Brecon RFC clubhouse

PWMP logobutton_lang_welshbutton_lang_frenchBrecon RFC clubhouse, 63 The Watton, Brecon

Brecon Rugby Football Club is one of the 11 founding member clubs of the Welsh Rugby Union, formed in 1881 at Neath’s Castle Hotel. See the footnotes below for details of the town’s first recorded rugby match, on Thursday 5 March 1868.

Brecon RFC moved its clubhouse to this building, the former Blue Boar Inn, in 1993. The Blue Boar was one of numerous pubs in The Watton. The proximity of the military barracks ensured a steady supply of customers!

One of many inquests held at the Blue Boar concerned Frank Green-Price, who died in April 1885 of head injuries sustained at Brecon racecourse. His horse fell while clearing a hurdle, and he never regained consciousness. He was 28 years old. His father was Sir Richard Green-Price (1803-87), MP for Radnorshire.

One of Brecon RFC’s earliest players took part in the first-ever Wales international match. Richard Davies Garnons Williams played rugby for Brecon before being chosen for the inaugural Wales team, which played against England in 1881. He was in the army at the time. He rejoined the army in the First World War and was killed in action in 1915, aged 59.

A number of other former Brecon players have represented Wales, the most recent being Andy Powell (23 Welsh caps, 2008-2012). The most capped former player is Dewi Morris, who represented England 26 times.

With thanks to Ron Rowsell, of Brecon RFC

Postcode: LD3 7EL    View Location Map

Website of Brecon RFC – including more about Richard Davies Garnons Williams

Footnotes: Brecon’s first record rugby match.

The Brecon County Times reported on the Abergavenny v Brecon match in March 1868: “A match between the above clubs took place in Brecon and resulted in favour of the Abergavenny team by one goal to none. The game was started at 3 o’clock with the Abergavenny captain, W.H. Haddow, having won the toss. Shortly after the commencement of the game, the only goal was obtained by a well-directed drop kick from the foot of E.G. Davies.

“The sides now changed their respective goals and at 4:15, when no side was called, no other decisive advantage had been obtained by either side although the ball was frequently in dangerous proximity of the Brecon goal line. Amongst the Breconians, Cowan, Williams, Nolan and Morris were the most prominent, whilst the forward play of Haddow, Leeke and Davies on the other side, is worthy of special notice.”  

 

To continue the Brecon in WW1 tour, turn left outside the rugby club, follow Watton a short way and turn left into Conway Street, where the next QR codes are on the Drill Hall
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