Rugby in Cardiff
Cardiff RFC and the Arms Park
Between 2003 and 2009 there were two rugby union teams based at Cardiff Arms Park. The Cardiff Blues represented the region in the Magners League and Heineken Cup, whereas Cardiff RFC represent the city in the Welsh Premier Division. From the start of the 2009-10 season however, the Cardiff Blues will relocate to the Cardiff City Stadium in the Leckwith area of the city.
Glamorgan Wanderers and other rugby union clubs
Glamorgan Wanderers RFC are another Welsh Premiership club based in the city. They play in the Ely area and are a well established first class club having been part of the old Merit Table structure.
Other WRU affiliated clubs in the Cardiff area are:
UWIC RFC (1st Division), Fairwater RFC and Old Illtydians (WRU Division Three South East), Rumney RFC (WRU Division Three East). Cardiff HSOB RFC and St. Peters RFC (both Division 4 East) Llandaff RFC and Llandaff North RFC (both Division 4 South East) Canton RFC and Rhiwbina RFC (both Division 5 East)
CIACS
Cardiff Internationals Athletic Club normally shortened to CIACS (pronounced "kayaks"), have never been affiliated with the WRU. Formed in the docks area of the city, known as Tiger Bay in 1946, CIACS has always reflected the multicultural nature of the docks area, hence the name Cardiff Internationals. The club is best known for having produced Billy Boston, who went on to become a rugby league player in the 1950's. The club now play in the Cardiff and District Premier division, representing the Grangetown, Cardiff Bay, Butetown and the Docks areas.
Cardiff Demons
Rugby league in Cardiff is currently represented by the successful Cardiff Demons side, a team that has produced a handful of Super League players and Welsh internationals in its short existence. They have played at three grounds in and around the Cardiff area. Having previously been at Taffs Well RFC and Old Penarthians RFC, they have now settled at the brand new St Peters ground in the East of Cardiff.
UWIC Rugby League
UWIC are consistently one of the best university sides in Great Britain having won the national title twice in the early part of this century. They have produced a number of players for Cardiff Demons and the successful Wales Students side.
Cardiff's rugby league history
The first attempt to bring rugby league to the capital was in 1949 when a Welsh League was formed. Cardiff were joined by teams from Amman Valley, Llanelli, Aberavon, Bridgend, Ystradgynlais, Neath and Pontarddulais.
Cardiff were champions of the very first competition in 1949-50 but were denied a double after Ystradgynlais beat them in the Final. Llanelli were winners of the competition the year after but that didn’t stop Cardiff being elected to the Rugby Football League Championship in 1951.
The League at the time consisted of 31 clubs in one division who each played a 36 game season. Cardiff finished 30th with a record of 5 wins and 31 defeats – only Liverpool City were below them.
With that the club and Welsh Rugby League at club level, was wound up for 30 years.
In 1981, Cardiff City Blue Dragons were formed and played out of Ninian Park, Cardiff under the management of David Watkins. The club enjoyed reasonable success and attracted high-profile Rugby Union converts such as Steve Fenwick, Brynmor Williams and Paul Ringer. In 1984 the club was moved to Bridgend where it lasted just one more season before folding.
The success of Wales at international level in the 1990s led to the formation of South Wales. Coached by Clive Griffiths and managed by Mike Nicholas, the team played at Morfa Stadium, Swansea, Aberavon RFC’s World of Hurt and at Cardiff Arms Park.
However, the club only lasted one season in Rugby League’s debut summer season of 1996. Finishing fifth in Division Two, the club had high hopes that it would be awarded a Super League franchise and although a strong case was put forward by Nicholas and Griffiths the Super League clubs refused to award it a place for the coming season and the club was wound up but the Cardiff Demons under 21 academy side were formed the year after. This side lasted for four seasons and were then replaced by the current open age side who play in the Rugby League Conference.
