Aberavon Quins RFC

Aberavon Harlequins RFC
NicknameThe Mighty Quins
Founded1891 (1891)
LocationPort Talbot, Wales
GroundHarlequin Road (Capacity: 2,000)
ChairmanAndrew Dacey
PresidentKen Morgan
Coach Mark Jones
Captain Dale Bowen
LeagueWRU Division 2 West Central
2024-20254th
Team kit
Official website
www.aberavonquins.com

Aberavon Harlequins RFC (nicknamed "The Mighty Quins") is a Welsh rugby union team located in the Fairfield area of Port Talbot, a few minutes away from the town centre and Aberavon. In 1955, the team gained membership of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). Today the club is a feeder club for the Ospreys. Aberavon Harlequins has a proud tradition of producing outstanding rugby internationals, while remaining at the heart of the community—helping children grow, believe in themselves, and chase their dreams.

History

The club was founded in 1891, and they become known as the Aberavon Excel, playing in an all-white strip.[1] After the First World War in 1918, the Excels formed the Aberavon Harlequins R.F.C., which it has been known as since. They played on a waste site at what is now the Sandfields Estate, later renamed the Harlequins Field.[1] In 1932-33, the club was reformed by Dick Lody, Dill Stanford, Don Mainwaring and H.Williams, and the club grew until the start of Second World War.

In 1951, the club received a boost when the former Maesteg RFC, Wales and British Lions scrum half Trevor Lloyd returned to Aberavon Harlequins, his original club.[1] The 1955/56 season was the best playing record in the Quins' history, playing over thirty matches and losing only once.[1]

At the start of the 21st century, in an attempt to modernise the governing body of Welsh rugby union and to bring Wales fully into the professional era, it was decided to restructure the Welsh leagues and to source new sponsorship revenue for them. Teams would be allocated a division depending on their recent season's order of merit and their geographical location. In the 2001/02 season, the Quins were placed in Lloyds TSB Division Two West, along with their local rivals Corus (Port Talbot) RFC.

The 2008/2009 season saw the Quins complete the “Double” winning the tightly contested WRU Division Three South West league and also winning the illustrious Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy by beating Llantwit Fardre RFC 17-3, making it the second “Silver Ball” title for the Quins after previously winning it in 1982.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Dan Helson Prop Wales
Graham Harvey Prop Wales
Mike Burgess Prop Wales
Joshua Pugh Prop Wales
Thomas Morley Prop Wales
Tyler Hopkins Hooker Wales
Jonathan Buhler Hooker Wales
Bradley Aven Hooker Wales
Jack Davies Lock Wales
Callum Beynon (c) Lock Wales
Dale Bowen Lock Wales
Morgan Evans Lock Wales
Sean Howells Lock Wales
Hudson Williams Flanker Wales
Drew Kinsey Flanker Wales
Rhys Curtis Flanker Wales
Jonathan Evans Flanker Wales
Aled Cockwell Number 8 Wales
Connor O'Callaghan Number 8 Wales
Dylan Mclachlan Number 8 Wales
Player Position Union
Rhys Edmunds Scrum-half Wales
Max Phillips Scrum-half Wales
Cameron Shine Fly-half Wales
Ryan Pugh Fly-half Wales
Morgan Kennerley Centre Wales
Jack Dacey Centre Wales
Ioan Griffiths Centre Wales
Luca Balzano Centre Wales
Rory Hinchliffe Wing Wales
Elliot Graham Wing Wales
Kieran Brennan Wing Wales
Keanu Piles Wing Wales
Josh Boers Wing Wales
Lewis Cronin Fullback Wales
Luis Price Fullback Wales

Notable Former Players

Honours

References

  1. ^ a b c d "History". Thequinsrfc.com. Retrieved 14 April 2014.