David J. Bishop, also known by the nickname of "Bish", is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and then rugby league footballer. As a scrum-half in rugby union, he made his first-class début for Ebbw Vale where he was outstanding. He then joined Pontypool in 1981, but not long after broke his neck. Despite being told he would never play again, he was back playing for Pontypool within a year. He only gained one cap for Wales – against Australia during the 1984 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland which Wales lost 28–9. Despite the loss Bishop was the only player to score a try against them.
Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club is a Welsh Rugby Union Club based in the town of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, South Wales.
Rowland David Phillips is a Welsh former rugby union and rugby league footballer.
Blaina Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Blaina in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent in Wales. They presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Three East league and are a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Mark Alun Jones is a Welsh dual-code international professional rugby union and rugby league rugby player who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played representative level rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Tredegar RFC, Tredegar Ironsides RFC, Neath RFC, Ebbw Vale RFC, Pontypool RFC (2001–03), Aberavon RFC, as a flanker, i.e. number 6 or 7, or number eight, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Hull F.C. and Warrington, as a prop, or second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12.
Kevin Ellis is a Welsh former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain and Wales national representative. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Bridgend RFC, Maesteg RFC, Treorchy RFC, Sale Sharks, London Irish, Cardiff RFC, Pontypool RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC, at representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Warrington Wolves, Workington Town, Gold Coast Chargers, Bridgend Blue Bulls and Celtic Crusaders, as a stand-off, scrum-half, or loose forward.
George Fairbairn is a Scottish former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, and coached rugby league in the 1980s and 1990s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Borders, and at club level for Kelso RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Wigan, winning the Man of Steel Award in 1980, and Hull Kingston Rovers, as a goal-kicking fullback, and coached at representative level rugby league for Scotland, and at club level Wigan, Hull Kingston Rovers, and Huddersfield.
Brian "Mad Dog" Juliff is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales 'B', Wales President's XV, East Wales, Glamorgan County RFC, at invitational level for Crawshays RFC, and at club level Mountain Ash RFC, Newport RFC and Pontypridd RFC, as a Left-Wing, or Outside-Centre, i.e. number 11, or 13, and representative rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Widnes, Wakefield Trinity, Wigan, Halifax and Castleford, as a wing, second-row, loose forward, i.e. number 2 or 5, 11 or 12, or 13, during the era of contested scrums. In June 2012 Juliff was appointed as the chairman of Wales Rugby League.
Leslie "Les" Sheard is an English former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, and coached rugby league in the 1980s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Wakefield RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Castleford, Wakefield Trinity, York (captain), and Huddersfield, as a fullback, or centre, i.e. number 1, or, 2 or 5, and coached club level rugby league for Huddersfield.
Gerald Dunn was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer, who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He coached rugby league in the 1980s and 1990s. Dunn played rugby union for Redcar RUFC, and representative level rugby league for England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hull Kingston Rovers, as a wing, or centre and coached rugby league for Hull Kingston Rovers.
Glyndwr Shaw was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, and rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Neath RFC, as a prop and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Widnes, Wigan, Warrington and Rochdale Hornets, as a prop, or second-row.
Melvyn James was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Resolven RFC and Swansea RFC, and at representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, as a prop.
Richard "Dick" Wallace is an English-born Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Bristol Rugby, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for Huddersfield, York and Hull Kingston Rovers, as a fullback, Centre, or stand-off, i.e. 1, 3 or 4, or, 6.
Steve Diamond is an English-born former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played club level rugby union for Newport RFC, as a fly-half, and rugby league for Wales, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Fulham RLFC, Warrington, Hunslet, Castleford and York, as a goal-kicking fullback, or centre.
Joseph Henry "Jake" Blackmore was an international rugby forward who played rugby union for Abertillery and rugby league with Hull Kingston Rovers. He won a single cap for Wales under the rugby union code and then represented his country at rugby league in two matches between 1910 and 1911. Despite winning only one cap, he became a Triple Crown winning player when he played in the opening game of the 1909 Home Nations Championship.
Frederick "Fred" Leonard Roffey was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Ebbw Vale RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales and Monmouthshire, and at club level for Wigan and St. Helens (captain), as a prop, hooker, second-row, or loose forward, i.e. number 8 or 10, 9, 11 or 12, or 13, during the era of contested scrums.
Ebbw Vale Rugby League Football Club was a professional rugby league club based in Ebbw Vale, Wales playing in the Welsh League and Northern Union. Based at Bridge End Field, Ebbw Vale were one of the first professional Welsh teams, and the last to disband in 1912 after the failure of the Welsh League. Ebbw Vale produced seven players who would go on to represent the Wales national rugby league team, and were seen as the only Welsh team of the time who could challenge the Northern League.
Treherbert Rugby League Football Club was a professional rugby league club based in Treherbert, Wales playing in the Welsh League and Northern Union. Based at the Athletic Ground, Treherbert were one of the first professional Welsh teams, formed in 1908 but folding after just two seasons. Treherbert also produced a single player, David Galloway, who gained international caps directly from the team.
The Welsh League was the first club rugby league competition in Wales. Its inaugural season was in 1908/09 when four additional teams were formed to join Ebbw Vale RLFC and Merthyr Tydfil RLFC, which allowed a league tournament to take place. The Welsh League ran for just two seasons, after three of the teams, Aberdare, Barry and Mid-Rhondda left the Northern Union and ceased playing rugby in the first season; followed by the collapse of Treherbert in 1910. Both seasons were won by Ebbw Vale.
Merthyr Tydfil Rugby League Football Club was a professional rugby league club based in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales playing in the Welsh League and Northern Union. Based at College Field, Merthyr Tydfil were one of the first professional Welsh teams, and folded in 1911 after the failure of the Welsh League. Merthyr Tydfil produced five players who would go on to represent the Wales national rugby league team, and in the 1908-09 season finished eighth in the Northern League, the best result achieved by any of the first six professional Welsh teams.
