Llangwm RFC
Est. 1885
Llangwm · Pembrokeshire
The Wasps
Est. 1885
A village club in black and amber, playing rugby in the same corner of Pembrokeshire for a hundred and forty years. First XV, mini and junior, and a clubhouse that has always been the middle of the village.
01 — The Club
Same village. Same colours. One hundred and forty seasons.
Llangwm is a small village on the Daugleddau, a few miles south of Haverfordwest. It has had a rugby team since 1885.
That is most of the story. Generation after generation of the same families have pulled on the black and amber, played their Saturday and walked back up to the clubhouse afterwards. Read the names on the 1909 team photograph — Jones, Morgan, John, Bryant — and you are reading names still called across the touchline today.
Today the club runs a First XV and a mini and junior section, and the clubhouse on The Green is still where the village meets. New players, new supporters and new volunteers are always wanted. You do not need to have played before, and you do not need to be from here.
02 — What's on
Match reports, results and club news. The quickest way to keep up with the Wasps day to day is Instagram — everything else lands here.
03 — Fixtures
The First XV play in Division 4 West A of the Admiral Men’s National Leagues. Home games are at Llangwm — everyone is welcome on the touchline, and the clubhouse is open after the game.
Llangwm, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
Roughly six miles south of Haverfordwest. Parking at the ground.
The clubhouse is open after home games. Visiting sides and supporters welcome.
04 — Meet the team
Coaching, management and medical — the people who make a Saturday happen.
Home colours
05 — Club identity
Black and amber, hooped, and unmistakable on a wet February field. The nickname comes straight off the shirt, and it has stuck so firmly that the club's own match reports use nothing else — a good afternoon gets written up as the Wasps stinging somebody.
The surviving history does not record the season the colours were first pulled on. What it does record is how long they have lasted. Long enough that black and amber is simply what Llangwm looks like.
06 — Our history
Almost everything known about the club's first hundred years survives because one man wrote it down. Richard Howells' centenary history, A Hundred Years of Rugby 1885–1985, is long out of print, but the Llangwm Local History Society has preserved its records online. What follows is drawn from that work.
1885
Rugby takes root in the village. A century later the club's centenary is marked by Richard Howells' history — the book from which most of what we know about the early years survives.
1909
In April a Llangwm side returns from the Pembroke Dock tournament with gold medals, captained by J. Adams. The photograph names more than twenty players and officials — Joneses, Morgans, Johns and Bryants.
1910s
Team photographs from 1910–11 and 1913–14 show a settled First XV, with names including Teddy Morgan, Albert Palmer, Willie John and Jack Morgan.
1920–21
Rugby returns after the First World War and Llangwm go close in the West of Llanelly Junior League, scoring 256 points against 57 — the first of the club's serious runs at league honours.
1923–24
Llangwm take the league title under captain W. Palmer, with Lieut-Col. Lort Phillips as club president and T. Phillips as chairman. The club's first recorded championship.
1925–26
A second title inside three seasons confirms the side as a force in west Wales junior rugby.
1930s
The 1935–36 club photograph has Sir Charles W. M. Price as president and Lady Price as a life member, with the chairman of the Union of Welsh Junior League down from Cardiff to sit in it. In 1937 the village hosts a Cardiff District side. In 1938 Llangwm go out of the first round of the K.O. Cup to Whitland by 4 points to 3.
1946–47
The first silverware of the post-war years, Ken Adams captaining the side. That December, seven Llangwm men line up for the Pembrokeshire County XV alongside players from Neyland, Narberth and Tenby.
1948–49
Cup winners and league runners-up in the same season — the beginning of Llangwm's strongest era.
1949–50
Back-to-back cup seasons, and the Bishop Cup comes to the village.
1956–57
G. Vaughan captains a title-winning side, with James John as president and E. Jones as chairman. The photograph shows the league trophy and a row of small cups in front of it.
1958–59
Mel Scale captains the side to the Junior Knock-Out Cup, with Ald. J. John as president and R. V. Palmer as chairman, alongside players including John Brock, K. Roberts, D. Hughes, D. Harvard and T. Philpin.
1959–60
League and Knock Out Cup winners of the Pembrokeshire and District Rugby Union in the same season — two cups and a row of trophies on the grass in front of the whole club.
1984
On 8 September the Eastern Rugby Union of America's 50th anniversary tour of Wales plays a match at Llangwm. A touring international side, on a village field.
1985
One hundred years of rugby in Llangwm, recorded by Richard Howells in the history that keeps the club's first century readable.
Today
A First XV, a mini and junior section, and a clubhouse at the heart of the village. Black and amber, as it has been for generations.
07 — From the archives
First XVs, cup-winning sides and schoolboys going back to 1909, with the players named wherever the record names them. Tap any photograph to open it full size.
(Back row) R. Jones, J. Morgan, G. Jones, R. John, W. Bryant, G. Jones. (Second row) J. Morgan (Secretary), J. John, R. Jones, W. John, S. Webb, S. Morgan, W. Jones, A. Bryant, E. Morgans. (Third row) T. Stephens, – Jones, E. Jones, J. Adams (Captain), E. John, J. John, E. Childs (Treasurer). (Front row) E. Palmer, S. Morris.
(Back row) Teddy Morgan, Albert Palmer, Willie John, – Jones, Bob Jones, W. Jones, Jack Morgan. (Second row) Willie Jones, Haden John, – Morris. (Front row) Willie Bryant, G. Jones, S. Morris, E. Palmer, J. Stephens, W.G. Morgan.
