Pontypool is a town that has grown and expanded out of its industrial base; and if it was one of the earliest towns to appear on the rugby scene between 1868 and 1875, it was also one of the earliest manufacturing centres in Wales. By the end of the 19th century it was industry, particularly the manufacture of iron and tinplate and the extraction of coal, which played a prominent part in forging strong links with the game of rugby football.

Rugby football, like cricket, was essentially a middle class, English public school sport, but, in an age when the working classes had more time on their hands for leisure and needed a release from the strenuous physical demands of work, these games began to attract a wider audience and, inevitably, football clubs grew out of cricket clubs. Pontypool appears to have followed that route.

As with many other Welsh rugby clubs, the start of the game of rugby in Pontypool is obscure and yet the two scholarly sons of the Reverend David James, the Rector of Panteg , helps explain just how a game played by English and Welsh public and grammar schoolboys and University students came to be adopted first by local businessman and later by working class of Pontypool.

These sons, Herbert Armitage and Arthur Oswel, were educated at Oxford University and were both avid sportsmen. By the late 1860s, the leading members of Pontypool’s cricket club, (among whom was Arthur Oswel James) were keen to establish a “satellite” football club to extend their fine weather sporting and social interests throughout the winter season. Their obvious success in this new venture was reported in the local newspaper, the “Free Press of Monmouthshire”, on 31st October 1868: “The close of the cricket season has led to the formation of a football club among the young men of Pontypool. A goodly number took part in the first match and thoroughly enjoyed the sport”. This event marks not only the root from which Pontypool Rugby Football Club sprang, but also the beginning of its corporate life.

The newly formed football club drew up its own set of rules, which were a mixture of rugby and association football, but in 1875, rugby union rules were formally adopted by the Pontypool club, following the growing popularity of the rugby code throughout Wales.

By 1880 the behaviour of the crowd and the number of clubs emerging demanded a body to organise rugby. On 12th March 1881, delegates of eleven clubs gathered at Castle Hotel, Neath, and formed the Welsh Rugby Union. Pontypool was represented at this foundation meeting and can justifiably claim to be one of the forerunners of Welsh rugby.

In the same year, Pontypool met (and defeated) arch rivals Newport for the first time, but in general, the 1880s bore witness to a constant ebb and flow in the fortunes of the Pontypool club as it battled for recognition and, on times, survival, in South Wales rugby circles. The club’s existence was sustained from year to year by a faithful and ardent group of enthusiasts, one of whom was their President, J. A. Rolls, Esq., J.P., D.L., who was a member of the celebrated Rolls family - of Rolls Royce fame. Although the thread of continuity was never actually broken, on several occasions throughout the decade a reconstituted club arose, like the mythical Phoenix, from the ashes of the old.

As the 19th century entered its final decade, another local and highly successful rugby club, named Pontymoile, emerged; centred in the industrial community in the southernmost ‘suburbs’ of Pontypool. The destinies of both the long established Pontypool club and the newly formed Pontymoile club became inter-linked and at a special meeting at the Town Hall, Pontypool, in 1901, the two clubs merged to form a unified and constituted rugby club to represent the town of Pontypool.

In 1902, Pontypool Rugby Club joined the highly competitive Monmouthshire League and the team’s success over the next five years both enhanced their reputation and guaranteed a sound financial base, due to increased revenue from gate receipts.

On 16th December 1905, Pontypool’s hard tackling centre, Cliff Pritchard, became the club’s first Welsh cap, playing a prominent role in Wales’ 3-0 victory over the All Blacks in a game described by the “Lytteton Times” of New Zealand as a “Homeric contest of skill, endurance, pace and sheer brute strength”. Pontypool embarked on an early season tour to Devon in 1906 and caused a sensation by beating Torquay Athletic and English champions Devonport Albion. At the end of the highly successful 1906-07 season, Pontypool emerged from the Monmouthshire League as champions, with a prestigious first-class fixture list, and with players the calibre of “Ponty” Jones, Jack Evans, Cliff Pritchard, Jack Jones and Evan Morris, they boasted on of the finest three-quarter lines in Wales. Brothers Jack and Tuan Jones became the club’s first British Lions on an Anglo-Welsh tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1908, and in 1910 the club made its first overseas visit to the Bordeaux region of France.

