Aberavon Quins RFC
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
Top
Aberavon Quins RFC
 |
||
| Full name | Aberavon Harlequins Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Mighty Quins | |
| Founded | 1891 | |
| Location | Port Talbot, Wales | |
| Ground(s) | Harlequin Road (Capacity: 2,000) | |
| President | Ken Morgan | |
| Coach(es) |  Paul Morgan |
|
| Captain(s) | Lloyd Hayden |
|
| League(s) | WRU Division Two West | |
| 2010-11 | 9th[1] | |
|
||
| Official website | ||
| www.thequinsrfc.com | ||
Aberavon Harlequins RFC (AKA "The Mighty Quins") is a Welsh rugby union team located in the Fairfield area of Port Talbot, and just a few minutes away from the town centre & Aberavon. In 1955 the team applied for and were successful in gaining membership to the Welsh Rugby Union. Today the club is a feeder club for the Ospreys.[2]
Currently the club has several sides playing under the name. There are two senior sides, a youth team, an under 15's team and an under 12's team. The senior 1st team currently plays in the WRU Division Two West. The Youth team are also currently playing in the WRU National Youth League Division D.
Two semi-professional/professional players to have played for the club in the past are James Hook and Richard Hibbard, who now play for USA Perpignan & Ospreys, respectively and have both received full Welsh caps. Hook also played a part in the Welsh Rugby Union World Cup squads of 2007 & 2011, as well as the Six Nations Championship Grand Slam winning sides of 2008 & 2012.
Other notable past players include Johnny Ring, Trevor Lloyd, Len Cunningham, Tony O'Connor and Allan Martin, who all represented Wales, with some even going on to represent the British and Irish Lions.
|
Contents
|
Captains List
- H. Williams 1946-47
- G. Davies 1947/48
- J. Vaughan 1948-49
- A. Jones 1949-50
- D. Stanford 1950-51
- C. Cowell 1951-52
- B. Harwood 1952-53
- D. Stevens 1953-54
- J. Maddocks 1954-55
- A. Palmer 1955-56
- D. Jones 1956-57
- S. Bagshaw 1957-58
- W. Hopson 1958-59
- A. Palmer 1959-60
- J. Maddocks 1960-61
- A. Palmer 1961-62
- I. Thomas 1962-63
- R. Davies 1963-64
- D. Spiers 1964-65
- L. Hunt 1965-66
- A. John 1966-67
- A. John 1967-68
- D. Roberts 1968-69
- A. John 1969-70
- K. Lloyd 1970-71
- B. Locke 1971-72
- P. Parry 1972-73
- D. Whitelock 1973-74
- D. Whitelock 1974-75
- L. Ford 1975-76
- L. Ford 1976-77
- L. Ford 1977-78
- D. Roberts 1978-79
- D. Broad 1979-80
- D. Broad 1980-81
- A. Hoare 1981-82
- L. Ford 1982-83
- D. McGrath 1983-84
- D. McGrath 1984-85
- J. Rees 1985-86
- D. McGrath 1986-87
- D. McGrath 1987-88
- D. McGrath 1988-89
- D. McGrath 1989-90
- L. Whitelock 1990-91
- D. McGrath 1991-92
- M. Tobin 1992-93
- D. Smith 1993-94
- H. Williams 1994-95
- A. Suter 1995-96
- A. Suter 1996-97
- A. Dacey 1997-98
- R. Parfitt 1998-99
- A. Williams 1999-00
- G. Matthews 2000-01
- A. Williams 2001-02
- P. Miller 2002-03
- P. Miller 2003-04
- P. Miller 2004-05
- P. Miller 2005-06
- D. Gibbs 2006-07
- R. Wanklyn 2007-08
- R. Wanklyn 2008-09
- R. Wanklyn 2009-10
- L. Hayden 2010-11
- L. Hayden 2011-12
Club honours
- 1981-82 Central Glamorgan League - Champions
- 1981-82 Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy - Winners
- 1982-83 President's Cup - Winners
- 1987-88 Central Glamorgan League - Champions
- 1989-90 Central Glamorgan League - Champions
- 2005-06 Neath and Port Talbot District Cup - Winners (Development XV)
- 2008-09 Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy - Winners
