For over 145 years, the game of Rugby Football has endured in the Upper Afan Valley — a testament to the resilience, passion, and dedication of those who have worn the jersey, served on committees, and stood proudly on the touchlines. Through times of prosperity and hardship, their collective efforts have preserved a proud tradition. It has been an honour to play our part in what we believe to be the most storied and cherished rugby club in Wales.

Glyncorrwg is the last remaining Rugby Club in the upper Afan Valley and was formed in 1880 and has had many successful years along with their barren spells. We were given probationary status of the WRU for the 2005/05 season and gained full membership for the 2007/08 season. After coming close to promotion on our first two seasons in the league system we finally won the Division 5 South Central league and were promoted to Division 4 South West for the 2007/08 season. At the end of season 2012/13 we were promoted after finishing second to Penlan RFC to the highest level that rugby has been played in Glyncorrwg to division 3 South West, we had a good season at this level after a poor start we finished in seventh place. Moving onto the 2014/15 season the WRU changed the structure of the leagues and we found ourselves in Division 2 West Central where we played the likes of Maesteg RFC, Maesteg Celtic RFC and Aberavon Quin’s seasoned campaigners in the higher leagues amongst others.

INTERNATIONAL RUGBY PLAYERS FROM GLYNCORRWG RFC 

Over the years the club has produced International rugby players at different levels, but we have only produced one full Welsh rugby international, his name is Gerwyn Williams. 

Gerwyn was born at Corrwg House, Gadlys Terrace, Glyncorrwg. He lived in Glyncorrwg until he was four years of age when he moved to the Port Talbot area.

His first recognition by Wales was in 1936 when he was chosen to play for the Welsh Schoolboys Under 14 team against England in the fly – half position; also in 1936 he was chosen for the Welsh Schoolboys (under 15) cricket team. He joined the Royal Navy at 19 years, and after war service he played full- back for the Royal Navy in the services tournament of 1946. He then went to Loughborough College as a student, while there he played for the English Universities against the Welsh and  Scottish Universities as a full – back.

He was capped 13 times by Wales as a full – back and played against every major rugby nation except Australia. He played for London Welsh (from where he gained his caps), Llanelli, Middlesex and the Barbarians. He played for the Barbarians against South Africa and New Zealand, he also played for the London Counties against South Africa on their 1951-52 tour, and was the only Welshman to be on the winning side against the South Africans on that tour.

In 1953 he captained the Barbarians against Newport on the Barbarian Easter Tour. He played in two Triple Crown winning seasons for Wales and when he dislocated his shoulder playing for Wales against England in 1954 he no more played rugby.  He then turned to coaching and first coached the Ardwyn Grammar school at Aberystwyth for two years before he returned to England to teach, and then coached Harrow County School Middlesex for two years before moving to Whitgift School, Surrey for Eighteen years. He also coached Cambridge University in 1969 and 1970, and the London Counties v South Africa in 1970, Blackheath Rugby Club and Surrey County.

On the 7th September, 1954, he brought an International Rugby xv to play Glyncorrwg and officially open the Ynyscorrwg Field. Among the internationals of note to play against Glyncorrwg was Robin Thompson of Ireland and future captain of the British Lions, Trevor Lloyd, Peter Rees, Ray Williams, Carwyn James, Em Davies and Len Davies along with other first class players drawn from Maesteg, Aberavon and Llanelli.

In 1974 Gerwyn Williams presented to Glyncorrwg Rugby Football Club his collection of International Jerseys and caps and also County jerseys and Caps, which are now proudly displayed and viewed by everyone.

Gerwyn has written three books on rugby :- (1) Tackle Rugby This Way,  (2) Modern Rugby and (3) Schoolboy Rugby.

William John Ould

Not a lot is known about William. William was born in Norton Terrace Glyncorrwg as a young man he moved to Abergwynfi. He played over 80 games for Cardiff RFC and gained his Welsh cap against England and Scotland in 1924.

Emlyn  Davies

Emlyn Davies is Cymmer born but first played rugby for their greatest rivals Glyncorrwg during the Second World War in friendly games as he was a railway fireman then based in Glyncorrwg. He then moved to play for Cwmavon RFC as his job took him to Port Talbot and he eventually played for Aberavon Rugby Football Club.  At Glyncorrwg he played outside half, for Cwmavon in the second row and for Aberavon as a prop forward, and it was at Aberavon as a prop forward that he gained his greatest achievements on the rugby field, when he was selected to play for Wales against Australia in 1947, and became a proud possessor of a coveted full Welsh Rugby Jersey and Cap.  He captained Aberavon during the 1949-50 season, and represented Glamorgan County Rugby Football Club over fifty times, a number of times as captain.  He has also played for the invitational side Captain Crawshay’s Welsh XV.  After finishing first class rugby he returned to finish playing for Glyncorrwg and he played for the Gerwyn Williams International XV against Glyncorrwg to open the Ynyscorrwg field in 1954, although he played against his club he coached the Glyncorrwg team for that encounter with the Gerwyn Williams team. Em is still a staunch supporter of Glyncorrwg to this day.

