FoNR TALK Newport History of Newport RFC
History of Newport RFC
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Previous:
1979-80
The 1980-81 Season
Next:
1981-82
1980-81 under Geoff Evans, leading Newport for a 5th time, started off in fine style with victories over Penarth Coventry and Bath with a young back division. Unfortunately injuries, key player availability and inconsistency meant only 4 of the next 10 matches were won as Newport prepared for the visit of the All Blacks on 28th October 1980.

One of the wins was vs Gloucester at Rodney Parade by 38 v 6 in which young wing Robert Ackerman equalled the club record of 6 tries held by Tommy Spittle (1878) and George Andrews (1922). Captain Geoff Evans who had led Newport vs 1973 All Blacks inspired his pack and team against the All Blacks to a magnificent performance only to lose 3 v 14 largely due to missed kicks and a charged down try.

Only 6 wins came from the next 20 matches and there was also a humiliating 0 v 3 defeat in the 1st round of the Welsh Cup at Penclawdd. During this period coach Alun Thomas relinquished his role due to pressure of work and was replaced by David Ford. There were only 4 defeats in the final 13 games and some of the depression over Rodney Parade started to lift.

Geoff Evans was hampered by his old knee injury but enhanced his reputation as a player and captain and Robert Ackerman was picked to play for Wales vs New Zealand. Colin Smart regained his England place, wing John Churchill won a Wales B cap while David Waters and youngster Stuart Barnes were part of Wales squad.



  • Results
  • Squad
1
Newport
47
- 6Penarth
02 Sep
2
Newport
31
- 22Coventry
06 Sep
3
Newport
13
- 7Bath Rugby
10 Sep
4
Newport
10
- 20Bristol Rugby
13 Sep
5
Pontypool
23
- 0Newport
17 Sep
6
Newport
12
- 6Neath
23 Sep
7
Swansea
23
- 3Newport
27 Sep
8
Newport
16
- 4Abertillery
01 Oct
9
Cardiff
21
- 19Newport
04 Oct
10
Newport
3
- 21Newbridge
08 Oct
11
Newport
20
- 19Blackheath
11 Oct
12
Newport
38
- 6Gloucester
18 Oct
13
Wasps
20
- 9Newport
25 Oct
14
Newport
3
- 14New Zealand
28 Oct
15
Moseley
15
- 13Newport
31 Oct
16
Newport
16
- 3Rosslyn Park
08 Nov
17
Penclawdd
4
- 0Newport
15 Nov
18
Newport
16
- 10Ebbw Vale
19 Nov
19
London Welsh
20
- 13Newport
22 Nov
20
Llanelli
18
- 12Newport
03 Dec
21
Bristol Rugby
22
- 16Newport
06 Dec
22
Newport
15
- 15Aberavon
13 Dec
23
Newport
26
- 0Watsonians
26 Dec
24
Gloucester
13
- 11Newport
27 Dec
25
Newport
4
- 12Glamorgan Wanderers
01 Jan
26
Bridgend
14
- 3Newport
03 Jan
27
Newport
50
- 3Torquay
10 Jan
28
Newport
7
- 9Swansea
19 Jan
29
Newport
9
- 9Llanelli
24 Jan
30
Newport
12
- 3Cross Keys
28 Jan
31
Neath
8
- 7Newport
31 Jan
32
Newport
3
- 20Bridgend
09 Feb
33
Leicester Tigers
37
- 6Newport
14 Feb
34
Newport
7
- 12Pontypridd
25 Feb
35
Abertillery
13
- 37Newport
28 Feb
36
Pontypridd
10
- 15Newport
14 Mar
37
Cwmbran
13
- 6Newport
18 Mar
38
Aberavon
13
- 4Newport
24 Mar
39
Newport
13
- 13Cardiff
28 Mar
40
Newport HSOB & Saracens
11
- 11Newport
31 Mar
41
Bath Rugby
9
- 3Newport
04 Apr
42
Newport
21
- 24Pontypool
09 Apr
43
Newbridge
17
- 8Newport
13 Apr
44
Newport
6
- 6Moseley
18 Apr
45
Newport
23
- 12London Welsh
20 Apr
46
Newport
21
- 16Barbarians
21 Apr
47
Manchester
6
- 21Newport
25 Apr
48
Royal High School, Edinburgh
20
- 32Newport
27 Apr
49
Watsonians
0
- 16Newport
29 Apr

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