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Neath RFC
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <h3>Early history</h3> <p>Neath Rugby Football club was established in 1871 by a consortium of ten enthusiasts, their captain at the time, T. P. Whittington would later play international rugby for Scotland in 1873.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a>: 24 </p><p>The club's nickname, 'The Welsh All Blacks', comes from their iconic strip of black jersey, shorts and socks with a white cross pattée. The origin of the team colours is not known for sure. Originally the club's players represented the team in various dark kits and the Cross pattée was introduced by one of their players, thought to have been E.C. Moxham, "to break the monotony". Neath's cross pattée is often incorrectly referred to as a <a href="/facts/Maltese_Cross/tCA8s5fQ">Maltese Cross</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> It is believed that the strip was later switched to the pure black kit as a mark of respect to player Dick Gordon, who died from injuries sustained on the field of play against <a href="/facts/Bridgend_Ravens/5GGeLYkK">Bridgend RFC</a> in 1880. </p><p>On 12 June 1881, eleven teams met in the Castle Hotel, <a href="/facts/Neath/xFtywoqR">Neath</a> to form what would be accepted as a Welsh rugby union. The founding clubs of the <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">WFU (Welsh Football Union)</a>, as it was originally known, were <a href="/facts/Swansea_RFC/IF0U9XEb">Swansea C & FC</a>, <a href="/facts/Pontypool_RFC/6UPLqFFN">Pontypool RFC</a>, <a href="/facts/Newport_RFC/Af1KKEDs">Newport RFC</a>, <a href="/facts/Merthyr_RFC/TNJFQ0WT">Merthyr RFC</a>, <a href="/facts/Llanelli_RFC/ytSaBGwh">Llanelli RFC</a>, <a href="/facts/Bangor_RFC/eNeK5yaj">Bangor RFC</a>, <a href="/facts/Brecon_RFC/eB0HBCmd">Brecon RFC</a>, <a href="/facts/Cardiff_RFC/xkgI7WMc">Cardiff RFC</a>, <a href="/facts/University_of_Wales%2c_Lampeter/7MMQA3y3">Lampeter College</a>, <a href="/facts/Llandovery_College/Fehrc57N">Llandovery College</a> and <a href="/facts/Llandeilo_RFC/pzsryHSj">Llandeilo RFC</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>: 24, 41 Strangely Neath RFC was not recorded as being present, even though the meeting took place in the town. It is unknown if this was an oversight by the committee to record the presence of the club, or if Neath RFC did not actually attend. One theory put forward is that the president, <a href="/facts/John_Talbot_Dillwyn_Llewellyn/T3pqF4Hm">John Llewellyn</a> and secretary, <a href="/facts/Samuel_Clark_(rugby_union)/emWCuSGC">Sam Clark</a> of the South Wales Football Union were both Neath men. By attending this new union they would be destroying the SWFU and therefore their own influence in the game. These wounds would soon heal and Neath joined the newly formed WFU in the 1882–83 season and would eventually become pivotal in the union's development, monopolizing the secretaryship from 1896 to 1955.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>: 44–45 Sam Clark would in turn become the first <a href="/facts/Wales_national_rugby_union_team/48zJmqQQ">Welsh</a> international from Neath RFC, playing in the second Wales game on 28 January 1882. In December 1882 it was decided to amalgamate Neath FC and Neath Abbey FC.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>In 1887/88 Neath RFC undertook their first tour of the northern English clubs, including <a href="/facts/Hartlepool_Rovers/ojxRSUea">Hartlepool</a>, Manningham and Wortley. The next season Neath played host to Widnes on Christmas Day before undertaking a further northern tour taking on a further five teams in six days. During the 1890/91 season a South West England tour was introduced, which would later become an annual fixture facing clubs such as <a href="/facts/Bristol_Rugby/Jrz8EgS5">Bristol</a> and <a href="/facts/London_Welsh_RFC/dJGdCLpG">London Welsh</a>. </p><p>Martyn Davies holds a very special place in Welsh rugby history because he was captain of Neath in the club's centenary year of 1971/72 and it was he who became the first captain to hold aloft the Welsh Cup and to then carry it on its now customary "lap of honour" around the old Cardiff Arms Park. </p> <h3>2007/08 season</h3> <p>Their 2007/08 championship season, their fourth in succession, was overshadowed by the death of scrum-half of Gareth Jones, on 16 June 2008. Jones had been injured in a match against <a href="/facts/Cardiff_RFC/xkgI7WMc">Cardiff RFC</a> on 20 April.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h3>2008/09 season</h3> <p>Their 2008/09 cup winning season, in which they claimed a victory over Llanelli at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. This was the first year since the cup name changed from Konica Minolta Cup to Swalec Cup. </p> <h2 id="club-records">Club records</h2> <p>Neath RFC hold the world record for the number of points (1,917) and tries (345) accumulated in one season (47 Games).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> This record was set during the 1988/89 season, it is also worth noting that a try was worth 4 points at the time the record was broken. </p><p>The record for the most tries scored in a game in the post-regional era (post 2002) is held by Richard Smith. In January 2010 against Kidwelly RFC Smith scored 7 tries. The pre-regional record of 6 tries is jointly held by <a href="/facts/Howie_Jones_(rugby_union)/IMdAe2vB">Howie Jones</a> (v Aberavon 1928/29), W.D. Williams (v B.P.Llandarcy 1949/50), <a href="/facts/Keith_Maddocks/ydU1HW8u">Keith Maddocks</a> (v Ebbw Vale 1956/57), Alan Edmunds (v Cross Keys 1989/90). </p> <h2 id="organisation-and-finance">Organisation and finance</h2><p> The company that runs Neath RFC is Neath Rugby Ltd.