Cap - Monmouthshire 1958/59

Ray Cheney was born in Porth in 1936. He showed exceptional all round sporting abilities and played football at Ton Pentre. As a soccer player he represented Welsh Youth, winning an international youth cap at centre forward and being good enough to attract the attention of Tottenham Hotspur. National service in the RAF caused a change of direction when he represented them at rugby. On returning to civilian life Ray joined Pontypool and set a club, scoring a record, at the time, of 169 points. In 1962 he moved to local rivals Newport and amassed 40 points in 11 games. The following season he played in the successful Newport side that beat the 1963 All Blacks, hitting the cross bar with an attempted drop goal. He joined Cardiff in 1965, running out 69 times and playing in the side that beat Australia in 1966. Unlucky not to be capped by Wales (he was reserve full-back on 23 occasions) he represented Crawshays Welsh XV and Monmouthshire as well as playing County cricket for Monmouthshire. His Grandson Lee Thomas played for Cardiff Blues.