"BRIAN J. JONES Chairman of Newport R.F.C."
"As one of the founder clubs of the Welsh Rugby Union way back in 1880, Newport Rugby Football Club are delighted this evening to welcome a team representing the President of the Welsh Rugby Union, Mr. H. M. Bowcott, to open our programme of Special Matches to celebrate the Club's Centenary Season."
"I have been honoured with the Chairmanship for this historic season, and it gives me great pleasure to extend a very warm and sincere welcome to the President and his team, the Secretary and all officials of the Union who are present this evening. I am certain that tonight's game will be a credit to both sides, and the association that has lasted for nearly a century will continue."
"We at Rodney Parade are very proud of the great contribution the 'Black and Ambers' have made on and off the field over the last ninety-five years in helping make the Welsh Rugby Union the power it is today. Our full contribution can be found on other pages of this programme, but it is worth relating here, that we provided the first Secretary of the W.R.U. in the person of Richard Mullock, also the longest serving President Mr. H. S. Lyne (1906-1947), while K. J. Jones holds the record for appearances in a Welsh jersey (44), and Arthur Gould captained the Welsh side (18) more times than anyone else."
"During the last few seasons Newport have been going through a rebuilding era, which has meant a falling off in standards and the results nowhere near as good as those achieved during the glorious past. But a light is beginning to appear at the end of the dark tunnel thanks to the hard work of many people both on and off the field, and the present team under captain Geoff Evans have the incentive to make this a season to remember in more ways than one."
"Everyone at Rodney Parade acknowledges the great heritage we have been left by the thousands who have gone before us. Our debt to them is enormous, and it is now our responsibility, whether players, administrators or members, to ensure that the high esteem in which Newport Rugby Football Club is held throughout the rugby world is not only preserved but if possible enhanced."
"MESSAGE FROM Mr. H. M. BOWCOTT,
"President of the Welsh Rugby Union"
"Very sincere congratulations on your achievements over the last hundred years. With no ready access to club or international records, I must necessarily confine this effort reflecting Newport's contribution to Welsh Rugby, largely to general comment other than those names which readily come to mind."
"Oddly enough, the first senior rugby game I attended was Newport versus New Zealand in 1924, so I have actually seen Newport consolidate and indeed increase its stature over half of its wonderful history. A Cardiff man finds it difficult to say anything rewarding about a club only twelve miles east of the Cardiff Arms Park, but maybe, conditioned by many years in London, I can say honestly and without prejudice "Well Done Newport! your record on and off the field has been exceptional." "
"Down memory lane, I find Jack Morley, a delightful friend, who did so well with the 1930 Lions, John Evans, who captained Wales in his one and only game for Wales, Ken Jones who received fewer passes than caps in his outstanding international career, and W. H. Travers and Bryn Meredith, whose names will stand the ravages of time and remain outstanding forwards. More recently we come to David Watkins, whose age does not seem to wither, Stuart Watkins, who ambled along the wing so successfully, Keith Jarrett, of the wonderful first international game versus England, but sadly to leave us before maturity, and finally Brian Price, one of nature's gentlemen whose equanimity was only once disturbed throughout his career. There are many others too, and in total, one can recognise the tremendous loyalty and service Newport players have given to club and country. Many have not been satisfied at the end of their playing days to give up rugby interests. Immediately come to mind H. S. Lyne, President of the Welsh Rugby Union for over forty years, Vincent Griffiths, a popular member of the W.R.U. and a National Selector, and I have just been informed that the first secretary of the W.R.U. was a Newport man R. Mullock, who guided the Union through its teething troubles for ten years or so. Bill Everson needs no comment from me - a wonderful man for his club and the game. Finally, for this purpose, there is Vernon Parfitt, President of the W.R.U. in 1972-73, still around and able to continue to offer his advice and share his knowledge and experience with rugby followers anywhere."
"I apologise for the very many deserving names I must have omitted - this was inevitable - but Wales offers its sincere thanks to a club which has accomplished so much in its first hundred years. May I state the obvious and wish you 'Ever More Success for the Period 1974-2074.' "
"GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO NEWPORT"
"from the Irish Rugby Football Union"
"One hundred years ago our Celtic forebears on either side of the Irish Sea must have been dreaming the same dreams and sharing the same visions, for in the year 1874, both the Irish Football Union and the Newport Athletic Club, whose centenaries we are celebrating this season, were founded."
"There has always been a close relationship between Newport and Ireland. When Wales played and won its first international against Ireland at Dublin in 1882 no less than six Newport players appeared in the Welsh side. One of them, Baker-Jones, had the distinction of scoring his country's first try in international rugby. In 1884, when for the first time a full international programme between all the four home countries was played, Newport sportingly came to our aid by lending us no less than two players, H. M. Jordan and J. Daniel, to enable Ireland field a full international XV. We lost this match to Wales at Cardiff by a goal and two tries to nil in spite of Newport's generosity!"
"Some years later we were able to repay our indebtedness when a famous Irish International player Dr. Tom Smyth captained Ireland and the 1910 Lions in South Africa whilst playing for Newport, and yet another Irish international Dr. W. J. Roche, was a member of the Newport Invincibles of 1922-23."
"My personal links with Newport take me back with nostalgia to the 1938 Lions' tour to South Africa when Bill Travers and I were team-mates; and to the goal I dropped playing for the Baa-Baas in 1939 to beat Newport, although the referee and I were about the only persons in a crowded ground who believed the ball went between the posts!"
"Newport has a proud record against touring sides to our islands, including historic victories against the 1912 Springboks and 1957 Wallabies. Time would fail to tell of the galaxy of Newport stars like Tommy Vile, Ken Jones and Malcolm Thomas, whose names were household words throughout the rugby playing world. Lord Wakefield of Kendal in his foreword to J. B. G. Thomas' book-Great Rugger Clubs has truly said "The strength of Rugby Union football lies in its clubs being virile living entities." Newport certainly lives up to that high standard both in its playing and administration of the game."
