Here come the boys!
This season The Bay is proud to sponsor the under 16’s at the Swansea Uplands RFC. We went along to the first match of the season to see the team resplendent in their new strip, complete with our name across their chests. The match was a friendly with Morriston and I’m pleased to report that we (I now think of us as part of the team!) won 43 – 7!
First Tour
Swansea Uplands RFC was founded at the Uplands Hotel, Swansea in 1919 by players of the pre World War I Swansea Grammar School team on their return to Swansea. This is the origin of the club’s name. The first tour was undertaken in 1921 to London with victories over Wasps and Streatham.
In 1922 – 23, the club found itself with sufficient players to establish an “A” (2nd) XV. The same season, after having played its matches at Singleton Park, the recreation ground and St. Helens, the club obtained the lease on a pitch near The Bible College, Derwen Fawr, where they continued to play until the outbreak of World War II. In 1928, proposed by Pontardawe RFC and seconded by Pontardulais RFC, the club applied for membership of the Welsh Rugby Union and at a meeting of the W.R.U. on 13th September 1928 this was granted.
Sportsman’s Platoon
The club played its final pre war fixture on tour against Old Whitgiftians in Croydon on 10th April 1939 and following a meeting held on 18th April 1939, the club enlisted en-bloc forming a “sportsman’s platoon” in 5th Battalion The Welch Regiment.
The club was reformed following World War II at a meeting held at St. Helens Cricket Pavilion, Swansea on Monday 10th May 1948 and the initial 1st XV fixture was played at Mumbles on 23rd September with the “A” XV playing the same opponents two days later. After resuming playing at Derwen Fawr, the club sought its own ground and in 1952 purchased the field at Upper Killay. On 24th April 1956, the club played and defeated an International XV selected by Clem Thomas at St. Helens and raised the then considerable sum of £400 for charity. The clubhouse was built by the members and following a special match on 23rd April 1958 to mark the occasion, the clubhouse was formally opened by Mr. Enoch H Rees, President of the Welsh Rugby Union.
Since then, the club has continued to grow and the clubhouse along with it. Further enhancement of facilities took place in 1995, when new changing rooms, showers, first aid and weight training facilities were added with the whole club having a new roof. The most recent addition to the club came in 2003, when Swansea Gladiators, the special needs XV based themselves at the club.
If you want any further information please visit the website www.swanseauplandsrfc.net and follow the under 16’s progress this season every month in The Bay.
