Llandaff RFC
Encyclopedia
Llandaff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union
club based in Llandaff
, a district of Cardiff
in Wales
. They presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union
Division Four East
and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues
..
Llandaff RFC was formed in 1876 by Cambridge graduate Illtyd Thomas, and these links are reflected in the team still playing in Cambridge blue
. It is believed that Llandaff were one of nine teams that were represented at the Tenby Hotel in 1880, in an early attempt to found the Welsh Rugby Union.
In 1881 Llandaff RFC player, Leonard Watkins
, played in the first Welsh international
, against England.
Playing against other South Wales club sides, they gained early success winning the South Wales Challenge Cup during the 1891/92 season. Unusual for a Welsh rugby team, Llandaff have played their rugby on the same pitch, Bishop's Field, since their inception, though like all clubs in Wales the team ceased playing during the First World War. The team reformed after the war but lost their WRU status, and could not play in official competitions. It wasn't until 1948 that Llandaff reapplied and were successful in regaining membership of the WRU.
(6 caps) Leonard Watkins
(1 cap 1881) Rex Willis
(21 caps)
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club based in Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
, a district of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. They presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
Division Four East
WRU Division Four East
The Welsh Rugby Union Division Four East is a rugby union league in Wales.-Competition:There are 12 clubs in the WRU Division Four East...
and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
..
Llandaff RFC was formed in 1876 by Cambridge graduate Illtyd Thomas, and these links are reflected in the team still playing in Cambridge blue
University Sporting Blue
A Blue is an award earned by sportsmen and women at a university and some schools for competition at the highest level. The awarding of Blues began at Oxford and Cambridge Universities...
. It is believed that Llandaff were one of nine teams that were represented at the Tenby Hotel in 1880, in an early attempt to found the Welsh Rugby Union.
In 1881 Llandaff RFC player, Leonard Watkins
Leonard Watkins
Leonard Watkins was a Welsh international rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales. He won just a single game for Wales when he was selected for the first ever Welsh rugby international.- Rugby career :Watkins was born in...
, played in the first Welsh international
1880-81 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1880-81 Home Nations rugby union matches were a series of international rugby union friendlies held between the England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales national rugby union teams. This season is most notable for the introduction of Wales as an international rugby union nation, playing their first...
, against England.
Playing against other South Wales club sides, they gained early success winning the South Wales Challenge Cup during the 1891/92 season. Unusual for a Welsh rugby team, Llandaff have played their rugby on the same pitch, Bishop's Field, since their inception, though like all clubs in Wales the team ceased playing during the First World War. The team reformed after the war but lost their WRU status, and could not play in official competitions. It wasn't until 1948 that Llandaff reapplied and were successful in regaining membership of the WRU.
Notable former players
Chris CzekajChris Czekaj
Chris Czekaj is a Wales international rugby union player, who plays on the wing for Cardiff Blues. He scored a try on his Wales debut in June 2005, having only come into the Cardiff Blues side a month earlier following a starring role in the Grand Slam winning Wales Under 21 side.The name Czekaj...
(6 caps) Leonard Watkins
Leonard Watkins
Leonard Watkins was a Welsh international rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Football Club and international rugby for Wales. He won just a single game for Wales when he was selected for the first ever Welsh rugby international.- Rugby career :Watkins was born in...
(1 cap 1881) Rex Willis
Rex Willis
Rex Willis was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff and invitational rugby for the Barbarians...
(21 caps)