After several near misses, Pontypool deservedly became Welsh Club Champions for the first time in the 1913-14 season, winning 34 and drawing 4 of their 45 matches. Only 114 points were registered against their 607 and a notable double was recorded against Cardiff. During the First World War, a large number of Pontypool players served in the British Army, and some failed to return. Among those killed in action was Bob Hayward, uncle of former Welsh International, the late Don Hayward who from 1951 until his death in February 1999 had been resident in New Zealand.

When the game of rugby football returned to South Wales after the First World War, Pontypool entered a memorable phase in its history, heralded by the dawn of the legendary “Terrible Eight”, one of the finest club packs ever produced in the four home countries, and equal to some of the international eights of their day. Fred Phillips (captain), Tom Woods, Wilf Hodder, Joe Williams, Joe Hayward, Fred Brown, Tom Rees, George Oliver, George Veater and Ernie Bullock were generally regarded as the nucleus of the squad who made up this famous pack of forwards. Although not formed for their scrummaging prowess their vigour and everlasting vitality in the loose made them renowned and was largely responsible for Pontypool becoming Welsh Club Champions for the second time in their history in 1920-21. The magnificent “Terrible Eight” smashed long-standing undefeated home records and won 37 and drew 4 of their 44 matches, scoring 529 points with only 112 conceded. Such was their reputation, however, that the Pontypool championship team were ransacked by Rugby League agents from the North of England, and in the space of a fortnight, in August 1921, no fewer than eight players were persuaded to sign professional forms, with a further four following suit later in the season. It is alleged that the total paid by the Northern Union for all twelve players was in the region of £3,600.

The inter-war years were dominated by a series of economic depressions, mass unemployment and countless strikes and lock-outs in the coal industry, which gripped the mining valleys of South Wales, and threatened the sporting outlets of the local communities. On several occasions, notably in 1926 and 1938, Pontypool RFC’s Secretary was obliged to launch an appeal fund to sustain the club through a severe financial crisis.

Despite this, Pontypool RFC wrote another notable chapter in its history by creating a record believed to be unique to this day - that of defeating two major overseas touring teams in the same year! The year was 1927 and the first of Pontypool’s victims in this unique double were the Maoris, captained by Walter Barclay and managed by W T Parata. The Maoris, prior to reaching Pontypool, had defeated France, Cardiff, Newport and several leading English club and county sides, but on 1st January 1927, at the Recreation Ground, Pontypool, they were defeated by 6 points to 5 after a hard and spectacular struggle. The Maori team that day was: P Potaka, A Falwasser, D Pelham, L R Grace, W Mete, D W Neera, H Kingi, R Bell, O S Olsen, T Dennis, D Manihera, T P Robinson, S Gemmell, Rev P Matene and R Bell (captain).

The second victory of the unique double came towards the end of the same year, on 8th December 1927, when Pontypool beat New South Wales by 6 points to 3. The “Waratahs” as they were known, had previously beaten Ireland and Wales and rank as one of the best touring teams ever to come from Australia.

In 1932, Pontypool became Welsh Club Champions for the third time, and between the ward the club supplied a total of eight players to the Welsh team, with Tommy Woods becoming their solitary English cap to-date.