- 2008-09 WRU Division Three South West - Champions
- 2008-09 Neath and Port Talbot District Cup - Winners (Development XV)
- 2009-10 President's Cup - Winners
- 2009-10 Neath and Port Talbot District Cup - Winners (Development XV)
- 2011-12 Neath and Port Talbot District Cup - Winners (Development XV)
Club Records
- Record 1st XV Victory - 88 - 0 .v. Hirwaun, home. 15/09/1979
- Record Appearances as Captain 1st XV - David McGrath 7 Seasons
- Record 1st XV Appearances - Phil Parry 703
- Record Points Scorer in a Season - Russell Baker 275 points, season 1986/87
- Record Points Scorer in a Match - Marc Sheppard 32 points, .v. Tonna, season 2007/08
- Record Try Scorer in a Season - Francis Reynolds, 27 tries, season 1970/71
- Record Try Scorer of all Time - Alan Jones, 287 Tries
- Record Try Scorer in a Match - George Glover 6 tries, .v. Beddau season 1968/69, Craig Cox 6 tries, .v. Cwmgorse season 2007/08
Welsh Caps
- E.B. Rees - Full Cap - 1919
- J. Ring - Full Cap - 1921
- D. Hunt Davies - Full Cap - 1924
- R. Randall - Full Cap - 1924
- W.J. Hopkins - Full Cap - 1925
- W.P. James - Full Cap - 1925
- T.A.L. Harris - Full Cap - 1927
- T.O James - Full Cap - 1935
- G. Williams - Full Cap - 1936
- S. Williams - Full Cap - 1939
- E. Kenefic - Full Cap - 1939
- T. Lloyd - Full Cap - 1953
- L.J. Cunningham - Full Cap - 1960
- A. O'Connor - Full Cap - 1960
- W. Upton - B Cap - 1970
- A.J. Martin - Full Cap - 1973
- J. Hook - Full Cap - 2006
- R. Hibbard - Full Cap - 2006
- J. Owen - Schoolboys Cap - 1979
- J. Larkman - Schoolboys Cap - 1995
- M. Tobin - Youth Cap - 1979
- L. Whitelock - Youth Cap - 1984
- A. Davies - District Cap - 1989
- K. Davies - District Cap - 1989
- J. Mainwaring - District Cap - 1990
Notable wins
- Aberavon Quins 16 - Cross Keys RFC 10 (1970/71) - Welsh Cup
- Aberavon Quins 14 - Maesteg RFC 12 (1972/73) - Welsh Cup
- Aberavon Quins 9 - Neath Athletic 3 (1981/82) - Silver Ball Final
- Aberavon Quins 19 - Aberavon RFC 6 (1988/89) - Welsh Cup
- Aberavon Quins (U21) 32 - British Army (U21) 15 (2005/06) - Charity Match
- Aberavon Quins 17 - Llantwit Fardre RFC 3 (2008/09) - Silver Ball Final
Other Games of Note
- Cardiff Athletic 27 - Aberavon Quins 0 (1966/67) - Silver Ball Final
- Neath RFC 12 - Aberavon Quins 9 (1980/81) - Welsh Cup
- Aberavon RFC 9 - Aberavon Quins 4 (1981/82) - Welsh Cup
- Cardiff RFC 22 - Aberavon Quins 15 (1988/89) - Welsh Cup
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.
|
|
|
WRU SWALEC Div 2 West
League teams
- Aberavon Quins RFC
- Aberystwyth RFC
- Builth Wells
- Crymych RFC
- Cwmllynfell RFC
- Felinfoel RFC
- Glynneath RFC
- Kenfig Hill RFC
- Kidwelly RFC
- Loughor RFC
- Maesteg RFC
- Skewen RFC
Early history
The real beginning was in 1904 when they were known as the Aberavon Excels and played in an all white strip. After the first world war in 1918 the nucleus of the Excels met and formed the Aberavon Harlequins R.F.C. as it has been known as ever since. They played on flat waste ground in what is now the Sandfields Estate; this then became to be known as the Harlequins Field. They changed in St Dyfrigs Church Hall. Sid Davies who had been with the Excels was the secretary and the skipper was Griff Bamsey, who together with his brother Willie became stalwart forwards with Neath RFC & Aberavon RFC.
In 1926/27, Aberavon RFC formed a second XV. This inevitably attracted the better Quins players and for a few seasons for which this team ran it was a struggle to keep the Quins going.
