Aug
19
2026
Cardiff’s first ever season: 1876-77
By Dewi Williams
Articles
Jun
14
2026
Cardiff Arms Park Through The Ages
By David Allen
The Arms Park took its name from the Cardiff Arms Inn which was located on the east side of the site currently occupied by the Angel Hotel and which had been in operation since the late eighteenth century. The Park has played a longstanding role in the social life of the developing town, having played host to religious meetings, circuses and military parades, as well as providing a venue for various forms of sport, of which cricket and rugby were to the fore. Cardiff’s first game was played there in December 1876.
Jun
14
2026
Cardiff’s Overseas Stars
By David Allen
Though some consider the employment of overseas players to be a wasted resource, Cardiff has a long history of doing so and to great effect.
Out first was Hans de Goede of Canada, who impressed whilst playing for the Overseas International XV against the club in its centenary year. He was followed by fellow Canucks, John Tait and the legendary Dan Baugh. From just across the border came USA stars Cam Dolan and Blaine Scully.
Out first was Hans de Goede of Canada, who impressed whilst playing for the Overseas International XV against the club in its centenary year. He was followed by fellow Canucks, John Tait and the legendary Dan Baugh. From just across the border came USA stars Cam Dolan and Blaine Scully.
Jun
14
2026
Cardiff and the Barbarians
By David Allen
The Barbarians are a touring club side that famously has ‘no ground, no club-house, no entry fee, no subscription and virtually no money’. They were formed by William Percy ‘Tottie’ Carpmael, a Cambridge Blue and Blackheath player, in April 1890 and undertook its first formal tour (to the north of England) at Christmas 1890.
Jun
14
2026
The ‘Rags’
By David Allen
Cardiff first fielded a second XV in 1877/78 and 1878/79, when two matches were played in each season. The official formation came in 1879/80, when seven matches were scheduled to be played, the team being known as the ‘Cardiff 2nd XV’. From the 1890s, various names, such as ‘Cardiff (Reserve)’, ‘The Reserves’ or ‘Cardiff Reserves’ were adopted, the latter formally so in 1898/99.
Jun
14
2026
The First Women’s Team
By David Allen
The now-famous photograph of the Cardiff Ladies XV in the Cardiff clubhouse is believed to be the oldest known image of a women’s rugby team. It can be dated precisely, because it was taken on 15th December 1917, just before the players went out to meet their Newport rivals at the Arms Park. The encounter between Cardiff and Newport that day was a significant event and it has long enjoyed a strong claim to being the first genuine game of women’s rugby played in the public arena.
Jun
14
2026
Roll of Honour
By David Allen
Further to the outbreak of the First World War, the Cardiff committee called on ‘all sportsmen, footballers, cricketers, baseballers, tennis men, golfers, hockey players, cyclists, oarsmen, bowlers, boxers etc.’ to enlist together in a sportsmen’s battalion. Two days later at a recruiting meeting, twelve Cardiff rugby club members came forward and the very first to volunteer was the 1913/14 captain and Welsh international forward W J ‘Billy’ Jenkins.
Jun
14
2026
Internationals and British Lions
By David Allen
A quick Google search will tell you that Cardiff has provided more Welsh internationals than any other club. Over four hundred internationals have played for Cardiff, almost three hundred of whom have been capped directly from the club.
Jun
14
2026
Centenary Season
By David Allen
Cardiff celebrated its centenary in season 1976/77 and did so in an appropriate style, starting with an international sevens competition on the club ground though the home team were eliminated by a Barbarians side thanks to a hat-trick of tries from Gareth Davies,who was guesting for the wandering side. Arch-rivals Newport triumphed in the final.
Jun
14
2026
Welsh Cups
By David Allen
The first cup competition in Welsh rugby – the South Wales Challenge Cup – was launched at a meeting held at the Cardiff Arms Hotel in October 1870. The cup was valued at 50 guineas and the competition open to any club subscribing two guineas entrance fee. Smith and Williams, in their centenary history of the Welsh Rugby Union, stated that ‘For the next ten years (the cup) was keenly, sometimes literally fought for…’. After numerous controversies on and off the field, and following declining interest from the clubs, the last final was played in 1887.