 Dr. Gwynfryn Thomas

Gwynfryn’s father and grandfather both played rugby for Glyncorrwg, his father Myrddin kept the flag flying for the Glyncorrwg United AFC going for many years.  Gwynfryn went to Maesteg Grammar School and it was from there that he was capped by the Welsh Secondary Schools as a scrum half in season 1953-54.  He gained three caps, against the Welsh Youth, England and France, and he was on the winning side against the first two teams but lost against France. He then entered Swansea University in 1954 and played for them until 1960 when he left with a doctorate. Whilst at university he played for the Welsh Universities and also the Universities Athletic Union, and appeared in the colours of Neath, Maesteg and Newbridge whilst a student.

David Thomas (Bongo) 

David attended Glyncorrwg Infants school and Junior school before going to Glan-Afan Grammar School Port Talbot, and it was from this school that he played for Aberavon Schoolboys, Glamorgan School and finally the Welsh Secondary Schools as a prop forward, playing seven times for the Welsh Secondary Schools from the 1966-67 season to 1968-69 season when he left to go to the university of Michigan.  He returned in 1971 and entered Reading University. He then began to play for the London Welsh before prematurely retiring in 1977 to research into comparative education. During the 1971-72 season to 1975-76 season he played for Berkshire County RFC twenty-five times.

 John Ackery

John was born in Glyncorrwg then moved away to live in the London area as a young boy he played his club rugby at the Saracens rugby club. He then emigrated to Canada in the early 1960’s and carried on his rugby career in Toronto. John progressed through the levels of Canadian rugby and found himself elevated to the Canadian Rugby team. In the late 60’s Canada toured the UKon their first overseas tour, and John was a member of that squad. On their visit to Wales John visited Glyncorrwg along with some members of the Canadian team, he presented the club with his Canadian international shirt which is on display in the clubhouse. John still lives in Canada.

Mathew Codd 

Mathew is the son of former captain Peter Codd and Mathew gained his youth cap in 1997.  Mathew no longer plays rugby he is a police officer.

 Duncan Jones (Ospreys)

Duncan is a native of Abergwynfi and has won caps at age group level up to and including at full international level and was a member of the 2003 Welsh world cup squad that acquitted themselves well in Australia, but Duncan had to return home after breaking his leg in the game against New Zealand. Duncan was also a member of the Wales World cup squad for the 2007 Championships. He has won two Grand Slam titles with Wales for the 2005 and 2008 in the Six Nations tournaments. He has now won over 50 caps for Wales.

Mathew Williams

Mathew was a member of the newly formed youth team, and he became the first player from that section to win a cap. He was capped at Boys & Girls Clubs of Wales at under 19 level.  He now play’s as hooker for the 1st xv.

 Rhydian Gierat

Rhydian was also a member of the youth team but left to play for Neath Colts because we could not raise a team for the 2002/03 season. During his time at Neath he gained his Welsh youth cap and played in the five nations championship and also in a tournament that involved Italy, Spain and Portugal in Italy. He then went on to play his senior career with a number of well-known clubs starting out at Aberavon RFC then moving onto play for Llandovery RFC, Llanelli RFC and Bridgend RFC.

 Welsh District’s Rugby Union
Over the years we have provided the Welsh District Rugby Union team with a number of Internationals and members of the Welsh District President’s XV.

Paul Bogdan, Huw Bevan, Alun Williams, Martin Czajkowski, Anthony Lewis and others have played for the President’s XV.

International caps were won by Adrian Robinson 5 caps, Colin Roberts, Kirk Bogdan, Ian Beech, Dean Griffiths, Lee Williams and Robert Radcliffe (2004 captain) against Germany and broke his arm during the game.

Chris Morgan

An ex player of ours joined the Royal Marines became a PTI officer then joined the Welsh Deaf RFU as a fitness coach and was their fitness coach when the beat New Zealand DRFU to become WORLD champions.

Chris progressed to become a WRU District Representative, eventually earning a position on the WRU Board. During his tenure, he played a key role in shaping the WRU league structures and contributed to several committees within the organization. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the game have since led to his current position as a member of the World Rugby Disciplinary Board.