History

Founded 1877

Honours :-

Glamorgan County league Champions 1912 - 1913

Invincible Season 1949 - 1950

"Exiled Maestagians from the United States of America and Canada presented the Club with a mounted Golden Rugby ball to commemorate this achievement. Only Newport of the senior Welsh clubs has achieved likewise.

Whitbread Merit Table Welsh Champions 1977 - 1978 & 1978 - 1979

Only one other team has achieved " The double "and that was Pontypool.

Maesteg 10 - 10 New Zealand Maoris 1982

This game was held to Celebrate the Centenary Season. Which due to an absence of records we held was five years to late. It is now confirmed that we were founded in 1877.

Most Capped Player - Gwyn Evans

10 Caps for Wales. 2 Tests for the British Lions against New Zealand 1983

Maestegs Other British Lions:-

Trevor Lloyd - Inside Half -South Africa 1955

Ray ‘Chico’ Hopkins - Inside Half - New Zealand 1971

Maesteg Rugby Football Club has a Senior, an Under 21 and a Youth team. The Club also has a thriving Junior section. One of the most successful in Wales ages 8 - 16.

The Maesteg Youth team has been one of the strongest outfits in Wales since it was founded 50 years ago. At one time they were invincible for several seasons. Most famous ex players are Ray ‘Chico’ Hopkins and Alan Bateman, who both played League and Union and became British
Lions. (Alan while playing with Northampton R.F.C)

Captains Of Maesteg R.F.C Pre and Post WW1 and WW2

Dennis Thomas Press Officer Maesteg R.F.C

Marketing and sponsorship are vital to the success of any club and at Maesteg it is no different. We are actively seeking sponsors, small or large who would like to support one of the most famous Clubs in Rugby Union in their quest for success both on and off the field.

  Please Contact the chairman of sponsorship:-

                                                                                   Mr. Dennis Thomas Esq.

                                                                                   3 Monica Street Maesteg

                                                                                   South Wales

                                                                                   CF 34 9 AY

                                                                                   01656 734894

Any players interested in playing Rugby in Wales should contact Dai Andrews the Team secretary at Maesteg R.F.C

                                                                                      Tel:-01639 896778

                                                                                    Mobile 07971 235324

         The Badge of

         Maesteg R.F.C Badge

YR HEN BL WYF - THE OLD PARISH - THE STORY OF THE 7 7 7 7

Maesteg’s English translation is ‘Fairfield’ but it is also known, at it’s most popular, as ‘Yr Hen Blwfy’ or ‘The Old Parish’ a name that is forever associated with the numerals, or the ‘Four Sevens’. The popular version of the origin of the Four Sevens is basically the same but it has become a theme with many variations and embellishments. This straight forward account has been taken from the book ‘Tri Ira (Earls Land) written by the Llangynwyd historian

Mr. Frederick Evans M.A. from the chapter on ‘Legends’

" A certain carpenter in the Parish of Llangynwyd had to make a coffin for a young man of twenty eight years of age. When he came to engrave the deceased’s age on the coffin lid he became puzzled to how to express it in figures, possibly because he could not cope with the required curves of the two numerals. Recollecting that four sevens made twenty eight solved the difficulty of inscribing 7 7 7 7 upon the coffin. Thus, says tradition, if one of the inhabitants could have lived so long then the Parish itself must be of a fabulous age. So with a touch of amusement and slight ridicule the ‘Old Parish’ or ‘Yr Hen Blwyf’ was born".

However, plausible the story maybe it is however, fiction. The name ‘Old Parish’ dates from the time of Henry the VIII and dissolution of the monasteries. The turmoil of the period saw local churches from the surrounding areas being separated from the mother church of Llangynwyd. When the various boundaries were settled the Parish of the mother church of Llangywnyd was known henceforth as ‘The Old Parish’.

THE BURNING CASTLE

Incorporated with the 7 7 7 7 and the initials O.P. on the badge of Maesteg R F C is the design of a burning castle. This is arguably the most historic badge in the rugby world. The banner of the fiery castle was carried by the men of Glamorganshire in the battle if Agincourt in 1415,where the Longbow men of ‘Tir Iarll’ (Earls Land) acquitted themselves bravely. The ruins of the castle still stand on the outskirts of Llangywnyd village. It was attacked and destroyed in 1257 by Llewellyn Ap Gryffydd the last Prince of Wales before Prince Charles and later by Owain Glyndwr and then burned. In 1327 Barons rebelled against King Edward the II aided by his wife Isabella, the She Wolf of France, they pursued him to Wales where he sought refuge at the Castle only to find his friends the Dispensers had fled. Disguised as a laborer he
hid at a local farm ,Gelli Llenor. A stone still stands on the spot inscribed ’Cadair Edward 1327’ (Edward chair 1327).He was captured at Llantrisant, taken to Berkeley Castle and murdered. Countess Phillipa 1348 another inhabitant of the castle, she helped initiate the order of the Garter. Finally, Welsh folk the world over will always associate Llangynwyd and the Old Parish with the sad and poignant love story of Ann Thomas, the maid of CefnYdfa, for whom Wil Hopkin her heartbroken swain, composed one of Wales greatest and immortal love songs, "Bugellio Gwenith Gwyn" (Watching the white Wheat).

Dennis Thomas Press Officer Maesteg R.F.C