News

As the Brecon 1^st XV took the field to face Ynysybwl on Saturday 20^th October a historic memo was written in the Club’s records. Three pairs of brothers stepped out together onto Parc de Pugh.

In each game this season, to date, both Ioan and Dafydd Edwards have played together in first team matches. Ioan has been a regular member of the Brecon back row since making his debut in the 2016/17 season and claiming the award as Brecon’s most improved player at the awards ceremony at the end of last season. Brother Dafydd moved up into the senior ranks at the start of this season and has made quite an impression as a wing, scoring nine tries in his opening seven matches.

Alongside the Edwards family were Ewan and Owain Williams. Ewan has been consistently outstanding since re-joining his home town club from Merthyr in 2016. As Club captain he has been an inspiration to the side and deservedly won Both Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year at the end of last season. On Saturday he was joined by younger brother Owain. Owain has been a regular member of the Club’s successful second XV for a number of seasons after leaving the youth section. The current Williams family connection with the club is not unique. Father Gareth was part of an outstanding, all Williams, back row with brothers Alan and Phil during centenary season 1979/80 when Alan was club captain

The third pair of brothers at Parc de Pugh on Saturday was the James boys. Father Kevin was a stalwart at the club both as a player and team manager for many years. Ryan, the elder, played with Brecon senior team as a wing after leaving Youth rugby but for a number of years he has been playing with Crickhowell where he was successfully converted into a flanker. Saturday was his first appearance with the 1^st XV since his return. Younger brother, Jonathan, was also making his 1^st team debut this season. A very powerful second row, he has been hampered in his rugby career by injuries and other commitments which have taken him away from the game. Now that he is back the Club hope that he develop and fulfil his true potential.

The brotherly partnerships are not unique within the annuls of Brecon RFC’s history. Over the years there have been many and on a number of occasions the Williams family featured. In 1980 Brecon played Ystrad Rhondda at Parc de Pugh in the Semi final of the Mid District Cup. The side, led by Alan Williams, was successful on that day. That team featured the three Williams, boys (Alan , Gareth and Phil), two Price Brothers (Brian and Robin) and two Jones brothers (Martin and Gethin – Belfont). In fact four Williams brothers played for the team at around about the same time with John having just retired before a few years before centenary season. The Price family could probably claim to be the largest single band of brothers to play for Brecon with Tony, Brian, Des, Graham, Robin and Malcolm all having represented Brecon 1^st XV at some time. Will that ever be surpassed?