HistoryNewport High School Old Boys Rugby Club has been in existence for nearly 85 years having been founded in the season of 1923/24. Although the present ground at Yew Tree Lane Caerleon has been the Club's home for many years, as a club, it has led a very nomadic existence. During the early years the teams played on pitches at the Royal Oak, Bettws, Ponthir, Llanfrechfa, and even the old Caerleon Racecourse. In 1949 a field at the present site at Yew Tree Lane became available for rent and this was to become the Club's permanent home. At first the players used the buildings of the derelict Caerleon gasworks as a changing room. This housed a large communal bath, which was a concrete lined pit inside the building filled with water from an ancient coke fired boiler which had to be lit several hours before the start of the match. After the match all the players got in the bath together which was considered great fun at the time, although some less well brought up would try to wash their boots as well ! Both teams then had to travel to 37 Stow Hill by bus as very few players had cars in those days. This was the venue for the after match hospitality which included a meal of (always) sausage beans and mash and joint singing of the traditional rugby songs.
A major milestone was achieved in 1954 when probationary membership of the Welsh Rugby Union was granted, followed by full WRU membership in 1957. In 1960 the ground and the adjoining land became available for purchase and an area of 10 acres was bought for £975. Eventually the land was developed and a new pitch and club house were built and officially opened in 1967.
Membership was opened to non Old Boys of Newport High School in the mid sixties and as a result, by the early seventies the Club had four senior teams. Following this development a mini rugby team was formed in 1973 and then a junior section which ran for a few seasons before folding. The junior section was revived in 1982 when a group of teams from under 8's to under 13's made Yew Tree Lane their permanent base. These teams, which were previously known as Caerleon Mini Rugby Club, changed their name to Newport High School Old Boys Junior RFC and this section of the Club has expanded to field 10 age groups teams from 8's to 17's. To cope with the demand of 4 senior teams and ever increasing junior teams the original clubhouse was extended and officially opened in 1987.
For many years the Club's reputation was based on the willingness to play open rugby and this still applies today. Many well known players have worn the Old Boys colours and progressed to first class rugby clubs. Although these are too many to mention, four players who played at Yew Tree Lane went on to become British Lions, John O'Shea, Keith Jarrett, David Burcher and Stuart Watkins. In more recent times from the junior ranks Mark Davies was capped for Wales in Australia in the 1989-90 season. In 1999 former Old Boy Matthew Robinson [Swansea and Wales] and more recently Alix Popham [Newport and Wales] received senior international recognition. Alix has represented Wales in two rugby World cup campaigns. In addition Gareth Chapman [ Newport Gwent Dragons, Cardiff, Wales 7’s] has graced the IRB and Crawshays sevens circuit in tournaments around the world All these senior international players of recent times spent more than a decade at Yew Tree Lane developing their skills under the watchful eye of the junior club coaches. Despite the name of the "Old Boys" the club has also produced 2 senior Welsh Women's internationals Jenna Studley who was awarded her first senior cap at 16 years old by Paul Ringer and went on to play in Dai Rees’ Women's Rugby World Cup squad in Holland in 1998. In 2004 another ex NHSOB junior player Emma Phillips was selected for Wales.
The player development conveyor belt goes on with Scarlets, Ospreys & Dragons featuring ex Junior Old Boys in their squads. Recently capped Ceri Jones from Usk has strayed into England from Yew Tree Lane to the Harlequins under the guidance of rugby legend Dean Richards.
The emphasis on coaching did not really make its mark in Welsh rugby until the late sixties and Newport High School Old Boys first official coach was John Ryan, a former captain, who was appointed in 1970 and eventually went on to coach the Welsh National side.
The club's history demonstrates what a huge contribution Newport HSOB has made in the development of rugby players in the locality and beyond. Since the introduction of leagues the senior team has moved through the ranks and are currently in league Division 2 [East] having gained promotion in two consecutive seasons. For other members rugby is available in the 2nds or development squad, a 3rd XV and a youth team playing in the Welsh Youth premier league. The mini section caters for boys and girls from U8’s to U`11’s. There are 7 junior [15 aside] age group[s from U12’s to U17’s which includes two all girl squads for U14’s & U17’s.
In the past two seasons Junior coach and true “community rugby man” Gareth Hale has established a group of “Specials” for adults and children with special needs who turn up at 12 o’clock every Saturday for an hour of fun with a rugby ball. As we watch them running around with smiles on their faces they remind us what community rugby is all about . Fun !
With all this rugby activity facilities are at a premium particularly the changing and clubhouse facilities but Newport High School Old Boys is almost unique in that its home ground encompasses 17 acres of land which are all owned by the Club. The club has ambitious plans to build new changing rooms so the girls in particular can be accommodated . The small and very modest clubhouse is overloaded and not really fit for purpose. Funding is urgently needed for an upgrade of facilities, training areas and pitches. In return for financial support the Old Boys can pledge to continue to play their part in player development by producing players of all levels, ages and abilities and to fly the flag for Community rugby in the south east corner of Gwent.
