The History of Penygraig R.F.C.
The past 130 years has seen quite a revolution in the coal scared valleys of South Wales, where King Coal once reigned supreme only to be dethroned with such heart-rending violence.
Fortunately, it is still true that with right thinking and the right people involved, some good can result, hence the story of Penygraig R.F.C. This proud Club, which has endured its ups and downs symbolic of the valleys themselves, has reason today to be even more prouder than at any other time in its history.
In attempting to record the history of the Penygraig Rugby Club, one has to start in 1806. At first this may seem rather strange but as one reads on, the need to do so will become apparent. For this was the year in which one, a Walter Coffin purchased Dinas Isaf farm for the sum of £1,500, this sum to include any mineral derived therefrom. This purchase was followed by others, it is recorded that in 1810 he leased the minerals of other properties, namely the Graigddu and Gwaunadda Farms for the sum of £30 per annum plus 6 horse loads of coal per week.
It is perhaps ironical that the birth of the industry which created the birth of the Rhondda and took toll of so many lives in the all too frequent explosions in those days should have begun by a man named “Coffin”
Be that as it may, the striking of coal began the industry which drew a colony of would-be colliers and their families to the Rhondda. One of these families were the Rees’s and it was through one Morgan (Moggy) Rees that Rugby Football came to Penygraig. He was the son of the proprietress of the Butchers Arms Hotel, Penygraig, returning home to spend a vacation, he chanced to bring with him a ball which was used for playing a game at collage. The ball was oval in shape but its peculiarity did not deter the youngsters from playing with it, and thus the seeds were sown which gave birth to one of the oldest Clubs in the Welsh Rugby Union.
In spite of repeated attempts to pin-point the actual date of the Club’s formation, our efforts have been unsuccessful. But it appears fairly certain as a result of enquiries made with some of the “elder statesmen” of Penygraig that the Club was formed in 1876-1877.
Be that as it may, it can without fear of correction, be said that there have been many and great changes in Penygraig as indeed the Rhondda in general, since that far-off day when Morgan Rees’ cousin David is alleged to have kicked the first rugby ball seen in Penygraig through the window of the Butchers Arms Hotel.
It appears that the game soon caught on, and with the backing of Morgan’s mother, and in spite of opposition of devout chapel-goers, a side was formed. The first game took place on Ynys Field against Maritime who they defeated.
After a period of playing on the Ynys Field, they moved to the Belle Vue Park. They played on a number of other grounds – Top of Dinas mountain, Llestwyn Ground, Penrhiwfer, Mid Rhondda. The Welfare Park, Penygraig became the home ground from the mid twenties until the development of “Graig Park” and the opening day of Tuesday 1st September 1970 when the “Graig” played Newbridge.
Season 1886 would appear to be the time when Penygraig made an impact on Rugby. Captained now by Moggy Rees they trained and practised on the Hay Field, a site where Llanfair Church now stands
At this time success followed success, to such an extent that the Club was looked upon as one of the foremost in Wales. Evidence of this is the fact that the Club was honoured by being granted a fixture with the 1st Wallabies in 1908-1909, although defeated 11-3, it is said that they gave an excellent account of themselves. It is generally accepted that D.M. Griffiths of Penygraig is one of the youngest players in Britain to have played against a touring side. He was only just past his 16th birthday when he played against the Wallabies, he also represented Glamorgan County against the Tourists.
Penygraig moved to the Welfare Park in the 1920’s during which time they played some of the finest football in their history. Among sides which were met during this season were Pontyclun, Pontypridd, Treherbert, Mountain Ash, Aberdare, Tondu and Bridgend. It is interesting to note that the match at Pontyclun lasted just two minutes. A wordy dispute over an offside rule that resulted in one of the Graig players, namely Bob Cook, receiving a beautiful shiner. The crowd appeared intent on making it hot for the visitors with the result that Penygraig made a graceful retreat.
1887-88 saw Penygraig really prove themselves by defeating Cardiff, Newport, Llanelli and other premier sides. The first great event in the Club’s history occurred when, in 1889, they won the South Wales Championship Cup. In 1906 support for the Club was tremendous, it required two special trains to convey supporters from Dinas Station to Mountain Ash where the Club met and defeated the Old Firm in the final of the Glamorgan League Cup.
The Rugby League swooped on Penygraig in the ‘30’s enticing Les Jones, Trefor Jenkins, Griff Jenkins and a number of others to go north. This somewhat weakened the Club, which at that time did not run a second string and the Club slipped from grace.
The immediate post-war era proved to be a very successful one, as many of the players had first-class experience during their time in the services. The leading players included Dil Williams, Mel Parry, Gwyn Williams (the late Secretary) Gordon Wells, who went on to represent his country on seven occasions, D.M. Davies, another Welsh player who in the years 1950-54 had no less then seventeen caps for Wales.
Around the 1950’s, the club fell back for various reasons until the mid-fifties when they once again made an impact on Welsh Rugby, and by 1960 they had won the Mid-District Cup and the following year, the Mid-District Rugby Union Championship. Among the outstanding players of the time were Ossie Bevan, John Nicholas, Billie Jones and Gareth Bailey. Since then they have been finalists in the District Sevens and the Silver Ball Competitions, winning the Sevens final but losing the Silver Ball.
In July 1961, in common with the modern trend of rugby clubs, Penygraig moved into its new home in Tylacelyn Road which incorporates first-class changing rooms and well appointed Club rooms. A true Rugby Club with an atmosphere in keeping with its traditions. It was in 1961 that Gwyn Williams and W.D. Jones mooted the “Rhondda Twickenham” which has now come true. It seemed an impossible task at the time.
It was from there that ingenuity, shrewdness and right thinking by those responsible came into its own. Colliery buildings are necessarily strong and solidly built. There were a number of them in the way and all had to come down. The T.A. had an excellent practical exercise readymade. They enjoyed it. Down came the chimney stack, Power House and the other buildings. They were all demolished with many bangs, flashes and cheers.
Once this was done there was the Tip to contend with. More than 60,000 cubic yards had to be moved. This was done and the present playing area began to take shape. Volunteer helpers have saved the Club more money than can be estimated. They all wanted to help and still do.
Then followed the building of the Dressing Rooms and Showers on the ground of such standard that a visiting International remarked-that outside of the National Stadium, they were the best he had seen and been in. The Club alterations all went merrily ahead and the two stands erected and the Floodlighting System were second to none.
But tragedy struck the Club in 1976 in the form of the death of Gwyn Williams, his loss to the Club was is inestimable, changed with the direction and control of the developments. Gwyn led be precept and example and will be sorely missed.
Into the breach steps Jack Whitbread, irrepressible and a glutton for work, he will not let the side sown; and will prove a worthy successor to Gwyn.
Since that memorable first season at Graig Park, when they played Newbridge on Tuesday September 1st 1970 – a Rex Willis Invitation XV., Cardiff and many more. We have seen the Japanese play their first game in Britain. It has been the venue of Boys Clubs International, San Isidro-Friday 10th March 1972. County Championships, Schools Trials, International XV’s in charity games, National Sevens (District C)-Saturday, April 20th 1974 and 1977, were triumphs of organisation for the ‘Graig’ committee as well as a resounding victory for the Penygraig squad in the latter competitions.
In saluting the new, let us never forget the hard work of men like Elwyn Davies, Trustee and former Vice-Chairman; Colin Woolford, Trustee and former Treasurer; Mel Harcombe, baggage man extraordinaire and many others.
(Taken from “Penygraig R.F.C. – 100 Years of Valley Rugby 1877-1977”. History written by W.D. Jones, Club Chairman for the centenary season of 1977)