</p> <p>On 4 June 2015, Geraint Hawkes (Current chairman of Neath RFC and 50% owner of the club) was found to be "unfit to be concerned in the management of a company" by Judge Keyser Q.C. sitting as a Judge of the High Court (see para 68 of the judgement document)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> He also decided that the evidence given by Hawkes was "deliberately false" (para 48 - see image). </p><p>On 1 July 2015 the judge confirmed the length of the disqualification, as reported by the BBC: "The owner of Neath RFC and his mother have been banned from being company directors for 10 years after failing to declare more than £1.5m in VAT. Geraint Hawkes, 48, and Janis Hawkes, 75, were given the ban at a hearing in Cardiff on Wednesday. Judge Andrew Keyser QC said the pair had been involved in a "serious case" of unpaid VAT. The decision followed a hearing in the High Court Chancery Division sitting in Cardiff last month."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>In an effort to generate more income at their home stadium <a href="/facts/The_Gnoll/aNeLv7VJ">The Gnoll</a>, the club announced in late 2008, plans to share it with the town's football club <a href="/facts/Neath_Athletic_A.F.C./gQ96v1Ee">Neath Athletic</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> This football team ceased trading at the end of the 2011-12 season due to financial difficulties.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p>Jardine Norton Ltd became the owners of Neath Rugby Ltd in January 2019.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="club-honours">Club honours</h2> <ul><li>Welsh Club Champions: 1909/10, 1910/11, 1928/29, 1933/34, 1934/35, 1946/47, 1966/67, 1986/87, 1988/89, 1989/90</li> <li><a href="/facts/Welsh_Premier_Division/HKgxHW6K">Welsh Premier Division</a>: 1990/91, 1995/96, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10</li> <li><a href="/facts/WRU_Challenge_Cup/8xybyRdd">Welsh Cup</a>: 1971/72, 1988/89, 1989/90, 2003/04, 2007/08, 2008/09</li> <li>Welsh Cup Finalists: 1983/84, 1987/88, 1992/93, 1995/96, 2000/01, 2005/06, 2012/13</li> <li><a href="/facts/Snelling_Sevens/0uu6Wpxu">Snelling Sevens</a> 1964, 1970</li> <li>Principality Premiership Play Off Champions: 2009/2010</li> <li>Premiership Cup Winners: 2021/22</li></ul> <h2 id="players-and-coaches">Players and coaches</h2> <h3>Current squad</h3> <p>Note: Flags indicate national union under <a href="/facts/World_Rugby/Q1vMyAMs">World Rugby</a> eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality. </p> <table><tbody><tr><td><table><tbody><tr><th>Player</th><th>Position</th><th>Union</th></tr><tr><td>Sion Crocker</td><td><a href="/facts/Hooker_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Hooker</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Chris Morris</td><td><a href="/facts/Hooker_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Hooker</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Josh Clark</td><td><a href="/facts/Hooker_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Hooker</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Morgan Thomas</td><td><a href="/facts/Hooker_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Hooker</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Jack Powell</td><td><a href="/facts/Prop_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Prop</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Gareth Lloyd</td><td><a href="/facts/Prop_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Prop</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Tim Ryan</td><td><a href="/facts/Prop_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Prop</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Jonathan Thomas</td><td><a href="/facts/Prop_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Prop</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Jon Barley</td><td><a href="/facts/Lock_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Lock</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Ioan Jones</td><td><a href="/facts/Lock_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Lock</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Ross O’Connor</td><td><a href="/facts/Lock_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Lock</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Sam Langford</td><td><a href="/facts/Lock_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Lock</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Jacob Blackmore</td><td><a href="/facts/Lock_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Lock</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Matthew Davies</td><td><a href="/facts/Lock_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Lock</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Morgan Kneath</td><td><a href="/facts/Flanker_(rugby_union)/vk4hDuD5">Flanker</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Carwyn Sion</td><td><a href="/facts/Flanker_(rugby_union)/vk4hDuD5">Flanker</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Dyfan