The match between a combined Mountain Ash and Aberdare XV against the Welsh Academicals was due to be played on 19th December 2007, but fell victim to the bad weather. The teams will reconvene at Y Parc, Dyffryn Pennar in Mountain Ash on Sunday for an event that will pay tribute to one of Wales’s greatest rugby ambassadors.
As well as being President of the WRU, Keith was also President of the Welsh Academicals. He also hailed from Aberdare. The Welsh Academicals were formed in Mountain Ash 80 years ago, hence the venue for the memorial match.
“The Welsh Academicals feel that going back to Mountain Ash where the Welsh Academicals began, an area where Keith grew up, would be fitting to celebrate his life,” said WRU Board Member, and former Cardiff team mate of Keith Rowlands, Gerald Davies.
“Keith’s career he covered the lot – he played for Cardiff, Wales and the British Lions and then followed the same route as an administrator, becoming a committee man with Cardiff then the WRU and then he went onto the International Board. He reached the highest of honours and was involved in the establishment of the first Rugby World Cup in 1987 and of course was here when the RWC came to Wales in 1999.”
Combined Mountain Ash / Aberdare Squad v Welsh Academicals XV
Sunday 11th May (2.30pm), Y Parc, Dyffryn Pennar in Mountain Ash
Combined Mountain Ash / Aberdare Squad
Backs: Mark Jones (A); Matthew Smith (A), Adrian Owen (MA), Ryan Davies (MA), Dale Keepin (MA), James Fury (A), Gavin meek (MA), Matthew Parfitt (A), Meirion Thomas (MA), Ceirion Griffiths (A)
Forwards: J ames Cowdery (MA), Dean O’Brien (MA), Gavin Powell (MA), Ryan Cheshire (A), Craig Evans (MA), Lee Davies (A), Geraint Lock (MA), Callum Brennan (A), Craig Lock (A), Mark Anderson (MA), Luke Brennan (A), Kriss Sanders (MA), Matthew Shellard (A), Gavin Rees (A), Scott Davies (MA), Anthony Watts (A), Chris Edmunds (MA)
Welsh Academicals XV: Ricky Williams (Uwic); Jack Bird (Loughborough Uni), Nathan Williams (Uwic), Steve Land (Swansea Uni), Owen Evans (Bath Uni); Rob Evans (Uwic), Matthew Thomas (Uwic); Shaun Hopkins (Trinity Coll, Carmarthen), Aaron Fowler (Cardiff Uni), Dan Evans (Uwic), Kyle Davies (Glamorgan Uni), Matt Amos (Cardiff Uni), Dan Apsee (Swansea Uni), Adam Whitney (Cardiff Uni), Dan Godfrey (Glamorgan Uni)
Replacements: Mike Cartis (UW Newport), Hefin Dumbrill (UW Newport), Tristan Mabitt (Cardiff Uni)
