Penygraig RFC

Rugby team
teamname = Penygraig RFC
fullname = Penygraig Rugby Football Club
nickname =
location = Penygraig, Wales
country

founded = 1877. ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp11 ISBN 0 7083 0766 3]
ground = Graig Park
capacity =
chairman =
coach =
league = WRU Division Five South East
season = 2007-08
position = 8th [ [http://www.wru.co.uk/1159_2112.php? Official WRU League Tables. Sourced 26th May 2008.] ]
url =

Penygraig Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Penygraig, Wales. Penygraig RFC formed in 1877, one of the earlier rugby clubs to emerge, and by 1890's were a strong voice in the Welsh Rugby Union, one of four clubs from the Rhondda Valley that held WRU representation. ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp53 ISBN 0 7083 0766 3]

The early history of Welsh international rugby saw players selected not so much for form or ability but club connections. Penygraig were one of the first clubs to break this pattern managing to gain international caps for two of their players, David 'Dai' Evans in 1896 (4 caps) and Jack Rhapps (1 cap) in 1897. ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp93 ISBN 0708307663]

2002/03 Silver Ball final

Penygraig RFC beat Pontypridd RFC 30-25 in the 2003 Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy final; but after the game the entire winning Penygraig XV refused to give a drug sample to UK Sport officials requested by the WRU. [ Rugby Union: Just saying `no' to drugs test leaves Penygraig in a fix - Independent on Sunday Published May 25 2003] The club appealed against the mass suspension the WRU was seeking and it took until January 2004 for a decision to be made. The outcome was the suspension of 19 Penygraig RFC players for 15 months, and the suspension of the club secretary for two years. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3415945.stm Rugby drug charges - three cleared BBC Online Published 21/01/04] ]

Club honours

*1994-95 Welsh League Division 8B Central - Champions
*2002-03 WRU Division Three East - Champions
*2002-03 Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy - Winners

Games played against international opposition

Notable players

* Willie Llewellyn (20 caps)

Notes