Ceredig</td><td><a href="/facts/Flanker_(rugby_union)/vk4hDuD5">Flanker</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Owain Morgan</td><td><a href="/facts/Flanker_(rugby_union)/vk4hDuD5">Flanker</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Dai Griggs</td><td><a href="/facts/Number_eight_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Number 8</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Elis Hopkins</td><td><a href="/facts/Number_eight_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Number 8</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table><tbody><tr><th>Player</th><th>Position</th><th>Union</th></tr><tr><td>Nicky Griffiths</td><td><a href="/facts/Scrum-half_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Scrum-half</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Macauley Griffiths</td><td><a href="/facts/Scrum-half_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Scrum-half</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Elis Horgan</td><td><a href="/facts/Scrum-half_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Scrum-half</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Steffen Williams</td><td><a href="/facts/Fly-half_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Fly-half</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Iwan Jones</td><td><a href="/facts/Fly-half_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Fly-half</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Matthew Pearce</td><td><a href="/facts/Centre_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Centre</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Ryan Evans</td><td><a href="/facts/Centre_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Centre</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Ben Atkins</td><td><a href="/facts/Centre_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Centre</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Jon Bayliss</td><td><a href="/facts/Centre_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Centre</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Aaron Bramwell</td><td><a href="/facts/Centre_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Centre</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>James Roberts</td><td><a href="/facts/Wing_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Wing</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Aled_Brew/NCLCcobE">Aled Brew</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wing_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Wing</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Ryan Griffiths</td><td><a href="/facts/Wing_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Wing</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Lewis Evans</td><td><a href="/facts/Fullback_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Fullback</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>Iestyn Morgan</td><td><a href="/facts/Fullback_(rugby_union)/1GrMwKks">Fullback</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Welsh_Rugby_Union/dcaB2fcS">Wales</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Notable former players</h3> <i>See also Category:Neath RFC players</i> <p>These players have represented Neath and have been capped at international level: </p> <table><tbody><tr><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Les_Anthony/5P24nzht">Les Anthony</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Allan_Bateman/LCjWlacs">Allan Bateman</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Andrew_Bishop/y6hkEatP">Andrew Bishop</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Billy_Boston/eD1yAMmG">Billy Boston</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Aled_Brew/NCLCcobE">Aled Brew</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Nathan_Brew/tjBa2vpB">Nathan Brew</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Chris_Bridges/CcAmKfTJ">Chris Bridges</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Howell_Davies_(rugby%2c_born_1885)/T5rIl27h">Howell John Davies</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Jonathan_Davies_(rugby%2c_born_1962)/mHfCDYF1">Jonathan Davies</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Leigh_Davies/mm3s4E05">Leigh Davies</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/David_Morgan_Evans/aQXuIb4M">David Morgan Evans</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Scott_Gibbs/UGpBpWb4">Scott Gibbs</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> Carl Gnojek</li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> RK Green, 1908 British Lions</li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Thomas_Hollingdale/JG4QMCt8">Thomas Hollingdale</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/James_Hook_(rugby_union)/vXgEtecs">James Hook</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> Alun Hopkins</li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Alan_Edmunds/dgFTGwRL">Alan Edmunds</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Roy_John_(rugby_union)/tSNhJkPI">Roy John</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Adam_Jones_(rugby_union%2c_born_1981)/P6Nmfnj5">Adam Jones</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Duncan_Jones_(rugby_union)/ERHxxFha">Duncan Jones</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Lewis_Jones_(rugby%2c_born_1931)/Ssrg0hgy">Lewis