In 1932/33, the club was reformed by Dick Lody, Dill Stanford, Don Mainwaring and H.Williams. This marked a period of great expansion there was great improvement in enthusiasm and fixtures. The club went from strength to strength, until the outbreak of World War II. Inevitably playing of all sport was curtailed but a decision by the local authority in connection with the war effort brought mixed blessings to the club. Their playing area laid by their own efforts, was needed for the ‘Grow Your Own Food’ campaign, and became allotments for local residents.
When the war ended another era began. The club was again to reform. Dick Lody was the sec, Fred Bamsey the Treasurer (Fred’s father Griff had been captain in 1922/23). Players were keen to get back in harness, eventually the allotments were ploughed up and levelled, reseeded and the area fenced off. Posts were moved to an area close to the Brwyna and once more they changed in St Dyfrigs Hall as in 1918. The captain of the team was Griff Davies who was later a long serving treasurer. Despite difficulties The Burton Cup and Hospitals Cup were won.
In 1951 the playing strength received a tremendous boost, when former Maesteg RFC, Wales and British Lions scrum half Trevor Lloyd came back to his original club Aberavon Harlequins. Lloyd made an immediate impact on the playing side and soon made his presence felt. His arrival coincided with the club’s application for WRU status.
1955/56 was the best ever playing record in the Quins history. In over thirty matches they lost only once. They beat Taibach RFC (inaugural Glamorgan Silver Ball winners) three times and beat a number of other WRU clubs. Trevor Lloyd’s invaluable experience, toughness and enthusiasm made all the difference to the team. He was a fine example of how clubs like the Quins have been repaid for their existence as a feeder club. His presence demonstrated that traffic between smaller and bigger clubs does not need to be one way.
Recent history
At the turn of the Millennium, in an attempt to modernise the governing body of Welsh rugby union, and bring Wales fully into the professional era, it was decided to restructure the Welsh leagues and source out new sponsorship revenue for them. Teams would be allocated a division depending on their recent season’s order of merit and where they are on the map.
In the season 2001/02 the Quins' were placed in Lloyd’s TSB Division Two West, along with local rivals Corus (Port Talbot) RFC, however the two teams fortunes could not have been more differing. The Quins; with a great history and heritage were struggling to adapt to the professional era, where players were now expecting to be financially rewarded for their efforts on the field of play. Even though clubs were still capped at how much they could pay their players, many of the lower league clubs suffered as a result of this ruling.
The Quins were no exception losing many players to higher paying clubs such as BP Landarcy, Cwmavon RFC and Corus. The Quins struggled in their inaugural season in the new WRU league format, fielding largely patch-up sides made together of local players from neighbouring teams and Quins' stalwarts. Aberavon Naval RFC loaned the Quins several of their first team players, and due to this are nicknamed the (unofficial) Quins second team.
After an arduous couple of seasons in division 2 west the Quins faced relegation before their fate was sealed with a points deduction for fielding ineligible players. The Quins were demoted to ASDA Division 3 South West.
It was during these hard years that a stark investment in youth rugby took place within the club.
The first team though, coached at the time by John Breeze were wise not to rush any youngsters and they were blooded into senior first team action gradually. Youth team coach at the time (and former first team prop) Andrew Dacy decided that the team needed one more season together to fully realise their potential and therefore created the Quins' first ever U21 side; which recorded a 32-15 victory against the British Army U21 in January 2006. Dacy later went on to replace John Breeze as first team coach and continue the work he had started. The Quins finished the 2006/07 season in 4th.
The 2007/08 season saw Quins' former captain and silver ball winner David ‘Gus’ McGrath return to the club as coach, teaming up with backs coach John Rees. Enjoying a cup run and finishing the season second in the league before narrowly losing out in a promotion play-off to Gilfach Goch RFC. Now seasoned first team players and with a year behind them under the leadership of McGrath, Rees and captain Richie Wanklyn; their time had come!
The 2008/09 season culminated as being the most trophy laden the club has ever enjoyed with the first team being crowned champions of division 3 South West and the development side winning the Neath/Port Talbot District Cup. Then on Saturday the 23 May 2009 (after a 28 year gap), the Quins regained the Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy, with a 17-3 victory over Llantwit Fardre RFC at the Dairy field in Llanharan. Subsequently what followed was the presidents cup and promotion back to SWALEC Division 2 West.
Gallery
References
- ^ WRU official site
- ^ BBC News (2004-07-08). "Wales' regional rugby map". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3877085.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
Wikipedia on Answers.com
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Aberavon Quins RFC.
Read more