bath was the first non-invitation club to have been able to field a fully international side since Newport RFC did so in 1902.

Rhymney RFC

During the 1945 season, Rhymney lost probably their greatest player, Bob Evans, to the top tier team Newport.

Richie Collins

Originally a police officer, he started playing club rugby for South Wales Police RFC, and later Newport RFC, Cardiff RFC, Pontypridd RFC (he also coached the team in 2000) and Bristol Rugby.


Buckley Roderick

Played under the captaincy of Joe Simpson the team was made up of mainly Cardiff, Newport and Swansea players, Roderick being the sole representative from Llanelli.

Lyndon Mustoe

Mustoe represented several Welsh club sides throughout his playing career, including Chepstow, Newport, Pontypool, Cardiff and Bridgend.

Rod Snow

He went on to play professionally in South Africa for Eastern Province in 1995, before joining Newport RFC in 1996, the club he remained with until the 2002-03 season.