"CLUB NOTES"

"Like many of the country's rugby clubs there is an air of mystery surrounding LONDON WELSH'S origin. It seems certain that there was a team of Welshmen playing in the metropolis before the club's official foundation date in 1885, but 1985 was the year the London Welsh Club celebrated the Centenary. The club's founder members were Dr. T.J. Pryce-Jenkins, who had started his career at Llandovery College and then played for Blackheath; and Dr. Rowley Thomas, who became the club's first secretary. Pryce-Jenkins won two caps in 1888 against Scotland and Ireland, and Rowley Thomas won seven between 1889 and 1892. Two Newport players, Arthur Gould and H.M. Jordan, also turned out on occasions when they were in "the big city"."

"In 1885 the Exiles played at Rodney Parade. The match was on Boxing Day and the home side won by 2 drop-goals and a try to a try. Further games followed in 1886 and 1887 (again on Boxing Day). However in 1888 the fixture was played on December 29th - on December 26th Newport had played the touring Maoris and on December 27th played Moseley! Almost unbelievably there was another fixture at Rodney Parade on January 1st against Oldham!! The team then travelled to Llanelli on January 5th. On December 22nd they had played Gloucester. What stamina!!!"

"London Welsh enjoyed a golden era in the 1900s, but the club found difficulty in securing a permanent ground. However, from 1919 the Exiles played at Herne Hill, before moving to Old Deer Park in 1957. Several inernationals appeared for the club before the 2nd World War including Harry Bowcott, Claude Davey, Viv Jenkins, Arthur Rees, Haydn Tanner and Wilf Wooller, but only Arthur Rees played in many games. The post-war years were not exceptional, but in the Sixties London became a magnet for Welsh students and teachers and London Welsh R.F.C. became the outstanding team in the capital city."

"John Dawes, Brian Rees, John Taylor, Tony Gray, Billy Raybould, Jeff Young, J.P.R. Williams, Gerald Davies and Mervyn Davies were the Welsh stars of the most successful seasons the club had experienced and they were followed into the National team by Keith Hughes, Mike Roberts, Clive Rees, Jim Shanklin and Geoff Evans. John Dawes was captain for six successive seasons and the "Welsh" won the prestigious Middlesex Sevens in 1968, 1971, 1972 and 1973, and the Welsh Unofficial Championship in 1971/72."

"Sadly the stars were to scatter by 1974 and the club began to struggle. There was a re-emergence in 1984/5 when the Welsh won the Middlesex Sevens and reached the final of the English Cup at Twickenham where the Exiles were beaten by Bath - 24pts to 15pts."

"These past years have seen this great club fall from grace - as did our own. It would appear Newport has now regained some of its former glory. Hopefully John Dawes can inspire London Welsh to do likewise."