Cwmgors RFC
 Badge of Clwb Rygbi Cwmgors (Cwmgors RFC) | |||
| Full name | Clwb Rygbi Cwmgors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Cherries | ||
| Founded | 1927 | ||
| Location | Cwmgors, Wales | ||
| Ground(s) | Parc-y-Werin, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen | ||
| President | Sir Gareth Edwards | ||
| Coach(es) | Gareth Davies, Dylan Richards | ||
| Captain(s) | Jordan S | ||
| League(s) | WRU Division 4 West Central | ||
| 2023/24 | 10th[1] | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| www | |||
Clwb Rygbi Cwmgors (English: Cwmgors RFC) is a rugby union club that represents the villages of Cwmgors, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen and Tairgwaith,[citation needed] South West Wales. Cwmgors RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Ospreys.[2]
History
[edit]1895-1927 Curwen Stars
Although Cwmgors RFC did not come into existence until 1927 rugby had been played in the town from 1895. A team called the All Blacks was formed in the town in 1895, this team would later change its name to the Curwen Stars. The Curwen Stars joined the Llanelli and District Rugby Union in 1900, and eventually joined the Welsh Rugby Union in 1913. In 1923 a second team formed in the village, made up from members of the Cwmgors Colliery called the 'Mond' team, named after the owner of the colliery Alfred Mond. The 'Mond' boasts future Welsh captain Claude Davey as one of its players. In 1927 both the Curwen Stars and the Mond disbanded and severed all union connections.
Founding of Cwmgors RFC 1927
During July of 1927, former prop of both the Mond Colliery Team and Curwen Stars, Mr David Pritchard called a meeting by placing notices on streetlamp posts in Cwmgors, Gwaun Cae Gurwen and surrounding areas with aspirations in establishing a new Rugby club within the village. This had a great response, particularly with the younger members of the community, and it was unanimously decided to form a team named Cwmgors Rugby Football Club which the Swansea and District Rugby Union. David Pritchard was asked to chair the meeting and continued in this role until 1982. During this time the club established its headquarters at the New Star Hotel in Cwmgors.[3]
1930-1940
During the 30s Cwmgors RFC yielded successes winning the ‘Jim Rapesy Cup', and in 1938 collected their first notable trophy when they won the Swansea and District Challenge Cup and that year gained membership of the Welsh Rugby Union. Notable players during this period include Claude Davey and Will Davies who both obtained Welsh Caps in 1931 and the late 30s, as well as Emrys Evans who gained caps against England, Ireland and Scotland between 1937 & 1939. Another player of this era was Welsh Middleweight Boxing Champion Tommy Davies, who was also considered a serious contender for the British Middleweight Title.[3]
1940-1990
In 1950 the club changed their home ground from Parc Howard to Parc y Werin, also changing their headquarters from the on public house, the New Star Hotel, to another, the Caegurwen Arms.
Club honours
[edit]1st XV
- Swansea and District Challenge Cup 1938 – Winners
- West Wales RFU Challenge Cup 1969/70 – Winners
- West Wales Cup 1969/70 – Winners
- West Wales RU Section E 1987/88 – Winners
- West Wales RU Section C 1993/94 – Winners
- WRU League 7B West 1995/96 – Champions
- WRU Division Six West 2002/03 – Champions
- WRU Division Four South West 2003/04 – Champions
- WRU Tovali Bowl 2003/04 - Winners
- WRU SWALEC League Division 5 South West 2012/13 - Champions
- WRU SWALEC League Division 4 South West 2013/14 - Champions
2nd XV
- Swansea and District RU Section D Winners 1980/1
- Swansea and District RU Merit Table Winners 2005/6
Youth XV
- Amman Valley Youth RU League Winners 1968
- Amman Valley Youth RU Cup Winners 1968
- Ospreys Central Youth League Winners 2018/19
Notable former players
[edit]
Claude Davey (23 caps)[4] (as part of the 'Mond' colliery team)- Will Davies (4 caps)[5] (as part of the 'Mond' colliery team)
- Gareth Edwards (53 caps)
- Emrys Evans (3 caps)[5]
- Denzil Thomas (1 cap)[6]
International Referee's
[edit]- Tom Pritchard
- David Pritchard
- Selwyn Lewis
- Winston Jones
References
[edit]- ^ WRU official site Archived 30 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Wales' regional rugby map". BBC News. BBC. 8 July 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
- ^ a b "Canrhif o Rygbi 1895-1995 a Century of Rugby" (PDF). Cwmgors RFC. November 1994. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881–1981 pp464, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ^ a b Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881–1981 pp465, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881–1981 pp472, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