Jones</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Lyn_Jones/QPaIzqL8">Lyn Jones</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Scotland/VGwbbxB2"></a> <a href="/facts/Wilson_Lauder/gy1QKygQ">Wilson Lauder</a></li></ul></td><td> </td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/John_Leighton_Davies/pPnoENkk">John Leighton Davies</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Gareth_Llewellyn/ksAfo8hE">Gareth Llewellyn</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Glyn_Llewellyn/CxjMn8jx">Glyn Llewellyn</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Courtney_Meredith/4saK6tqP">Courtney Meredith</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Dai_Morris/p68xMnLl">Dai Morris</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Darren_Morris/bkfb4sM7">Darren Morris</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Martyn_Morris/tG9KG9nc">Martyn Morris</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Fred_Perrett/EQ1y3TMS">Fred Perrett</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Kevin_Phillips_(rugby_union)/qaI02LIr">Kevin Phillips</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Rowland_Phillips_(rugby)/CDHVFxMV">Rowland Phillips</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/David_Pickering_(rugby_union)/ELb3jI6F">David Pickering</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Ron_Waldron/znEodpJG">Ron Waldron</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Gerwyn_Price/V2K2quBs">Gerwyn Price</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Phil_Pugh/EwRla4Vt">Phil Pugh</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Elgan_Rees/oPhGyyYF">Elgan Rees</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Huw_Richards/5kJaCj23">Huw Richards</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Glyn_Shaw/78TgF2jN">Glyn Shaw</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Brett_Sinkinson/mUgY9eb5">Brett Sinkinson</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Rees_Stephens/WeVW5AA3">Rees Stephens</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Brian_Thomas_(rugby_union)/uPG5SB1a">Brian Thomas</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> William Lewis Thomas</li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Paul_Thorburn/en1NypW6">Paul Thorburn</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Barry_Williams_(rugby_union)/bCYKAGtE">Barry Williams</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Brian_Williams_(rugby_union)/4ACFvR1k">Brian Williams</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Shane_Williams/2cUAroYM">Shane Williams</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Wales/xa3W6PHH"></a> <a href="/facts/Walter_Williams_(rugby_union)/wgeCPLRt">Walter Williams</a></li></ul></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="games-played-against-international-opposition">Games played against international opposition</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Date</th><th>Opponent</th><th>Result</th><th>Score</th><th>Tour</th></tr><tr><td>19081</td><td>15 October</td><td> <a href="/facts/Australia_national_rugby_union_team/QDvvWqAy">Australia</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>0–15</td><td><a href="/facts/1908-09_Australia_rugby_union_tour_of_the_British_Isles_and_France/Ln0hGLGP">1908 Australian tour of the British Isles</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a>: 187 <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1912</td><td>19 December</td><td> <a href="/facts/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team/VI26pKu1">South Africa</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>3–8</td><td><a href="/facts/1912-13_South_Africa_rugby_union_tour/NQDsW3Fy">1912-13 South Africa rugby union tour</a></td></tr><tr><td>19311</td><td>28 November</td><td> <a href="/facts/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team/VI26pKu1">South Africa</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>3-8</td><td><a href="/facts/1931%25E2%2580%259332_South_Africa_rugby_union_tour/bw31TcHG">1931–32 South Africa rugby union tour</a></td></tr><tr><td>19351</td><td>14 December</td><td> <a href="/facts/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team/bj4jtf4c">New Zealand</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>3-13</td><td><a href="/facts/1935%25E2%2580%259336_New_Zealand_rugby_union_tour_of_Britain%2c_Ireland_and_Canada/WXzhlJoT">1935-36 New Zealand tour</a></td></tr><tr><td>19471</td><td>25 October</td><td> <a href="/facts/Australia_national_rugby_union_team/QDvvWqAy">Australia</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>9-19</td><td><a href="/facts/1947%25E2%2580%259348_Australia_rugby_union_tour_of_Britain%2c_Ireland%2c_France_and_North_America/keVT4oRb">1947-48 Australia tour</a></td></tr><tr><td>19511</td><td>17 November</td><td> <a href="/facts/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team/VI26pKu1">South Africa</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>0-22</td><td><a href="/facts/1951%25E2%2580%259352_South_Africa_rugby_union_tour/MrMtYQg0">1951–52 South Africa rugby union tour</a></td></tr><tr><td>19541</td><td>23 January</td><td> <a href="/facts/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team/bj4jtf4c">New Zealand</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>5-11</td><td><a href="/facts/1953%25E2%2580%259354_New_Zealand_rugby_union_tour_of_Britain%2c_Ireland%2c_France_and_North_America/tcUoXngW">1953–54 