With the storm clouds of war gathering over Europe, the Welsh Rugby Union suspended the game of rugby football throughout the Principality on 5th September 1939. However, several charity fixtures were arranged during the Second World War years, featuring Pontypool players and other local men, on leave whilst serving in H M Forces. There was also a fair contingent of non-conscripted miners and steelworkers in the Pontypool war-time teams. By far the most noteworthy of these war-time games took place in March 1941, when Pontypool entertained the touring New Zealand Army XV. The “Kiwis” as they were popularly known, lined up as follows: R McKane, D Beckett, B Farrell, H Watson, C Weir, J Loader, G Curry, R Ericson, M Brown, T McBride, A Thompson, A Hurst, R Brettell, R Roache and W O’Malley. A sizeable crowd saw the home team gain a creditable 11 points to 3 win, but more significantly, the proceeds from the match were generously donated to the Pontypool Urban Area War Comforts Fund.

Immediately after the Second World War, Pontypool RFC moved from the Recreation Ground to their present home, in the delightful setting of Pontypool Park, and in1953 they acquired their current club headquarters at Elm House, Park Road, Pontypool. During the 1950s, Pontypool Park played host to a number of formidable touring teams, such as the South African Springboks in 1951, the All Blacks in 1954 and the Wallabies in 1957. On each occasion, Pontypool joined forces with one of their Gwent neighbours, either Cross Keys RFC or Newbridge RFC, and despite not managing to record a victory against their illustrious overseas opponents, the combined sides always gave a good account of themselves in defeat.

Pontypool clinched the Welsh Club Championship of the fourth time at the end of the memorable 1958-59 season, in which they won 30 and drew 6 of their 40 matches. The hallmark of this era was the quality of the 2champagne rugby” served up by an exciting three-quarter line featuring Welsh Internationals Malcolm Price, Fenton Coles and Colin Evans, under the inspiring captaincy of Benny Jones, one of the best ever uncapped Welsh outside halves. The hard-working Pontypool pack played its part too, benefiting immensely from the leadership of a superb forward, Ray Prosser. Ray won a total of 22 Welsh caps between 1956 and 1961 and was widely regarded as a popular and extremely colourful character, both in club and international rugby circles, whether at home or on tour with the British Lions to Australia and New Zealand in 1959.

Several of Pontypool’s star players of the late 1950s turned professional and joined English Rugby League clubs and the 1960s saw the club’s fortunes take a downward trend. The touring Springboks re-visited Pontypool park in 1960 and overwhelmed a combined Pontypool/Cross Keys XV, although three years later the same combined side performed heroically before succumbing to the All Blacks by a modest 12 points to 3 margin. On the Welsh club rugby scene Pontypool found it difficult, throughout the Sixties, to find a winning formula and their best results were achieved under the captaincy of wily scrum half and master tactician, D C T (Clive) Rowlands, who also captained Wales throughout his international career, from 1963 to 1965. In 1964 the Pontypool club launched an Athletic XV to fulfil a vital role as its official reserve side. In the following year, the old wooden grandstand in Pontypool Park was destroyed by fire and was subsequently replaced by the present day concrete structure. One of the principal highlights of this era was the combined Pontypool/Cross Keys/Newbridge XV’s surprise victory over the Wallabies at Pontypool Park on 29th November 1966.

After languishing in the wilderness for almost a decade, the 1970s saw a rapid rebuilding programme take place under the watchful eyes of newly appointed coach Ray Prosser and inspirational team captain Terry Cobner. Being an ardent disciple of regular playing and training, Ray’s transition from former player to club coach was an easy one. The lessons he had learned and absorbed with the British Lions in New Zealand in 1959 were soon transmitted into building a set of forwards who, arguably, became the best pack in the British Isles. That style has now become the hallmark of the Pontypool club and had brought them unparalleled success over two decades - the 1970s and 1980s, which have been widely acclaimed as Pontypool RFC’s “Golden Era”; when a remarkable string of achievements by a succession of outstanding teams and individuals served to re-awaken a sense of pride among rugby followers throughout the eastern valley of Gwent.

