Newport Rugby Football club is celebrating its 140th year with an exhibition at Newport Museum. Club historian Stephen Bennett here describes what visitors might expect.
Newport RFC is one of the most famous rugby clubs in the world, with a rich history that few other clubs can match. Her first game was on 3rd April 1875 and she remained unbeaten for the next four seasons. More invincible seasons were to follow in 1891-92 and 1922-23.
Newport has been Welsh champions 11 times and notable scalps include New Zealand, Australia and South Africa (twice). 150 of our players have been capped by Wales including 20 as captains.
31 British Lions and in 1910 provided seven payers and the captain to the tour of South Africa.
Many famous players have worn the black & amber jersey including Arthur (Monkey) Gould, Harry Uzzell, Tommy Vile, Jack Wetter, Jack Morley, Ken Jones, and David Watkins amongst many other famous sons of this great club.
Just prior to the financial crash of 2008 extensive plans for the redevelopment of the famous Rodney Parade ground were announced. All stands were to be replaced, and the grounds of the old Newport Athletic club were to be sold off for student accommodation and a local community centre.
Included in the list of buildings to be demolished were the old offices which were built in 1911.
A small group of supporters decided that before the bulldozers were to move in everywhere had to be searched. But before this could take place the recession set in and the plans for redevelopment were scrapped. Even though the site was reprieved it took nearly five years before the search took place.
In April 2013 the attics above the old offices were finally opened, and to our complete astonishment a vast hoard of material was discovered from the earliest years of the club, from 1872 until 1914.
Every conceivable item of memorabilia was there – posters, tickets, programmes, club minute books, documents, letters, financial records, photographs, scrapbooks and hundreds of postcards from pre 1914 mostly depicting rugby teams, games and players. As well as rugby there was an incredible collection of memorabilia from the Welsh Lawn Tennis championships which started in 1897 and continued until the early 1970’s. Athletics, gymnastics, cricket and hockey are similarly represented in the collection.
After two years a Heritage group is now in place and applying for funding from Heritage Lottery Fund and CYMEL the Welsh equivalent to preserve, restore and display this collection for future generations.
Many of these items are currently on display at Newport Museum and Art Gallery as part of their ‘140 Years of Rugby’ exhibition that runs until April 2016.
Nice one, Steve! It’s a great story and, having seen it along with some very distinguished judges, a magnificent treasure trove for a fine old club. More power to your, and hopefully your Lottery, elbow. The Newport Museum displays are also neat and interesting.
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any info on A Stock Newport rugby club Invincible team 1922/ 1923 please
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Hi, What’s your particular interest in him? I know a guy who could probably help. Email me at akky8@hotmail.co.uk. Cheers.
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I am trying to find out about the rugby playing career of R C LOVELL who is on the club 1914-18 Memorial Gates. He was in the RFC and press coverage at he time of his death in Feb 1918 referred to him as the ‘well known Newport Rugby footballer’
Help gratefully received
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101 Squadron RAF Lovell, Robert Clifford, 26, 26th January 1918, Royal Flying Corps, 101 Sqdn., Second Lieutenant, Son of George Frederick and Eliza Lovell, of “Broughton,” Clytha Park, Newport, Mon., HAZEBROUCK COMMUNAL CEMETERY, III. C. 26.
Will ask the Newport boys to help you: have you looked at the Friends of Newport Rugby Trust website meanwhile?
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I have just picked up all these links which also seem to have relevance to my own research! By a quirk of fate although I live in Sunderland, my oldest son and his family live in Llantarnam – between Newport and Cwmbran and my wife and I visit fairly regularly. This may provide an opportunity for a pint and research chat in one of the village’s lovely pubs.
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Cheers Keith, keep up the great work!
If you are down here anytime email me akky8@hotmail.co.uk and perhaps the Newport boys can meet you at the Green Man (?) or wherever! You should join our Rugby Memorabilia Society: Google it! Cheers, Phil.
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