Publisher Description

A founder member of the Welsh Rugby Union, Swansea RFC is one of Wales' oldest and most illustrious rugby clubs. It was the first to beat the 'big three' touring teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, and enjoyed multiple Welsh Cup and Merit Table successes, over its first 150 years.Formed in 1872 as an association football team before converting to rugby football in 1874, White Gold tells the fascinating story of the club's first 15 years, when a group of Swansea cricketers established a football club for winter recreation, found a home at St. Helen's and how they created an open, running playing style that quickly became known and revered around the rugby world.Lavishly illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, White Gold has been meticulously researched by club historian David Dow and is the most comprehensive study of the early days of rugby in Swansea ever published. White Gold also vividly describes rugby politics both inside and outside of Wales, the social attitudes of the day and how they influenced Welsh rugby and society.David Dow's comprehensive and definitive study also contains extensive appendices covering all the players, the club's first internationals, complete fixture lists, club captains and point-scorers of the period.

Author Biography

David Dow is the Archivist at Swansea RFC. A former Official Photographer to Ospreys rugby, he spearheaded the creation of a digital archive at Swansea RFC, in partnership with Swansea University, to protect & promote the unique cricket and rugby collection at St Helen's.

Table of Contents

ForewordIntroduction1. Football - A friendly kind of fight2. 1831-73: A Winter Sport for Swansea's Cricketers3. 1873-74: The Search for a Permanent Home4. 1874-75: Primrose Field - Football on a Hillside5. 1875-76: The South Wales Football Club6. 1876-77: An idyllic ground on Swansea Bay - Football at St. Helen's7. 1877-78: A rugby cup competition for Wales8. 1878-79: Neath and Swansea lock horns9. 1879-80: Success and silverware10. 1880-81: Metamorphosis - South Wales Football Union to WFU11. 1881-82: Swansea's first Welsh caps12. 1882-83: St. Helen's - Wales' first rugby international ground13. 1883-84: Red to white - Swansea become the 'All Whites'14. 1884-85: Four three-quarters - A new system15. 1885-86: Challenged for supremacy - the rise of the District teams16. 1886-87: Rejuvenation and the 'glorious tin pot'AppendicesBibliographyIndex

Review

'an incredible insight into the formation of Swansea RFC: its characters, games played and the evolution of the 'Swansea Style'.' David Richards, Swansea, Wales and British & Irish Lions; 'White Gold describes accurately and entertainingly, the formation and rise of one of rugby's great clubs. The personalities and sometimes bizarre events will fascinate and educate the reader. There is something here for everyone and it is a valuable addition to our knowledge of early rugby in Wales.' Mike Ruddock, Swansea (player & coach), Wales & Ireland U20s (coach)

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