New Zealand tour</a></td></tr><tr><td>19571</td><td>28 December</td><td> <a href="/facts/Australia_national_rugby_union_team/QDvvWqAy">Australia</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>3-5</td><td><a href="/facts/1957%25E2%2580%259358_Australia_rugby_union_tour_of_Britain%2c_Ireland_and_France/jEWnFH0H">1957–58 Australia tour</a></td></tr><tr><td>1970</td><td>5 September</td><td><a href="/facts/West_Germany/oCydk787"></a> West Germany</td><td>Win</td><td>28–0</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>19731</td><td>24 January</td><td> <a href="/facts/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team/bj4jtf4c">New Zealand</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>3-43</td><td><a href="/facts/1972%25E2%2580%259373_New_Zealand_rugby_union_tour_of_Britain%2c_Ireland%2c_France_and_North_America/C6PUI1k7">1972-73 New Zealand tour</a></td></tr><tr><td>1983</td><td>15 October</td><td> <a href="/facts/Japan_national_rugby_union_team/MJD8hb4N">Japan</a></td><td>Draw</td><td>21-21</td><td><a href="/facts/1983_Japan_rugby_union_tour_of_Wales/0VSXYIE0">1983 Japan rugby union tour of Wales</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1987</td><td>31 October</td><td> <a href="/facts/United_States_national_rugby_union_team/StmefQ5B">United States</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>6–15</td><td><a href="/facts/1987_United_States_rugby_union_tour_of_Wales/aoNSu4Vk">1987 United States rugby union tour of Wales</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1989</td><td>25 October</td><td> <a href="/facts/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team/bj4jtf4c">New Zealand</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>15-26</td><td><a href="/facts/1989_New_Zealand_rugby_union_tour/nhgKJ6CH">1989 New Zealand tour</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1992</td><td>11 November</td><td> <a href="/facts/Australia_national_rugby_union_team/QDvvWqAy">Australia</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>8-16</td><td>1992 Australia tour</td></tr><tr><td>1994</td><td>2 November</td><td> <a href="/facts/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team/VI26pKu1">South Africa</a></td><td>Loss</td><td>13–16</td><td><a href="/facts/1994_South_Africa_rugby_union_tour_of_Britain_and_Ireland/U5yykPb2">1994-95 South Africa rugby union tour</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1995</td><td>25 October</td><td> <a href="/facts/Fiji_national_rugby_union_team/PPYe6MD7">Fiji</a></td><td>Win</td><td>30–22</td><td>1995 Fiji tour of Wales<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1997</td><td>4 January</td><td> <a href="/facts/United_States_national_rugby_union_team/StmefQ5B">United States</a></td><td>Win</td><td>39-15</td><td><a href="/facts/1997_United_States_rugby_union_tour_of_Wales/T5rjsgq3">1997 United States tour of Wales</a></td></tr><tr><td>2001</td><td>21 November</td><td> <a href="/facts/Uruguay_national_rugby_union_team/hXfTyHF7">Uruguay</a></td><td>Win</td><td>29-3</td><td>2001 Uruguay rugby union tour of Wales</td></tr></tbody></table> <p>1 All these matches were played by a joint Neath/<a href="/facts/Aberavon_RFC/vA8rCLA1">Aberavon</a> team. </p> <h2 id="neath-rugby-supporters-club">Neath Rugby Supporters Club</h2> <p>The Supporters Club was restarted at the end of the 2012–13 season, with the aim of providing a link between the fans and the club.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> The 2013–14 season saw the first Neath Supporters Hall of Fame, an event intended to take place every season. </p><p>2014 inductees: TP Whittington, Brian Williams, Brian Thomas, Shane Williams, Steve Powell and Dai Morris </p><p>2015 inductees: Rees Stephens, Martyn Davies, Ron Waldron, Kevin Phillips and Gareth Llewellyn </p> <p>Neath RFC: 1871–1945 – Mike Price (<a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-7524-2709-1, October 2002) Neath RFC: 1945–1996 – Mike Price (<a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-7524-3106-4, March 2004) </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.neathrfc.com">Neath RFC – official site</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/NeathRugby/">Neath RFC – official twitter account</a></li> <li><a href="http://neathrugbysupporters.com/">Neath Rugby Supporters Club site.</a> NB the Supporters Club is independent of Neath RFC</li> <li>blackarmy.freeforums.org/ Neath Rugby Supporters Club forum (link won't work, so copy & paste URL into your browser)</li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/neathsupporters/">Neath Rugby Supporters Club twitter account</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/NRFC_Trust/">Neath Rugby Supporters Trust official twitter account</a></li> <li>neathneathneath.freeforums.org/ An independent, unofficial Neath supporters forum (link won't work, so copy & paste URL into your browser)</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Smith, Dai; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of praise : the official history of the Welsh Rugby Union, 1881–1981. Cardiff: University of Wales Press on behalf of the Welsh Rugby Union. ISBN 0708307663. OCLC 7176127. <a href="0708307663" target="_blank">0708307663</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Rugby Relics". Retrieved 2 November 2021. <a href="http://www.rugbyrelics.com/Museum/exhibitions/NR125/02.htm" target="_blank">http://www.rugbyrelics.com/Museum/exhibitions/NR125/02.