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Cardiff Rugby Football Club was founded in 1876[2]. The club played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park, where they have been based ever since. They built a reputation as one of the great clubs in world rugby largely through a series of wins against international touring sides. South Africa[3] and New Zealand[4] have been beaten by Cardiff. Australia have failed to beat them in six attempts. Cardiff have provided more players to the Welsh national side and British Lions than any other Welsh club.
[edit] Early history
Cardiff RFC were formed from the amalgamation of three other clubs, Glamorgan, Tredegarville and Wanderers Football Clubs[5] and played their first fixture on 2 December 1876, versus Newport at Wentloog Marshes. In 1881, Cardiff beat Llanelli to win the South Wales Challenge Cup, though the tournament was scrapped soon after due to persistent crowd trouble.
Cardiff RFC was one of the eleven clubs present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union in Neath in 1881[6] and supplied three players to the first Welsh international team who took on and lost to England earlier that year.[7]
A notable early player was Frank Hancock. A skilful centre, Hancock first played for Cardiff due to an injury to a first regular. At this time, rugby was played with six backs and nine forwards but Hancock's performance so impressed the selectors that for the next game they selected him as a seventh back and selected only eight forwards. The system was soon adopted by the Welsh national team and the seven backs and eight forwards system exists in rugby to this day.[8]
[edit] The Arms Park
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Club Rugby games were moved to what was the cricket ground and a new stadium was built in 1969 as a result of an agreement between the Cardiff Athletic Club and the Welsh Rugby Union. On the site of the old Arms Park stadium, a new stadium was built, Welsh National Rugby Ground (also known as The National Stadium). In 1999, a brand new stadium was built in place of the National Stadium, which was named the Millennium Stadium. Cardiff RFC still play at the Cardiff Arms Park which is beside the Millennium Stadium.
Today, Cardiff RFC Ltd runs two sides - both playing at the Arms Park. The first team, branded Cardiff Blues take part in the Magners League, EDF Energy Cup and Heineken Cup. The Cardiff club side take part in the Welsh Premiership.
[edit] Club honours
[edit] Notable former players
[edit] References
- ^ wru.co.uk
- ^ The Rugby Clubs of Wales pp59, David Parry-Jones (1989) ISBN 0091738504
- ^ The Rugby Clubs of Wales pp63, David Parry-Jones (1989) ISBN 0091738504
- ^ The Rugby Clubs of Wales pp64, David Parry-Jones (1989) ISBN 0091738504
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp298, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp41, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp41, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
- ^ Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881-1981 pp61, David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980)
[edit] External links
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