Cross Keys RFC () is a rugby union club located in the Welsh village of Crosskeys. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union, and is a feeder club for the Dragons regional team.
History
The club achieved first class-status in 1909, winning the Monmouthshire league three times.
By 1920 the team had their first international player, when Steve Morris won a cap for Wales. Morris would win 19 caps and captained Wales in 1925.A Century of Welsh Rugby Players 1890-1980, Wayne Thomas; Ansells (1979) pg.61 Caps followed during the 1920s for Ossie Male and Lonza Bowdler, both returned over several seasons for Wales, facing not only Five Nations Championships but also touring teams.
In 1926 Cross Keys RFC found themselves in dire financial trouble, and requested help from the Welsh Rugby Union. The WRU refused an appeal for a cash loan, but instead agreed to send the Welsh national team to play in an exhibition match at Pandy Park. The sell-out crowd assured Cross Keys future and resulted in an historic win for the home team thirteen points to eight.The Rugby Clubs of Wales pp149, David Parry-Jones (1989)
Rugby observers have noted the high level of talent in the Cross Keys pack, and criticised the fact they went under represented in the national team during the 1920sSmith (1980), pg 259. and 1930s.Smith (1980), pg 282.
Cross Keys reached the final of the 2011–12 British and Irish Cup, losing to Munster A. Cross Keys won their first Swalec Cup, defeating table topping Pontypridd at the Millennium Stadium in 2012.
Club honours Welsh Club Champions - 1921–22, 1935–36 Welsh Division One Champions - 1992–93, 1999–00 British and Irish Cup Runners-Up - 2011–12 Swalec Cup Winners - 2011–12 Swalec Cup Runners-Up - 2013–14 Welsh Premier Division Runners-Up - 2013–2014 WRU Admiral Championship East Promotion (3rd) - 2023-24 Welsh Premiership Cup Runners up - 2024-2025
Notable former players The following list is made up of ex-Cross Keys players who have all won international caps as either a rugby union or rugby league player. See also :Category:Cross Keys RFC players
George Boots Taulupe Faletau 38 Wales caps, 1 British and Irish Lions cap Frederick Arthur Bowdler (15 caps)Smith (1980), pg 463. Archibald "Archie" Brown Lloyd Burns (7 caps) Mervyn Hicks (Great Britain Rugby League) Ron Herrera (8 caps)Smith (1980), pg 466. Jack Hurrell (1 cap) Ossie Male (11 caps)Smith (1980), pg 469. Steve Morris (19 caps) Con Murphy (3 caps) Gerwyn Price Dai Rees Fred Reeves (2 caps)Smith (1980), pg 471. Rex Richards (1 cap) Russell Taylor (3 caps), 1938 British LionsSmith (1980), pg 472. Joe Thompson (1 cap) for Wales (RU). Whilst at Leeds (Great Britain RL 12 caps, Wales RL 8 caps, Other Nationalities RL 5 caps) Trevor Williams (8 caps)Smith (1980), pg 473. Stanley 'Docker' Winmill (2 caps)Smith (1980), pg 474.
Games played against international opposition YearDateOpponentResultScoreTour19859 OctoberLoss12-261985 Fiji rugby union tour of Wales and Ireland20222 NovemberLoss37-122022 Rugby Europe Championship Preparations
Past season performance 2006/06-2009/10 Season League Finish Number of Teams 2006-07 Premiership 13th 14 2007-08 Premiership 11th 15 2008-09 Premiership 9th 14 2009-10 Premiership 10th 14
2010/11-2019/20 Season League Finish Number of Teams 2010-11 Premiership 6th 14 2011-12 Premiership 6th 14 2012-13 Premiership 5th 12 2013-14 Premiership 3rd 12 2014-15 Premiership 3rd 12 2015-16 Premiership 4th 12 2016-17 Premiership 12th 16 2017-18 Premiership 11th 16 2018-19 Premiership 14th 16 2019-20 Championship 7th 14
2020/21- Season League Finish Number of Teams 2020-21COVID-19 2021-22 Championship 7th 14 2022-23 Championship 8th 14 2023-24 Championship East 3rd 12 2024-25 Premiership 6th 13 2025-26 Premiership 10th 13 2026-27 Premiership 13 2027-28 Premiership 13 2028-29 Premiership 13
References
Bibliography
External links Official Site of Cross Keys RFC