Maesteg Harlequins RFC is a rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 team from the town of Maesteg

Maesteg

Maesteg is a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with Neath Port Talbot. In 2001, Maesteg had a population of 17,859, but it is now at an estimate of 20,000....

, Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

. The Maesteg Harlequins were founded in 1898, their first captain being Tom Hopkins. They have reformed under different guises but for the majority of their 113 years they have been known as Maesteg Harlequins. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union

Welsh Rugby Union

The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...

 having been made full members in 1987.

Club badge

The club badge consists of a central shield surrounded by an elaborate bronze border. The shield contains the traditional image of Maesteg a burning castle (Castell Coch which was sited in the nearby village of Llangynwyd and home to the ruling earls of the area). The burning castle shows the historical rejection of Norman

Normans

The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...

 rule by local Welsh people. Above the castle is the traditional emblem of Wales a red dragon rampant

Flag of Wales

The Flag of Wales consists of a red dragon passant on a green and white field. As with many heraldic charges, the exact representation of the dragon is not standardised and many renderings exist....

. The words 'Tir Iarll' (Earl's Land) lies below the shield on a scroll and this was the name of the area in the Middle Ages

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...

.

Club honours

• WRU National League Champions'**

Division 3: 2004-2005

• • Division 4: 2010-2011
  • Division 5: 2001–2002
  • Division 6: 2000–2001
  • Division 7: 1997–1998

• Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy
  Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy
  The Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy , is a Welsh rugby union competition open to all non-premier Welsh Rugby Union clubs playing in the Glamorganshire area....
  
  Winners: 2000–2001 & 2010-2011
• Glamorgan County President’s Cup Winners: 2000–2001 & 2010-2011
• Glamorgan County President’s Cup Finalists: 1997-1998
• Hancocks HB Trophy Winners: 1997 – 1998
• Glamorgan County 'Performance of the Year': 1997 – 1998
• SWALEC Bowl Finalists: 2010-2011
• Central Glamorgan Cup Finalists: 1995–1996, 1997–1998 & 2001–2002
• Mid-Glamorgan D.R.U. Division Two Winners: 1996 – 1997
• Mid-Glamorgan D.R.U. ‘Lyn Sports’ Cup Winners: 1977 – 1978
• Mid-Glamorgan D.R.U. ‘Lyn Sports’ Cup Finalists: 2006–2007; 2005 – 2006, 2004–2005 & 2003–2004

• Seven-a-Side:
  • Mid-Glamorgan DRU Sevens Winners 1961;
  • Bedlinog Sevens Winners 1988
  • Le Harve Sevens Winners 1975