Pembroke Rugby Football Club is a Welsh

Rugby union in Wales

Rugby union is the national sport of Wales and is considered a large part of national culture. Rugby is thought to have reached Wales in the 1850s, with the national body, the Welsh Rugby Union being formed in 1881...

 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 based in Pembroke

Pembroke, Pembrokeshire

Pembroke is an historic settlement and former county town of Pembrokeshire in west Wales. The town and the county derive their name from that of the cantref of Penfro: Pen = "head" or "end", and bro = "region", "country", "land", and so it means essentially "Land's End".-History:The main point of...

. They currently play in the Welsh National League Division Five West

WRU Division Four West

The Welsh Rugby Union Division Four West is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented for the 1995/96 season.-Competition:There are 12 clubs in the WRU Division Four West...

 and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets

Llanelli Scarlets

The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...

.. They are known locally as the Scarlets relating to the colour of their shirts.

History

Pembroke Rugby Football Club was established in 1896. Celebrating its centenary in the 1996–1997 season with a centenary dinner held in a marquee on the club ground. David Vaughan (Dunvant) was the chief guest.

The Club was not granted 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...

 status until 1919, immediately after World War I.

Between the Wars the club competed in the local cup and league competitions. In 1922–23 the club were the K.O Cup Winners whilst in 1935–36 it repeated this feat in becoming the West of Llanelly K.O. Cup Winners.

After the Second World War, the club resumed its activities and in 1947–48 under the captaincy of Chris Leonard, became the Pembrokeshire and District League K.O. Champions.

This feat was repeated in 1960–61 under the captaincy of Derek Hayward. Unfortunately this is the last occasion on which the K.O. Cup has come to Crickmarren.

1954–55 was probably one of the most successful in the club's history under the vigorous captaincy of John Shanklin the team were both the Pembrokeshire and District League Champions and runners up in the K.O. Cup tournament.

This period in the clubs history also saw the club win the county 7-a-side tournament on several occasions.

Homeground

Pembroke RFC play all their home games at the Crickmarren Field located on Upper Lamphey Road. There is a stand with seating on one side of the pitch. Also located here is the clubhouse and changing rooms. There is also a training pitch located down the lane behind the rugby club and also a small pitch designed for Mini-Rugby known as 'The Cage' due to the wire fence around its perimeter.

Kit

Pembroke RFC traditionally play in scarlet coloured shirts with white shorts and scarlet socks. As for their away kit they play in a green and red style.

League

Pembroke were promoted from Division 6 West at the end of the 2003/04 season and moved to Division 5 West. They were also promoted the following season to Division 4 West for the 2005/06 season.

Cups

Pembroke have been victorious in the Pembrokeshire K.O. Cup on several occasions. These were in the 1922–23, 1935–36, 1947–48 and 1960–61 seasons.

Rivalries

Pembroke's main rival is Pembroke Dock Harlequins RFC (known as the Quins). Although there are fierce rivalies with the other Pembrokeshire teams.

Individual honours

The Club has seen many of their products gain various international honours. Beginning with Randall Huzzey, who won his Welsh Schoolboy Cap from East-End School in 1931, the club has seen several of its members win caps

Cap (sport)

In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...

in both schools and youth international matches. It is also proud to have Junior Rugby Union internationals in its ranks, whilst three of its products went on to gain senior Welsh international caps with Jonathan Thomas still participating in an active role with the Welsh team.
Mike Knill – with Cardiff.
Robert Appleyard – with Swansea.
Jonathan Thomas – with Ospreys

After World War II, Pembroke was also fortunate to gain the services of Eddie Woodgate who gained an England Cap before coming to reside in Pembroke from Devon.

In later years two of the club's exiles gained international honours playing for Luxembourg. Peter Doyle and Philip Williams.

1st team

Coaches:

Props:

Jonny Palmer,
Tom Jones,
Richard Morris,
Richard Mason,
James Walters

Hookers:

Gareth Jones,
Max Hayward

2nd rows:

Dai Beynon,
Mark Boswell,
Daniel Williams

Back row:

Steve Dyde,
Luke Hansford,
Tom Surtees,
Robin Badham,
Rob Jones,

Scrum Half:

Darren Gilbert,
Ryan Hayward,
Ross McNally

Fly Half:

Scott Bowen,
Phil Williams

Centers:

Mark Willaims,
Mike Willaims,
Rhys Marchant,
Barry Bowen

Wings:
Geraint Jackson,
Joe Jackson,
Daniel Williams

Full backs:

John Williams,
Daniel Williams

External links

• Pembroke RFC official site