Abergavenny RFC

Rugby team
teamname = Abergavenny RFC


fullname = Abergavenny Rugby Football Club
location = Abergavenny, Wales flagicon|WAL
country

founded = 1877 ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pp11 ISBN 0708307663]
ground = Bailey Park
capacity =
president =
coach =
league = WRU Division Three East
season = 2007-08
position = 2nd [ [http://www.wru.co.uk/1149_2152.php WRU Official website] ]
url = www.abergavennyrfc.co.uk
pattern_la1=_yellowshoulders| pattern_b1=_yellowshoulders| pattern_ra1=_yellowshoulders| leftarm1=800000| body1=800000| rightarm1=800000| shorts1=000000| socks1=800000

Abergavenny Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club team based in Abergavenny. Today, Abergavenny RFC plays in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Three East league and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons. [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=2008-05-20]

Early history

Although there is mention of rugby being played in Abergavenny as far back 1867, the Abergavenny club was formed in 1875 through Faithfull's Army and Navy Training College. In 1877 Abergavenny played their first match under rugby rules against Monmouth School. ["Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981", David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)] Although there are reports of Abergavenny playing some matches on the Castle Meadows their first permanent ground was Ysgyborwen Fields which forms the Penypound end of Park Crescent. In later seasons the club moved to the council owned Bailey Park, where the team plays to this day. Changing Rooms were built at the clubhouse in 1960. ["125 Years of History, 1875-2000 Abergavenny Rugby Football Club.", The Early Years, Keith Davies (2000)]

Bailey Park - Project Grandstand

The Rugby Club Grandstand in Bailey Park was built in 1999 and at that time had seating in from the old Cardiff Arms Park. It was officially opened by Sir Tasker Watkins President of the WRU. Over the years the stand has suffered much vandalism all the seating and laterly the Welsh slate roof has had to be removed for safety reasons due to vandalism. The roof has been replaced with steel sheeting. Graffiti now forms the backdrop to the stand and it has become a youth shelter for the towns teenagers who over the years have contributed to its appearance. Before each home game many broken bottles and cans have to be collected from the area adjacent to the main pitch and is a constant hazard to the health and safety of the players. The project will take time and money is needed for new seating for supporters and also the stand needs vandal proof shutters to prevent its use to only rugby supporters. [ [http://www.abergavennyrfc.co.uk/default.asp?contentID=545 Abergavenny RFC website] ] ]

Club honours

* 1994-95 Welsh League Division 6 East - Champions

Notable past players

*flagicon|WAL James Bevan (1 cap)
*flagicon|WAL Bob Evans
*flagicon|WAL Charlie Newman (10 caps)

External links

* [http://www.abergavennyrfc.co.uk Abergavenny RFC website]

References