South Wales Police RFC

Rugby team
teamname = South Wales Police RFC
fullname = South Wales Police Rugby Football Club
nickname =
location = Bridgend, Wales
country

founded = 1969 ["Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1981-1982", Vivian Jenkins (1982) pg371 ISBN 090757405X]
ground = Police Recreation Ground
capacity =
president =
coach =
league = WRU Division Five South Central
season = 2007-08
position = 9th [ [http://www.wru.co.uk/2093_2108.php?/WRU WRU official site] ]
url = southwalespolicerfc.com
pattern_la1=| pattern_b1=
pattern_ra1=| leftarm1=FF0000| body1=FF0000| rightarm1=FF0000| shorts1=FF0000| socks1=FF0000

South Wales Police Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Bridgend, South Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Ospreys. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3877085.stm |title=Wales' regional rugby map |author=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=2004-07-08 |accessdate=2008-06-16]

History

South Wales Police RFC was established in June 1969 when the rugby teams of four different police forces amalgamated. These police teams represented Cardiff City, Glamorgan County, Merthyr Borough and Swansea Borough. The team's first match was during the 1969/70 season against Pontypridd RFC, a game the police won. In June 1971 the club gained membership to the Welsh Rugby Union forcing the players to choose between their 'civilian' clubs or to switch to the South Wales Police.

The club has since provided many players to the Welsh national team, including Bleddyn Bowen who captained Wales. The club's Senior XV are also one of the more active touring teams and have played in Africa, Europe, America and Asia.

Club honours

* Snelling Sevens 1993 - Champions

Tours

*2007/08 season - Bermudaflagicon|BER Bermuda "10" - flagicon|WAL South Wales Police RFC "31"

Notable former players

* Bleddyn Bowen (23 caps)
* Ritchie Collins (38 caps)
* Richie Donavan (1 cap)
* Alex Finlayson (3 caps)
* Ian Gallagher (1 cap)
* Ian Hall (8 caps)
* Hugh Williams Jones (17 caps)
* Mike Knill (1 cap)
* Martyn Morris (12 caps)
* Stuart Parfitt (3 caps)
* Rowland Phillips (10 caps)
* Steve Sutton (9 caps)
* John Wakeford (2 caps)

References