Senghenydd RFC
Encyclopedia
Senghenydd Rugby Football Club are a Welsh
rugby union
club based in Senghenydd
in South Wales. The club formed during the 1898/99 season built around the immigrant workers coming from port areas around Wales to find employment in the newly sunk Senghenydd coal mines.
throughout South Wales led by the lay preacher, Evan Roberts
. Rugby was seen as a wicked sport leading to violence and drunkenness, and Roberts managed to convert so many to his cause that Senghenydd RFC disbanded due to a lack of players. In 1907 a rugby team reformed under the name Senghenydd Bluebells RFC, before reverting back to Senghenydd RFC.
On the 14th October 1913 Britain's worst ever mining disaster occurred at Senghenydd Colliery
, amongst the 439 victims were five members of Senghenydd RFC.
During the 1914/15 season Senghenydd applied for and was successful in gaining membership of the Welsh Rugby Union
. This would allow them to play the larger affiliated clubs and take part in more accepted cup competitions. This new era of rugby did not occur due to the outbreak of World War I
causing the cessation of competitive rugby throughout Wales.
for the first time during the 1970/71 season they had won the Mid-District Championship four times in the previous five seasons. They made that five in six in 1970/71 when they finished the table with a perfect 20 wins out of 20 matches. The only major trophy the team failed to win in the 1970/71 season was the Mid District Cup, beaten by Beddau
17-11 in the final.
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...
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...
club based in Senghenydd
Senghenydd
Senghenydd is a town in the Aber Valley, roughly four miles north-west of the town of Caerphilly and is within the county borough of Caerphilly, Wales. It is traditionally within the county of Glamorgan...
in South Wales. The club formed during the 1898/99 season built around the immigrant workers coming from port areas around Wales to find employment in the newly sunk Senghenydd coal mines.
Early history
1904 saw the great religious revivalReligious revival
Religious revival may refer to:* Christian Revivalism* Revival meeting* Islamic revival...
throughout South Wales led by the lay preacher, Evan Roberts
Evan Roberts (minister)
Evan John Roberts , was a leading figure of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival who suffered many setbacks in his later life.His obituary in The Western Mail summed up his career thus:- Early life :...
. Rugby was seen as a wicked sport leading to violence and drunkenness, and Roberts managed to convert so many to his cause that Senghenydd RFC disbanded due to a lack of players. In 1907 a rugby team reformed under the name Senghenydd Bluebells RFC, before reverting back to Senghenydd RFC.
On the 14th October 1913 Britain's worst ever mining disaster occurred at Senghenydd Colliery
Senghenydd Colliery Disaster
The Senghenydd Colliery Disaster, also known as the Senghenydd Explosion, occurred in Senghenydd , near Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales on 14 October 1913, killing 439 miners...
, amongst the 439 victims were five members of Senghenydd RFC.
During the 1914/15 season Senghenydd applied for and was successful in gaining membership 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...
. This would allow them to play the larger affiliated clubs and take part in more accepted cup competitions. This new era of rugby did not occur due to the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
causing the cessation of competitive rugby throughout Wales.
Post 1945
One of Senghenydd RFC's most successful periods was during the late 1960s and early 1970s. By the time that the senior team won the Glamorgan County Silver Ball TrophyGlamorgan 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....
for the first time during the 1970/71 season they had won the Mid-District Championship four times in the previous five seasons. They made that five in six in 1970/71 when they finished the table with a perfect 20 wins out of 20 matches. The only major trophy the team failed to win in the 1970/71 season was the Mid District Cup, beaten by Beddau
Beddau RFC
Beddau Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the village of Beddau, South Wales. The present club was formed in 1951-52, but it can trace its roots to around 1900. Beddau RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for Cardiff Blues....
17-11 in the final.
Club honours
- 1911/12 Cardiff and District League Championship, 2nd Division - Champions
- 1911/12 Lord Ninian Stuart Cup - Champions
- 1923/24 Lord Ninian Stuart Cup - Champions
- 1924/25 Lord Ninian Stuart Cup - Champions
- 1949/50 Ivor Williams Cup - Champions
- 1970/71 Mid-District Championship - Champions
- 1970/71 Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy - Winners
- 1971/72 Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy - Winners
- 1976/77 Ivor Williams Cup - Champions
- 2010/11 Swalec Bowl