St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

Plaques

The existence of club plaques is as old as the clubs themselves. As in ancient times when a shield represented a knight or the family or monarch he fought for, the design of a club’s badge is very often based on or copied from the local village, town, city or district. It also usually appears on the players’ jersey and cap. So it is a simple extension to place it on a plaque that could be exchanged with opposing teams. The fact that clubs endeavour to include imagery that is relevant to their locality ties them to the local community whose aspirations they share.

These emblems of rival team, fixed to the walls of a clubhouse, are not trophies. They are representations of the recipient club’s being part of a wider sporting community beyond their own membership. They are important as indicators of the vitality of both community and club.

Generally exchanged between two opposing clubs or unions, they mark significant meetings such as first encounters or special anniversary dates. Touring sides generally carry a plentiful supply of plaques designed specifically for that tour. In this section of the website you can see plaques from local club, regional, touring sides and international sides as well as schools and armed forces teams. They represent historical moments that have passed between Swansea teams and myriad visitors as well as those teams met on Swansea tours. These significant events appear frozen in time upon the legends and badges embossed on this collection of plaques.

This section also includes honour boards and other commemorative boards fixed to the walls in recognition of players and other persons connected to St Helen's ground.

PQ067

Abercrave RFC

PQ040

Ammanford RFC

PQ068

Argentina Rugby

PQ010

Australian Rugby Union

PQ011

Australian Rugby Union 1992-93

PQ012

Australian Rugby Union

PQ042

Bala RFC

PQ085

Barbarian FC

PQ025

Bohemian RFC

PQ045

Brentwood RFC

PQ041

Brynamman RFC

PQ029

Bynea RFC

PQ089

Canada Rugby Union 1971 tour

PQ050

Coventry RFC

PQ037

Croesyceiliog RFC

PQ103

Cwmllynfell RFC - Centenary season

PQ098

Denbigh RFC

PQ064

Dolphin RFC

PQ028

Ellesmere School Rugby Team

PQ044

Flying Kukris RFC Hong Kong

PQ059

GB Fire Services Rugby Team

PQ061

Gorey RFC

PQ049

Greystones RFC

PQ027

Haagsche RFC

PQ092

Havant RFC

PQ082

HMS Express

PQ063

IRFU - Leinster Branch

PQ051

Jed Forest RFC

PQ023

Keighley RUFC

PQ080

Kettering RFC U16s

PQ094

Kidwelly RFC

PQ034

Lampeter Town RFC

PQ088

L'Aquila Rugby Club

PQ030

Laugharne RFC

PQ062

Leinster Rugby

PQ081

Macclesfield RUFC

PQ022

Midsomer Norton RFC

PQ083

Milan RFC

PQ055

Moreley RFC

PQ036

Morriston RFC

PQ086

Neath RFC 150th Anniversary

PQ052

New Brighton RFC

PQ007

New Zealand 1967-68

PQ008

New Zealand Maoris 1982-83

PQ009

New Zealand Rugby Union

PQ076

New Zealand Rugby Union 1989

PQ058

Old Aldwinians RFC

PQ024

Old Rutlishians RFC

PQ057

Percy Park RFC

PQ038

Pontypool RFC

PQ065

Porthcawl RFC

PQ047

Portsmouth RFC

PQ095

T.J. Praga RFC

PQ020

Preston Grasshoppers RFC

PQ026

RAF Rugby Team

PQ099

RFU - Wales U18s v England U18s 2013

PQ101

RFU - Wales U18s v England U18s 2015

PQ100

RFU - Wales U18s v England U18s 2016

PQ035

Risca RFC

PQ087

22nd Regt Royal Artillery

PQ091

Royal Corps of Signals

PQ046

Royal Army Ordnace Corps

PQ074

Royal Sports Club, Bangkok

PQ104

Severn River RFC (U.S.A.)

PQ003

South Africa 1960-61

PQ006

South Africa 1994-95

PQ004

South Africa 1969-70

PQ005

South Africa 1960-61

PQ033

Skewen RFC

PQ053

St Albans RFC

PQ066

St David's Society, Hong Kong

PQ060

Stade Français CASG

PQ056

Stoneygate RFC

PQ106

Swansea C&FC new pavilion dedication 1930

PQ105

Swansea C&FC WW1 & WW2 memorial plaque

PQ013

Swansea RFC - Heineken National League Champions 1993-94

PQ002

Swansea RFC v New Zealand 1935

PQ015

Swansea RFC - British & Irish Lions 1904-2001

PQ016

Swansea RFC 1st XV Captains 1874-1982

PQ017

Swansea RFC 1st XV Captains since 1982

PQ018

Swansea RFC - Ffyddlondeb Awards 1955-96

PQ019

Swansea RFC - Captain's Award 1986-96

PQ014

Swansea RFC - WRU Challenge Cup  Winners 1978

PQ079

Swansea RFC - WRU Challenge Cup  Runners-up 1980

PQ070

Swansea RFC - WRU Challenge Cup  Runners-up 1975-76

PQ071

Swansea RFC - WRU Challenge Cup  Runners-up 1983

PQ072

Swansea RFC - WRU Challenge Cup  Runner-up 1987

PQ069

Swansea RFC - WRU Challenge Cup  Runner-up 1991-92

PQ077

Swansea RFC, WRU, SWALEC Cup Final Winners 1995

PQ084

Swansea RFC 150th season

PQ118

Swansea Uplands Ladies section, 1987

PQ116

Swansea Women's RFC- Frome 7s Cup

PQ021

Thornesians RFC

PQ031

Tondu RFC

PQ032

Tonna RFC

PQ039

Tredegar Ironsides RFC

PQ096

Trinidad & Tobago Rugby Union

PQ043

Tycroes RFC

PQ102

Wagga Wagga Blue Heelers RFC

PQ097

USA Rugby Union

PQ001

Ranji Walker's XV 1950s

PQ048

Watsonians RFC

PQ073

Wellington RFC

PQ054

West Park RFC

PQ078

WRU, Wales v Tonga at St Helen's 1997

PQ090

WRU - Wales u18s v England U18s & v France U18s

PQ117

Women's Internationals, St Helen's 2015

PQ093

Ynysybwl RFC

PQ075

Zimbabwe Rugby Union 1982