FoNR TALK Newport History of Newport RFC
History of Newport RFC
  • Players
  • Seasons
  • Games
  • Features
  • Audio / Visual
  • Progress
  • Snelling Sevens
  • Endorsements
  • About us
  • More
Previous:
1966-67
The 1967-68 Season
Next:
1968-69

Newport suffered an unprecedented run of misfortune in 1967-68 but still managed 31 wins and 4 draws from 51 matches although they conceded an alarming 521pts.

The saddest aspect was the departure of the great David Watkins to Salford Rugby League for a record fee of £15,000. His departure stunned Newport and his followers but who could blame him? The WRU in their wisdom dropped him and then later reinstated him as captain but the damage was done. It was left for 19yr old Paul Evans to take over at outside half but then he had to undergo an appendix operation. However he showed much promise.

Vice captain Martin Webber took over as captain when David Watkins left and enjoyed some memorable wins. New vice-captain Peter Rees was the only regular player to escape injury and played in all 51 games scoring 28 tries which with fellow wing Stuart Watkins (20t) was a club record. He also reached 131 tries in 8 seasons at Newport .

Keith Jarrett reached 100 pts after only 13 games and ended as top scorer on 195 pts. He went on the British Lions tour as a replacement to South Africa . Young scrum half, ex-Newport Youth captain Allan Evans won the Arthur Boucher trophy for most promising player.

April saw a special Memorial Sevens at Rodney Parade in memory of W. A. Everson and V. M. Griffiths, two stalwarts of the club both on and off the field. The tournament was contested by Bristol, Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Newport A parallell youth tournament also took place contested by Croesyceiliog Grammar School, Monmouthshire Select, Pontllanfraith Grammar Technical School and Newport Schoolboys. The programme included an article by the Western Mail journalist J. B. G. Thomas on both Bill Everson and Vince Griffiths the text of which can be found in their entries in the list of players on this site.

Monday, 3rd. June saw the Newport and District Sunday School Union's 'Spring Singing Festival' return to Rodney Parade. 



  • Results
  • Squad
1
Newport
35
- 0Penarth
02 Sep
2
Newbridge
10
- 0Newport
04 Sep
3
Bristol Rugby
9
- 23Newport
09 Sep
4
Newport
14
- 3Pontypool
13 Sep
5
Neath
8
- 9Newport
16 Sep
6
Newport
6
- 6Swansea
23 Sep
7
Newport
19
- 14Llanelli
30 Sep
8
Cross Keys
6
- 15Newport
04 Oct
9
Newport
11
- 6Cardiff
07 Oct
10
Blackheath
18
- 8Newport
14 Oct
11
Abertillery
9
- 17Newport
18 Oct
12
Gloucester
13
- 13Newport
21 Oct
13
Cardiff
8
- 8Newport
25 Oct
14
Newport
5
- 3Wasps
28 Oct
15
Newport
12
- 3Penarth
03 Nov
16
Newport
3
- 6Newbridge
13 Nov
17
Cambridge University
3
- 11Newport
18 Nov
18
Newport
12
- 3Ebbw Vale
22 Nov
19
London Welsh
17
- 9Newport
25 Nov
20
Newport
16
- 9Bristol Rugby
28 Nov
21
Newport
13
- 11Harlequins
16 Dec
22
Newport
0
- 3Abertillery
23 Dec
23
Newport
16
- 11Watsonians
26 Dec
24
Newport
10
- 5Leicester Tigers
28 Dec
25
Watsonians
5
- 14Newport
01 Jan
26
Newport
3
- 16Hawick
02 Jan
27
Swansea
8
- 6Newport
13 Jan
28
Newport
11
- 6Coventry
19 Jan
29
Llanelli
14
- 3Newport
27 Jan
30
Leicester Tigers
8
- 12Newport
10 Feb
31
Newport
3
- 19Cardiff
17 Feb
32
Ebbw Vale
14
- 3Newport
21 Feb
33
Newport
9
- 3Blackheath
24 Feb
34
Newport
8
- 6The Army
28 Feb
35
Cardiff
26
- 3Newport
02 Mar
36
Wasps
3
- 17Newport
09 Mar
37
Newport
13
- 0Royal Navy
13 Mar
38
Newport
11
- 10Aberavon
15 Mar
39
Newport
25
- 3Paris University
22 Mar
40
Newport
8
- 6Gloucester
25 Mar
41
Newport
19
- 6RAF
27 Mar
42
Newport
6
- 3Neath
30 Mar
43
Northampton Saints
14
- 23Newport
06 Apr
44
Aberavon
22
- 9Newport
08 Apr
45
Newport
9
- 8Birkenhead Park
13 Apr
46
Newport
14
- 22London Welsh
15 Apr
47
Newport
26
- 11Barbarians
16 Apr
48
Bridgend
33
- 9Newport
23 Apr
49
Paris University
19
- 19Newport
28 Apr
50
Gueret
16
- 13Newport
01 May
51
La Voulte
26
- 21Newport
05 May

Key
Image is available
Report is available
© 2003-2017, Friends of Newport Rugby Trust