Risca RFC will launch their 150th anniversary season celebrations tonight (Tuesday, 27 August – 7.15pm) with a game against the Monmouthshire County XV, with the WRU president Terry Cobner as the chief guest.
Legend has it that club began when a group of workers at Risca Quarry each put six pence a week from their pay into a kitty until they had enough cash to start a rugby club. They purchased jerseys, knicks and a ball and got permission to play on the Church House Field, opposite the Church House Hotel (since rebuilt as the Darren Hotel).
The landlord agreed that they could change at the back of the pub and wash in tin baths. He also provided the sawdust to mark out the pitch.
The wore white shirts to begin with and became known as the ‘Lillywhites’. These days the club colours are black and amber.
No formal records were kept of the few games played against some scratch sides assembled for each occasion, so the match results are not available.
Church House Field was an open field and the club soon moved to play on a well grassed and more suitable field lower down, called Dr Robathan’s Field (Grove Road today). During the few years the club spent at this new base, their first committee was formed.
Eventually their playing field was purchased by Risca Council for the building of houses (Grove Road and Exchange Road). The only field available for the enforced move was at Pontymister, where Ty-Isaf Estate now stands.
As this field was so far away, the club decided to change its name to Pontymister RFC. Pontymister become the most powerful playing club in the Monmouthshire valleys. Capped players from the Monmouthshire valleys were few and far between and they usually found their way to the bigger clubs, such as Newport, to receive their due recognition.
Risca RFC re-emerged in 1906 and settled down permanently at the Stores Field. During the 1920s, Risca born lock Tom Roberts won nine caps, the first of which came when he was playing at the club.
Other players from the club who went on to play for Wales include Joe Booth (1898 1 cap), ‘Buller’ Williams (4 caps 1900-01), Archie Brown (1921 1 cap), Dai Jones (5 caps 1926-1927) and most famously, Ryan Jones (75 caps, 3 Lions Tests 2004-2014). Where Williams led with a Triple Crown in 1900, Jones followed up with three Grand Slams in his career.
From 1921 to 1958 there was never one season without at least one ex-Risca player in the Newport first team – a period of 37 years!
With so much to celebrate this season the club has struck a commemorative coin, has already faced Newport in a special fixture and will be hoping or success in Division 2 East.
Tonight’s game will see all gate receipts going to charity, with the money shared between the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, and the Baby Lucian Appeal. The Monmouthshire County squad will consist of players from 14 local teams.
