History of Newport RFC :: 1874

"Whatever the future holds for Newport Rugby Club's truly great second row forward, David Waters, it has certainly been a source of satisfaction to see him in action again at Rodney Parade in two of the season's early engagements - against Hereford and Maesteg. He also played against South Wales Police."

"What magnificent service and loyalty he has given to his home town club for 18 of his 36 years. Well over a record 600 times he has donned the black and amber jersey to turn out for Newport's first team, and his resilience and enthusiasm has never wavered."

"Four times he played for Wales in the five-nations championship, though most people agree that this figure should have been considerably higher for there were few, if any, better second row forwards in Welsh rugby than the Newport stalwart, who helped Wales to defeat Scotland and Ireland and restrict England to a 21-18 victory at Twickenham."

"Yet he enjoyed plenty of honours besides his senior international appearances. He played twice for Wales against France in B internationals, and also played for Wales B against Spain and for Wales in the Australian national sevens tournament in Sydney."

"Waters has also played for the Barbarians, Monmouthshire and the Crawshay XV, and he has appeared for Newport against New Zealand twice as well as against other overseas teams. And he also played for the Crawshay team against the WRU President's World XV, who included internationals from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England and Ireland."

"Meanwhile, everyone at Rodney Parade was saddened to learn of the mishap which befell another veteran who has given outstanding service to Welsh rugby - Graham Price, one of Pontypool's really great forwards. He dislocated his shoulder in a match, an injury which will probably prevent him giving a helping hand to his team if they run into problems, as he did on six occasions last season."

"Price, of course, is a legendary figure, not only in Welsh rugby but in New Zealand and South Africa, where he toured with the British Lions and played in four Tests against each of those countries, and also in Australia and Japan, where he toured with Wales."

"His deeds for Wales, who capped him 41 times, British Lions, Barbarians and, of course, Pontypool are far too numerous to catalogue in this article, but his first international appearance will always occupy a prominent place in rugby history, for he marked it by scoring a try against France in Paris. Wales won that match 25-10, and they went on to win the championship ? with Price's help!"

"CATERING FOR YOUTH . . ."

"Newport Youth team have some attractive features lined up for them during the coming months. They will visit Bath, Blackheath, Coventry and the Wasps youth teams, and they will entertain Somerset County Colts, Belmont Abbey and R.A.F. Colts. They also have return home fixtures with Bath, Coventry, Blackheath and Wasps. A number of the youth teams of leading Welsh clubs, among them Cardiff, Pontypool, Newbridge and Bridgend, will also play Newport."

"WELCOME BACK, PONTYPOOL . . ."

"Like Newport, their close rivals, Pontypool, today's visitors to Rodney Parade, are hoping to achieve a greater measure of success in the Heineken league's top division. Last season the league records of the two clubs were very similar. Both won seven matches, and seventh-placed Pontypool gained only two more points than eighth-placed Newport."

"Chris Huish, who gave Pontypool yeoman service for many years, returned at the end of last season, and he has been succeeded as captain by Richard Goodey, who has already been honoured by the Barbarians and Crawshays. He is bound to be kept under scrutiny by the Welsh selectors."

"Incidentally, Goodey, who lives at Chepstow, could have gained a place in the West of England's county championship team, but he turned down the chance of doing so because of his strong Welsh connections. Because of an operation on his knee, he was unable to take part in Pontypool's trip to New Zealand during the summer, but happily he is now fit again."

"Missing from the Pontypool team this season is New Zealander Dean Oswald. The resourceful back row forward has decided to remain in his native country, where he will captain the Bay of Plenty XV. However, Nigel Meek, who is in the Wales squad and went to Russia with the Barbarians this year, and Lyndon Mustoe have resisted overtures to join other clubs. Mustoe, like Goodey, comes from Chepstow. He spent the summer in South Africa, where he played for Eastern Province under-23 team and also did some coaching."

"Several off-the-field changes have also taken place at Pontypool. John Perkins, who was capped 18 times by Wales between 1983-88, has relinquished the coaching post and has become chairman of the club in succession to Garvin Howells. His coaching appointment has been taken over by an ex-player well known at Rodney Parade - Steve Jones, who is working closely with Goff Davies."

"It was from Pontypool in 1976-7 that Jones, a product of Pontypool Youth, joined Newport and twice he played against Swansea in the final of the Schweppes Cup, first for Newport and then for Pontypool, who he had rejoined in 1979. Steve Jones did not win a Welsh senior cap, but in 1980 he went to North America with the Welsh national team and played for Wales against Canada in a "Test" at Vancouver."