For the Irish team, see Newbridge RFC (Ireland).
Newbridge RFC
TeamnameNewbridge RFC
FullnameNewbridge Rugby Football Club
LocationNewbridge, Caerphilly
Wales
UnionWelsh Rugby Union
CountryflagWales
Founded1888 (age 138)[1]
GroundThe Welfare Ground
PresidentMr. Robert Collins
Rugby directorDafydd Lloyd
CaptainGavin McDonnell
LeagueThe Welsh Rugby Union Admiral Community Premiership
Season2025-2026
Pattern b 1_blackhoops
Leftarm 11E90FF
Body 11E90FF
Rightarm 11E90FF
Shorts 1000000
Socks 1000000
Pattern la 2_redborder
Pattern b 2_blackhoops
Pattern ra 2_redborder
Leftarm 2FF0000
Body 2FF0000
Rightarm 2FF0000
Shorts 2000000
Socks 2000000

Newbridge RFC is a Welsh rugby union club based in Newbridge, Caerphilly, in South Wales. Newbridge RFC was formed in 1888 and joined the WRU in 1911. They currently play in the WRU Admiral Community Premiership

History

Newbridge RFC was established in 1888, but only gained admission to the WRU in 1911, when they secured a ground and facilities up to WRU requirements.

In 1925, Newbridge RFC moved to their present home at the Welfare Ground where they signed a 99-year lease at a shilling a year. A new pavilion had been constructed around this time and the club now share their ground with the local cricket team. The club are presently in their third clubhouse at the site after an explosion and two fires caused damage to past buildings.

On the field, Newbridge have been pioneers of a number of well known rugby traits, most of which were brought to fruition by the pioneering coach Dai Harries during his tenure as club coach in the 1960s. Most recognisably, these are; the tap signal from the hooker to the scrum-half to feed the scrum, the formation of a wall for the taking of penalties and they were also one of the first clubs to introduce the hooker as the player to throw the ball into the lineout. It was during Harries' reign as coach that the club captured the Western Mail Championship to be crowned champions of Wales in the 1964–65 season.

British and Irish Lions

The following players have played for the British and Irish Lions while playing for Newbridge RFC.

International honours

The following players have been capped at international level while playing for Newbridge RFC.

See also Category:Newbridge RFC players

Club honours

Games played against international opposition

YearDateOpponentResultScoreTour
1951118 OctoberSouth AfricaLost6–151951–52 South Africa rugby union tour of Europe
1962224 OctoberCanadaWon16-81962 tour of the United Kingdom
1964324 SeptemberFijiDraw11–111964 Fiji rugby union tour of Europe and Canada[3]
1966429 NovemberAustraliaWon12–31966–67 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and France[4]
198318 OctoberJapanLost14–191983 Japan rugby union tour of Wales[5]
198815 OctoberSamoaLost15–161988 Western Samoa rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland[6]
198923 SeptemberWalesLost4-25Special Centenary celebration
19908 SeptemberRomaniaWon35-211990 tour of Wales
19949 MarLost8-9

1 A joint Pontypool/Newbridge team.
2 A joint Ebbw Vale /Newbridge team.
3 A joint Abertillery/Newbridge team.
4 A joint Pontypool/Cross Keys/Newbridge team.

References

  1. ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp11 ISBN 0-7083-0766-3
  2. ^ Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1981-82. ISBN 9780907574057.
  3. ^ Fiji Rugby.com Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Pontypool". 29 November 1966.
  5. ^ Stephen Jones (ed.) (1984). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1984–85. Queen Anne Press. p. 50. ISBN 0-356-10448-6.
  6. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989-90. London: Queen Anne Press. 1989. p. 37. ISBN 0356178625.