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Smith, Dai; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of praise : the official history of the Welsh Rugby Union, 1881–1981. Cardiff: University of Wales Press on behalf of the Welsh Rugby Union. ISBN 0708307663. OCLC 7176127. <a href="0708307663" target="_blank">0708307663</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Smith, Dai; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of praise : the official history of the Welsh Rugby Union, 1881–1981. Cardiff: University of Wales Press on behalf of the Welsh Rugby Union. ISBN 0708307663. OCLC 7176127. <a href="0708307663" target="_blank">0708307663</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"- SWANSEA AND jmifilOT NEWS.|1882-12-08|The Cambrian - Welsh Newspapers". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 1 June 2021. <a href="https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3336568/3336571/15/football" target="_blank">https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3336568/3336571/15/football</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>BBC News (16 June 2008). "Scrum-half dies after neck injury". BBC. Retrieved 16 June 2008. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7457473.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7457473.stm</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>McWhirter, Matthews; Norris, Peter (1992). The Guinness book of records, 1993 (39th ed.). Middlesex, England: Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0851129781. OCLC 27123148. <a href="0851129781" target="_blank">0851129781</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills v Hawkes, [2015] EWHC 1585 (Ch) (High Court of Justice 04 June 2015). <a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2015/1585.html" target="_blank">http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2015/1585.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Neath RFC owner Geraint Hawkes banned from being director". BBC News. 1 July 2015. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-33347729" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-33347729</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>BBC News (16 May 2008). "Rugby stadium makes soccer space". BBC. Retrieved 12 May 2008. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7404410.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7404410.stm</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Neath FC wound up at High Court". BBC News. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-18239573" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-18239573</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Neath RFC handed over to finance company as Mike Cuddy leaves club". BBC Sport. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47009504" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47009504</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Smith, Dai; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of praise : the official history of the Welsh Rugby Union, 1881–1981. Cardiff: University of Wales Press on behalf of the Welsh Rugby Union. ISBN 0708307663. OCLC 7176127. <a href="0708307663" target="_blank">0708307663</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"World Rugby Museum". www.rugbyrelics.com. <a href="http://www.rugbyrelics.com/Museum/clubs/Neath.htm#1908+Wallabies" target="_blank">http://www.rugbyrelics.com/Museum/clubs/Neath.htm#1908+Wallabies</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Jones, Stephen (September 1984). Rothman's Rugby Yearbook. 1984–85. Queen Anne Press. p. 50. ISBN 0356104486. OCLC 655598261. <a href="0356104486" target="_blank">0356104486</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Jones, Stephen (1988). Rothman's Rugby Union Yearbook. 1988–89. Queen Anne Press. pp. 30–32. ISBN 0356158845. OCLC 655215926. <a href="0356158845" target="_blank">0356158845</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"902nd All Black Game - Rugby Museum". Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111111144921/http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=1902" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20111111144921/http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=1902</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"The Battle of the Gnoll - Neath v South Africa [big rugby fight]". Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via www.youtube.com. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUzwdZYOsEU" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUzwdZYOsEU</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"Fiji Rugby Union.com". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2008. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110711001338/http://www.fijirugby.com/matchreport.cfm?fixtureid=F8FB65FB-3048-78A8-DB0E424AC52627E3&linkfrom=results" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110711001338/http://www.fijirugby.com/matchreport.cfm?fixtureid=F8FB65FB-3048-78A8-DB0E424AC52627E3&linkfrom=results</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>"April 2013". Neath Rugby Supporters Club. <a href="https://neathrugbysupporters.com/2013/04/" target="_blank">https://neathrugbysupporters.com/2013/04/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>