"I therefore count it a very great privilege to convey the greetings and congratulations of the Irish Rugby Football Union to Newport on the occasion of its centenary celebrations and wish the Club every success as it advances confidently into its second centenary."
"H. R. McKibbin"
"Centenary President"
"I.R.F.U. 1974-75"
"BIRTHDAY GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS"
"from the Scottish Rugby Union"
"I understand Newport Club was founded in a Brewery and sired by a Brewer named Thomas Phillips. This surely proves that they got their priorities right in those early days and possibly also explains the origin of the fame for hospitality which your Club has always enjoyed!"
"As one of the great pillars of Welsh and British Rugby, your Club is well known in Scotland where we have enjoyed seeing the 'Black and Ambers' in action, notably at Myreside and Mansfield Park on exchange visits with Watsonians and Hawick. Not so long ago, a most efficient Newport Seven gave much pleasure to a Scottish Border crowd in the final of the Hawick Tournament."
"It was out of Rodney Parade that Neil Macpherson gained seven Scottish Caps between 1920-23, albeit when he did not always see eye to eye with the Scottish Rugby Union!"
"My own earliest recollection of Rodney Parade goes back to the Barbarian Easter Tour of 1948 when Newport, captained by full-back Gwili Jenkins, won 5?3. Roy Burnett, a great stand-off. Ken Jones and John Gwillim were in great form and we were lucky to hold the score to five points."
"From that day, I have always held the highest respect for Newport, a respect boosted by knowledge of your great history - your six 'invincible' seasons, your victories over three major Tour sides, your distinction of fielding in a Club Match, a complete XV of Internationalists and the names of your 'greats' - too numerous to mention."
"All Scottish Rugby adherents unite with me in expressing their congratulations on your 100 years of outstanding achievement and their hope that your "turn will reek" just as merrily for the next 100."
"C. W. Drummond"
"President,"
"Scottish Rugby Union"
"GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS"
"from the Fiji Rugby Union"
"Although Fiji has not yet played a match against the Newport team, we have memories of a very fine match against Monmouthshire during our 1964 Tour of Wales. The match was played on Rodney Parade and the Fiji team was quick to appreciate the sportsmanship of the Newport crowd and the hospitality of the club. The association which was created with Wales on that tour has a special significance for Fijians which has grown over the years. Therefore we are confident that the day is not far distant when the palm tree will again flourish on your pitch. In the meantime I, my Union, and all the players and rugby followers of Fiji send you greetings and best wishes for the next hundred years of the famous Newport club."
"Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau,"
"K.B.E., C.M.G., C.V.O., D.S.O."
"President, Fiji Rugby Union"
The final article in this special match programme was contributed by Malcolm Lewis, Rugby Correspondent, South Wales Echo:-
"THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES"
"It was with Newport that I "cut my teeth" as a rugby writer in the fifties when a stream of great players were rolling off the Rodney Parade production line and those fierce contests with Cardiff commanded crowds of near international proportions."
"It was a memorable experience to be associated with Newport during this period which possibly comprised the greatest decade in the hundred years' history of the club."
"It was a time when Newport regained all its old power and prestige, when new records were set and significant steps taken in the development of the game."
"The tone of that decade was superbly set by that wonderful footballing machine which emerged in 1950-51 and went so very near to achieving an invincible record, it was full of gifted players."
"The fifties also brought a Welsh cap record for Ken Jones, a try record for John Lane, an appearances record for Roy Burnett and a scoring record for Norman Morgan, that long legged full back who pound for pound was about the finest goal-kicker I have seen."
"In 1957 under the captaincy of Leighton Jenkins Newport beat Australia for the first time. It sparked off a chain reaction in which Wilson Whineray's All Blacks and Dawie de Villiers Springboks succumbed to the black-and-amber tide."
"So prominently were Newport players making their mark that no fewer than eight of them were called on by Wales for the 1956 match against France."
"In 1958-1959 Newport produced its 100th Welsh international and the decade drew to a close with the versatile Malcolm Thomas becoming only the second Welshman to take part in two British Lions tours to New Zealand."
"The period also has to be remembered for the pioneering role the club played in establishing the Welsh sevens, later to become known as the Snelling Sevens named after Mr. R. S. Snelling, the then chairman of Newport Athletic Club who put up the championship trophy."
"Appropriately Newport proceeded to dominate the competition it had worked so hard to introduce, setting a high standard which rarely, if ever, has been equalled."
"Newport were the leaders in another field, becoming the first Welsh rugby club to install its own floodlights. A large part of the work was done by volunteers and the first match played under lights took place in October, 1957."
"Floodlights have since been described as "the curse of Welsh rugby". Clubs have tended to misuse them to the detriment of the game but fortunately those in authority at Rodney Parade have been alive to this danger and have avoided it."
"And now Newport has reached its Centenary Year, becoming the fourth leading Welsh club behind Neath, Llanelli and Swansea to celebrate its hundredth birthday."
"All three of these West Wales clubs have celebrated in a memorable way by winning the W.R.U. Cup or the Merit Table. Will Newport follow suit and, if so, what would they most like to win?"
"I am only guessing, but if they had a choice, I have a feeling that they might opt for neither. In a hundred years they have never beaten their greatest rivals Cardiff four times in a season."
"It is the one prize which has always eluded them, sometimes by a hair's breadth. Over the years countless players wearing the famous black-and-amber stripe have gone through agonies at the frustration of it all."
"If Geoff Evans' team were to bring home this prize they would be immortalised. And what better time to achieve it than in Newport's Centenary Year. Who knows? - it might even happen!"