Cardiff RFC

Rugby team
teamname = Cardiff RFC

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imagesize = 90px
shortname =
founded = 1876
ground = Cardiff Arms Park
capacity = 13,500
location = Cardiff, Wales
country

coach = flagicon|Wales
league = Welsh Premier Division
season = 2007-08
position = 2nd [ [http://www.wru.co.uk/985_1006.php wru.co.uk] ]

url=www.cardiffrfc.com
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Cardiff Rugby Football Club was founded in 1876 ["The Rugby Clubs of Wales" pp59, David Parry-Jones (1989) ISBN 0091738504] . The club played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park, where they have been based ever since. They built a reputation as one of the great clubs in world rugby largely through a series of wins against international touring sides. South Africa ["The Rugby Clubs of Wales" pp63, David Parry-Jones (1989) ISBN 0091738504] and New Zealand ["The Rugby Clubs of Wales" pp64, David Parry-Jones (1989) ISBN 0091738504] have been beaten by Cardiff. Australia have failed to beat them in six attempts. Cardiff have provided more players to the Welsh national side and British Lions than any other Welsh club.

History

Early history

Cardiff RFC were formed from the amalgamation of three other clubs, Glamorgan, Tredegarville and Wanderers Football Clubs ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981" pp298, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)] and played their first fixture on 2 December 1876, versus Newport at Wentloog Marshes. In 1881, Cardiff beat Llanelli to win the South Wales Challenge Cup, though the tournament was scrapped soon after due to persistent crowd trouble.

Cardiff RFC was one of the eleven clubs present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union in Neath in 1881 ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981" pp41, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)] and supplied three players to the first Welsh international team who took on and lost to England earlier that year. ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pg 41 ISBN 0708307663]

A notable early player was Frank Hancock. A skilful centre, Hancock first played for Cardiff due to an injury to a first regular. At this time, rugby was played with six backs and nine forwards but Hancock's performance so impressed the selectors that for the next game they selected him as a seventh back and selected only eight forwards. The system was soon adopted by the Welsh national team and the seven backs and eight forwards system exists in rugby to this day. ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981" pp61, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)]

Today

Today, Cardiff RFC Ltd runs two sides - both playing at the Arms Park. The first team, branded Cardiff Blues take part in the Magners League, EDF Energy Cup and Heineken Cup. The Cardiff club side take part in the Welsh Premiership.

The Arms Park

Club Rugby games were moved to what was the cricket ground and a new stadium was built in 1969 as a result of an agreement between the Cardiff Athletic Club and the Welsh Rugby Union. On the site of the old Arms Park stadium, a new stadium was built, Welsh National Rugby Ground (also known as The National Stadium). In 1999, a brand new stadium was built in place of the National Stadium, which was named the Millennium Stadium. Cardiff RFC still play at the Cardiff Arms Park which is beside the Millennium Stadium.

Club honours

* Heineken Cup runners-up: 1996
* Middlesex 7s winners: 1939
* Snelling Sevens winners: 1955, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983 and 1984.
* Welsh Cup: 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1994 and 1997
* Welsh League: 1995
* Welsh/Scottish League: 2000

Notable former players

Games played against international opposition

References

External links

* [http://www.cardiffrfc.com/ Cardiff Rugby Football Club website]