Cross Keys RFC (Welsh: Clwb Rygbi Pont-y-Cymer) is a rugby union club located in the Welsh village of Crosskeys. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union, and is a feeder club for the Dragons regional team.[2]
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| Full name | Cross Keys Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Keys | |
| Founded | 1885[1] | |
| Location | Crosskeys, Wales | |
| Ground(s) | Pandy Park (Capacity: 3,000) | |
| President |  Terry Howell | |
| Coach(es) | Morgan Stoddart Greg Woods Gewsyn Price-Jones | |
| Captain(s) | Tom Lampard | |
| League(s) | Welsh Championship | |
| 2023-24 | 3rd WRU Championship East | |
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| Official website | ||
| www | ||
History
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The club achieved first class-status in 1909, winning the Monmouthshire league three times.[citation needed]
By 1920 the team had their first international player, when Steve Morris won a cap for Wales. Morris would win 19 caps and captained Wales in 1925.[3] Caps followed during the 1920s for Ossie Male and Lonza Bowdler, both returned over several seasons for Wales, facing not only Five Nations Championships but also touring teams.
In 1926 Cross Keys RFC found themselves in dire financial trouble, and requested help from the Welsh Rugby Union. The WRU refused an appeal for a cash loan, but instead agreed to send the Welsh national team to play in an exhibition match at Pandy Park. The sell-out crowd assured Cross Keys future and resulted in an historic win for the home team thirteen points to eight.[4]
Rugby observers have noted the high level of talent in the Cross Keys pack, and criticised the fact they went under represented in the national team during the 1920s[5] and 1930s.[6]
Cross Keys reached the final of the 2011–12 British and Irish Cup, losing to Munster A.[7] Cross Keys won their first Swalec Cup, defeating table topping Pontypridd at the Millennium Stadium in 2012.[8]
Club honours
editCurrent squad
editNote: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
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Notable former players
editThe following list is made up of ex-Cross Keys players who have all won international caps as either a rugby union or rugby league player.
- See also Category:Cross Keys RFC players
George Boots- Taulupe Faletau 38 Wales caps, 1 British and Irish Lions cap
- Frederick Arthur Bowdler (15 caps)[10]
- Archibald "Archie" Brown
- Lloyd Burns (7 caps)
- Mervyn Hicks (Great Britain Rugby League)
- Ron Herrera (8 caps)[11]
- Jack Hurrell (1 cap)
- Ossie Male (11 caps)[12]
- Steve Morris (19 caps)[12]
- Con Murphy (3 caps)
- Gerwyn Price
- Dai Rees
- Fred Reeves (2 caps)[13]
- Rex Richards (1 cap)[13]
- Russell Taylor (3 caps), 1938 British Lions[14]
- Joe Thompson (1 cap) for Wales (RU).[14] Whilst at Leeds (Great Britain RL 12 caps, Wales RL 8 caps, Other Nationalities RL 5 caps)
- Trevor Williams (8 caps)[15]
- Stanley 'Docker' Winmill (2 caps)[16]
Games played against international opposition
edit| Year | Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 9 October |  Fiji | Loss | 12-26 | 1985 Fiji rugby union tour of Wales and Ireland[17] |
| 2022 | 2 November | Poland | Loss | 37-12 | 2022 REC Preparations |
References
editBibliography
edit- Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.