Notable former players
-
Percy Bennett (4 caps) - Dai Fitzgerald
- Frederick Nicholls (1 cap)
- Gwyn Nicholls (24 caps)
| Full name | Cardiff Harlequins Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1880s |
| Location | Cardiff, Wales |
| League(s) | Defunct |
Cardiff Harlequins RFC was a rugby union club located in the Welsh capital city of Cardiff. The team provided several international players during the late 19th century, most notably Gwyn Nicholls, who after leaving the club not only represented Wales but also played for the British Isles on their 1899 tour of Australia. The club disbanded in the 1890s.
Cardiff Harlequins was formed around 1879 in Cardiff, as Roath Star, and after a year or two, they changed their name to Roath Mohawks for the 1881/1882 season. The Roath Mohawks played in Roath Court field. Their main rivals were a team called Windsor, who played in Cathays, where Senghenydd Road now stands. The two clubs decided to merge for the 1882/1883 season, and rename themselves as the Cardiff Harlequins. [1] The Harlequins now played at the Sophia Gardens. [2] In 1886, the Harlequins moved into their own ground, a field off Penarth Road. They called this ground the Harlequins' Ground. Although in the shadow of first class team Cardiff RFC, the Harlequins began to attract matches from some of the lesser but well established clubs in the Glamorgan area. The team is recorded as playing matches against Pontypridd, Mountain Ash, [3] Cardiff and Llanelli and later became a popular opponent for touring teams from the West of England, such as Bristol. [4] The Harlequins first recorded match against Cardiff is recorded as 17 February 1883, a 0-0 draw. [5]
The club's most prominent period came in the early 1890s, which began in 1891 when their first player was selected for an international match, while still representing the club. Percy Bennett, a forward with the club, was chosen for the 1891 Home Nations Championship to face England at Newport. [6] Bennett won four caps in total between 1891 and 1892. In 1892, Frederick Nicholls was also selected, playing in the same game against Ireland as Bennett. [7] In 1892, Gwyn Nicholls, who would become one of the most notable Welsh players in the country's history, switched from the little-known Cardiff Star to join the Harlequins on the advice of his brother Sid. Unfortunately for the Harlequins they only held onto Gwynn for one season, as a disastrous 1891-1892 season for Cardiff RFC, saw the team scour the lower clubs for new talent. This saw Nicholls switch to Cardiff for the 1892-93 season. [4]
In 1891, the Harlequins were told to leave their ground in Grangetown, as the site of the Harlequins' Ground was going to be constructed for a new road leading to the Clarence Bridge. They moved to a temporary home called St. Andrew's Cricket Field, which was located on North Road, on a field behind Nazareth House. After spending a season here, the club reached out for a new ground, and a replacement pitch was made available for the team by Lord Tredegar at Newport Road. Originally called the Cardiff Athletic Ground, the pitch became known as the Cardiff Harlequin Athletic Ground, a name it keeps to the present day. [8] During the beginning of the 1894/1895 season, Cardiff Harlequins merged with Cardiff AFC to form Cardiff Association Football and Harlequins' Athletic Club, often just referred to as Cardiff Association Football Club, leaving rugby behind and playing only association football at the Harlequins' Ground in Cardiff. They did continue to play rugby, but only on Wednesdays. However, they returned to playing rugby on Saturdays in late 1895 until dissolving in April 1897.
Percy Bennett (4 caps) Dai Fitzgerald Frederick Nicholls (1 cap) Gwyn Nicholls (24 caps)
Erith Gwyn Nicholls was a Welsh rugby union player who gained 24 caps for Wales as a centre. Nicholls was known as the "Prince of Threequarters".
Thomas Cooper Graham was an England-born Welsh rugby union international forward who played club rugby for Newport. He won 12 caps for Wales and was seen as intelligent, mobile forward player. Graham is most notable within rugby for his captaincy of Newport, which saw the team through one of their most successful periods, including the 1891–92 "invincible" season.
Jack Wetter DCM was a Welsh international rugby union player who played club rugby predominantly for Newport. He was captain for both his club and country and earned 10 caps for Wales.
Thomas William Rory Pearson was a Welsh international wing who played club rugby for Cardiff and Newport and county rugby with Middlesex. He won 13 caps for Wales and captained the team on one occasion, against England. Pearson was an all-round sportsman, representing Wales not only in rugby, but also in squash, tennis, hockey and golf. In 1902 Pearson was given the captaincy of the Welsh hockey squad, while playing for Newport Hockey Club.
Reginald Truscott Skrimshire was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and county rugby for Kent. He won three caps for Wales and was the only Welsh representative on the 1903 British Isles tour.
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Viv Huzzey was a Welsh rugby union and rugby league wing who played club rugby for Cardiff and Oldham RLFC. He won five caps for Wales. Huzzey was also an international British baseball player.
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Sydney Herbert Nicholls was an English-born dual code rugby forward who played club rugby under the union code for Cardiff, and in his later years league rugby with Hull F.C. Nicholls won four caps for Wales, and was part of the Welsh team that beat the first touring Southern Hemisphere team the New Zealand Natives. He was the elder brother of Wales rugby legend Gwyn Nicholls, and his son Jack Nicholls was a Welsh international footballer.
Quentin Dick Kedzlie was a Scottish-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. In his later life he became the chairman of the South Wales Baseball Association.
Charles "Boomer" Bowen Nicholl was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and Llanelli. Nicholl played for Wales on fifteen occasions during the 1891 and 1896 Home Nations Championships, and was part of the historic 1893 Triple Crown winning team.
David "Dai" Evans was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Penygraig and international rugby for Wales.
Percy Bennett was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff Harlequins and international rugby for Wales. He was the first player to represent his club in the Welsh team. At that time Cardiff Harlequins were one of the eight senior clubs in Welsh rugby.
Frederick Ernest Nicholls was an English-born international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Cardiff Harlequins and international rugby for Wales.
Tom Dobson was a Scottish-born rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. His brother George Dobson was also a rugby player who represented Cardiff and Wales.
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W. "Barry" Davies was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales, playing in one match, against Scotland in 1896.
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Richard Jenkin David was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff, and county rugby for Glamorgan. He was capped for the Wales national team on only one occasion, but faced two national touring teams with Cardiff. Later in his career he 'Went North' joining professional rugby league team Wigan.