President J.F. Lort Phillips, Esq. The season is painted on the ball: L.R.F.C. 1913–14.
Scored 256 points against 57 — the club’s first serious run at league honours after the First World War.
(Back row) R. Jones, L. Brock, G. Bryant. (Second row) G. Owen (Hon. Treasurer), T. Palmer, T. James, A. Morris, N. Morris, W. James, J. Bryant, T. Phillips (Chairman), G. Bryant, H. Swindells (Hon. Sec.). (Third row) F. Evans, W. Hill, Lieut-Col. Lort Phillips (President L.R.F.C.), W. Palmer (Captain), Capt. Hugh Allen (League President), D. Lewis, E. Brock. (Front row) W. Davies, V. Palmer.
A second league title in three seasons.
(Back row) Mr T.E. Phillips (Secretary), W. Childs, T.J. Palmer (Trainer), D.G. John, R. Brock, H.G. Jones, H. Goodridge, A. Morris, K. Morgan, R. Fuller, R. Palmer, E. Jones, Mr A.H. Williams (Chairman of the Union of Welsh Junior League, Cardiff). (Second row) H.D. Jones, W.S. Morgan (Treasurer and Vice-Captain), Sir Charles W. M. Price (President), W.J. Morgan (Captain), Lady Price (Life member), A.J. Jones, J. Llewellyn. (Front row) Tom Evans (Neyland) and Monti Jones.
The whole club and a visiting Cardiff District side, lined up on the bank behind the posts.
(Back row) Tom Phillips (Secretary), Billy Stokes (Committeeman and linesman), John Llewellyn, Mervyn Morgan, Arthur Jones, Glyn Morgan, Herbert Jones, Clem Morgan. (Second row) Ken Adams, Osmonde John, Horace Jones, Jack Thomas (Captain). (Front row) Bernie Saies, Reg Palmer, Brinley Gettings.
A county side rather than a club one, with seven Llangwm men in it: R. Fuller, H. Brock, W.M. Childs, – John, O.G. John, Norman Nicholson (Llangwm & Haverfordwest) and Jim Grey. Alongside them, players from Neyland, Narberth, Tenby and Maesteg.
Ken Adams (Captain), Sam England (Trainer), T.E. Phillips (Hon. Sec.), Jack Thomas, Howard Brock, Osmonde John, Skyrme Lewis, Gerald Kiff, Fred Jones, Sydney Morgan, Meurig Hughes, R. Victor Palmer, Bernard Saies, Will Palmer, John Jennings, Jack Betty (Ref.), Ted Brock, Arthur Jones, Wilfred S. Morgan (Hon. Treasurer), Dennis Lewis, Eddie Jones, Bill Childs, Dennis Jones, Rhondda Fuller, Brinley Gettings, Clem Morgan, E. Glyn Morgan, William Allen, E. Llewellyn Thomas (West Wales Guardian).
(Back row) Meurig Hughes, Hylton John, Richard Palmer, James Brock, Peter Rees, Raymond Lewis, Grenville Thomas, Dilwyn Lewis, Sydney Thomas. (Second row) Glyn Davies, David John, Tony Kiff, Malcolm Lewis, Jackie Evans. (Front row) George Thomas, Maurice Palmer, Dawson James, Peter Davies.
With Mr F.G. Phillips (W.R.U. referee, Pontardulais) and Mr T.E. Phillips (Hon. Secretary).
(Back row) H. Fowler, D. Rees, C. John, K. Adams, O.G. John, G. Lake, S. England (Trainer). (Second row) G. Kiff, G. Davies, J. Griffiths, M. Hughes, A. John, J. Thomas. (Front row) B. Gettings, H. Evans.
(Back row) T. Phillips (Secretary), J. Jennings, S. Jones, A. Thomas, C. Roach, H. Jones, H. Fowler. (Second row) G. Davies, D. Jones, B. Saies (Captain), W. Gettings, R. Esmond, C. Griffiths.
(Back row) T. Kiff, B. John, S. Thomas, K. Banner, W. Thomas, R. Thomas, D. Ward, J. Brock, G. Kiff, T. Phillips (Secretary). (Second row) D. John, T. Lewis, W. Annandale, E. Jones (Chairman), G. Vaughan (Captain), James John (President), M. Hughes, R. Palmer, T. Rees. (Front row) G. Thomas, D. Vizard.
The double. Among those named: M. Hughes, A. John, R. John, W. Hitchings, W. Rees.
Every photograph and caption on this page comes from Richard Howells' centenary history, Llangwm RFC: A Hundred Years of Rugby 1885–1985, now out of print, and published online by the Llangwm Local History Society. Our thanks to the Society and to the author, without whom almost none of this would still be known. The Society's own pages carry the full collection.
08 — Gallery
Matchdays, the junior section, and life around the clubhouse.
09 — Mini & junior
The junior section is where most Wasps start. Age groups play across Pembrokeshire against clubs including Narberth, Fishguard & Goodwick and St Clears & Whitland.
No experience needed, no kit needed for a first session, and parents are as welcome to get involved as the players. Come down, have a look, see if it suits.
10 — Club shop
Playing kit, training wear, clubwear and supporter clothing.
The club's kit and clubwear are supplied through its own suppliers. If you are not sure what you need — a first set of kit for a junior, a replacement shirt, something for the touchline in January — ask at the clubhouse and somebody will point you the right way.
11 — Partners
Village rugby runs on local support. Our thanks to every business that backs the Wasps.
12 — Find us
The clubhouse sits on The Green in the middle of the village, about six miles south of Haverfordwest.
The clubhouse on The Green — rugby, cricket and social club.