St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

PH091

Photograph

Swansea RFC Memorabilia Community Interest Company

Swansea RFC

1937-1938

Photograph B&W, mounted and titled. Swansea Schools rugby team, Dewar Shield winners 1937-38. Photograph by Jack Thomas, Gainsborough Studio, 12 St Helen's Rd, Swansea. Brass plate on original frame reads: "Presented by Jim Thomas Esq To Commemorate The Winning of the Dewar Shield June 17th 1938". Dimensions: w24" x h19" (w61cm x h48.5cm).

This is the Swansea Schools Rugby Union (SSRU) team that won the Dewar Shield on 17th June 1938. They were 'Invincibles' that season also, having won 12 out of 12 matches in the season, points for: 236, against: 18. The Dewar Shield is the oldest schools rugby competition in the world, beginning in 1905 when the Welsh Union accepted the Dewar Shield from the mayor of Cardiff Sir Thomas Dewar. Originally awarded annually by the match committee to the most successful junior organisation, it became a knock-out cup competition in 1909. This photograph records the first time the SSRU team won the shield. They beat Cardiff Schools by two converted goals and two tries (16pts) to one try (3pts). The match was played at The Gnoll, Neath although this image was later made at St Helen's. Since then the SSRU U15s have won the Dewar Shield eight more times (1967-68, 1980-81, 1986-87, 1994-95, 1996-97, 2000-01 & 2009-10). Photographed personnel: Back Row (L to R): W.G. Williams, A.G. Fuge, J.M. Williams, J.S. Jones, A.B. Jones, H.J. Griffiths, E.J. Matthews, L.G. Francis. 2nd Row (L to R): Ivor Evans, P.T. Millard (Treasurer), J. Harwood, E. Harris, D Wales, H. Mainwaring, W. Richards, W. Ambrose. 3rd Row (L to R): B.C. George, H. Jenkins, W. Henley, F. King, W. Fisher, M. Halden, J. Aherne, L. Quick, H. Jones, E.H. Evans. 4th Row (L to R): W.W. Ward (Hon. Secretary), A.J. Mayne (Patron), J. Shefford, N. Rogers, E. Jenkins, Ken Thomas (Captain), G. Scrines, W. Jones, Trevor Davies (Chairman), Harry Davies. Front Row (L to R): A. Davies, E. Riley. See also PH273 for alternate image.

PH091.jpg, PH091a.jpg