The Leeds Connection
A short while ago our club was contacted by Leeds Rhinos Foundation Heritage Group who were commemorating the 120th Anniversary of Leeds’ first game in the Northern Union on the 7th of September 1895. As part of the project, and in association with the Leeds Rhinos Players Association, they were issuing Heritage Certificates to all former players, and a number of those former players “went north” after successful careers with Pontypridd Rugby Football Club. They sent us two of those certificates, to present to the relatives of former players from our club.
The first player was Russell Robins, who not only played 184 games for Pontypridd between 1949 and 1959, but also played 13 games for Wales between 1953 and 1957, four tests for the British Lions in the 1955 tour of South Africa, and four games for the Barbarians. Russell was 17 years of age when he played his first game for our club and captained the club between 1955 and 1958. On the 1955 Lions tour of South Africa he played in 17 of the 24 tour matches, appearing in more games than any other Lion during the three-month tour, and was rated by the South Africans as the best No. 8 in the World at the time. He should have played many more games for Wales, but he played for an “unfashionable” club and refused to move to another club for the whole of his Rugby Union Career.
However, in February 1959, out of work and looking to his future, he switched codes and joined Leeds Rugby League Football Club. He scored a try on his debut in rugby league and was at Leeds when they won their first Championship title in the 1960-61 season. On Saturday, 22nd March, the club had the honour of presenting Russell’s certificate to his daughter, Julia Bennett, and his nephew, Rhys Lewis, another former Pontypridd player.
The other former Pontypridd player honoured on the day was Oliver Morris. He had joined Pontypridd from the Llanelli area in 1935 and went on to be described in the Western Mail as “Pontypridd’s best outside half…of pre-war seasons” and a Welsh triallist. He “went north” to Hunslet Rugby League Football Club in November 1937, “for a figure which is stated to be £400”. An article in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer in October 1944 told us that he was transferred to Leeds in 1939 “a few days before the outbreak of war” and that he was a player who was “swift and clever in attack and sure in defence” and “an outstanding figure in the Rugby League game”. Unfortunately, the article also announced the death of Lieutenant Oliver James Morris of the 1st Battalion the Welch Regiment at the Battle of Gemmano in Italy on 21st September 1944. He was 28 years of age and is buried in the Gradara War Cemetery. We failed to contact a relative of Oliver for the presentation of the certificate, so the presentation was made to our Chairman Phil Miles.
It is good to know of the links between our great club and the great rugby league club of Leeds Rhinos. Our supporters may well remember the four games we played against Leeds Tykes in the Parker Pen Cup back in 2001-2002, and the welcome we had at the Headingly Stadium. Another link that we are following up at the moment is Phil Ford, who joined us from Leeds in 1996, and played 24 games for us on the wing. If there is anyone out there who knows how we can contact Phil then please email me on alungranfield@btinternet.com.
Alun Granfield