Between 1972 and 1988, the most successful chapter in the club’s proud history, Pontypool carried off the Welsh Merit Table a record eight times, were Welsh Champions six times and also won the coveted W R U Schweppes Cup. The 1983-84 season surpassed all others when Pontypool lost just two of their fifty games played. They created a world record points total of 1,607 and earned the Sunday Telegraph Welsh and Anglo-Welsh titles, plus the Daily Mail Pennant, in addition to the Western mail Championship and Whitbread Merit Table trophy. The team scored 249 tries, with David Bishop and Chris Huish setting individual try scoring records, and full-back Peter Lewis piling up a massive 472 points, the second highest on record by a Welshman - the highest being 517 points by another Pontypool player, Robin Williams in 1974-75.

Bobby “The Duke” Windsor set the ball of caps rolling in the Golden Era, winning the first of 28 caps for Wales with five Tests for the British Lions and two tours. Honours flowed thick and fast after that and a further eleven players from the club wore the Welsh jersey, nine of them forwards. Graham Price takes pride of place with a representative career which saw him play 41 times for his country to become, at the time, the most capped Welsh forward. He also played in 12 tests for the British Lions, more than any other Welshman. “Charlie” Faulkner made 19 appearances for Wales to form, with Windsor and Price, the legendary Pontypool Front Row, immortalised in song by Max Boyce. “Staff” Jones later joined the front row club to play for Wales from Pontypool with ten caps and three Tests for the Lions.

Four back row forwards wore the red jersey of Wales from Pontypool: Jeff Squire, who had been previously been capped from Newport, appeared a further 22 times between 1978 and 1983 and played in six Tests for the Lions on three tours. Terry Cobner, later a Welsh selector and currently the Welsh Rugby Union’s Director of Rugby, earned 19 caps between 1974 and 1978 and played in three Tests for the Lions. Eddie Butler appeared 16 times between 1980 and 1984 and finally, Mark Brown moved up alongside his illustrious colleagues when he was awarded the first of his six caps against Romania in 1983.

To complete the picture, Pontypool locks Steve Sutton and John Perkins represented Wales in the “boiler-house” with “Perky” winning 18 caps between 1983 and 1986. A particularly notabale milestone was reached in 1983, when Pontypool’s “forward factory” provided no fewer than five members of the Welsh pack against Ireland and France in the Five Nations Championship. The famous five were: E t Butler (captain), J Squire, S J Perkins, S T (Staff) Jones and G Price.

Perhaps a final comment on this remarkable episode in the club’s annals should fall to Sean Lineen who, after he and his two Kiwi colleagues, Scott Pierce and Lindsay Raki, had helped Pontypool become Welsh Champions in 1985-86, summed up their feelings with these words: “We like to play winning rugby, and nobody wins more than Pontypool!”

Success brings its own rewards, of course, and these also cam in the form of prestigious fixtures against the touring Australians in 1981 and 1984 and the might of the first Rugby World Champions, the New Zealand All Blacks in 1989.

Since the champagne days of their Golden Era in the 1970s and 1980s, Pontypool RFC have experienced leaner times. Following the advent of League rugby in 1990, Pooler initially consolidated their position as one of the top six clubs in Wales, giving their supporters a day to remember by reaching the WRU Schweppes Cup Final for the second time in May 1991, eventually losing to Llanelli.

In 1992 Pontypool undertook a six-match trail-blazing overseas tour to New Zealand, a proud nation with whom the town of Pontypool has forged many links over the years.

There was still an air of optimism in the camp when players, officials and supporters celebrated the club’s 125th anniversary. However the sudden arrival of the new professional age of rugby union in the principality shortly thereafter, heralded a period of rapid decline in the club’s fortunes (both on and off the field) which eventually culminated in the unthinkable… relegation from the Premier Division to the First Division and the stigma of being the first major casualty in the top flight.

Today, under new management, as Pontypool Rugby Football Club Limited, the once “sleeping giants” of the Eastern Valley are staging a recovery bid and are set to re-awaken and to sally forth into the Millennium with all their former pride and passion!

Welsh rugby needs a resurgent Pooler!!!