INTERNATIONAL HONOURS
HAYDN MORGAN
Haydn was born in Oakdale and played his club rugby for Abertillery RFC. He was awarded 27 caps for Wales and toured with the 1959 & 1962 British Lions. Although a reliable and dynamic player, with a heavy but clean tackle, Morgan suffered at the hands of the selectors often dropped for players who never showed any international longevity. Originally a centre, he moved to wing forward when called up for National Service while playing for the Army where he was a Paratrooper.
JOHN PATRICK O’SHEA
Educated at Lewis Boys School, Pengam along with John Dawes, O’Shea was capped five times by Wales as a prop forward between 1967 & 1968. O’Shea was selected for the 1968 British Lions tour to South Africa and played in the first test. In a match against Eastern Transvaal he became the first Lion ever to be sent off for foul play after throwing a punch. He played his club rugby for Cardiff
JOHN JEFFERY
John was born in Oakdale and educated at Pontllanfraith Grammar School where he represented Welsh Schools in the 1962-1963 season. In 1965 he joined Newport RFC and played for nearly 10 years making 210 appearances for them and captaining them between 1970-1972. He made his debut for Wales in 1967 against the All Blacks on a losing side but the next season he played numerous times for Wales on their tour of Argentina.
RICHARD SMITH
Richard played his club rugby for Oakdale, Cardiff, Sale Sharks, Merthyr, Bristol, Worcester Warriors, Ebbw Vale, Newport and Newbridge. A talented scrum half, he was a regular in the Wales 22 but often overlooked for Robert Howley or Rupert Moon. He attained his only cap coming on as substitute against England at Cardiff but his skills and knowledge of the game made him a prized possession whichever club he played for. He is a well liked and respected social member of the club.
PAUL WOODS
Paul was one of the roughest, toughest, most notorious rugby players of his generation. Even at a time when there was no shortage of hardmen, Paul was most players choice as the ‘hardest’ His rugby career began in Oakdale before moving on to play for Tredegar & Pontypool. In 1976 he moved to Rugby League with Widnes as well as playing for Hull, Rochdale, Runcorn and Cardiff. He was capped for Wales at Rugby League 10 times. Paul sadly passed away in 2008 due to leukaemia.
CLIVE DAVIES
Clive ended his rugby career with Oakdale where he was Player/Coach in a successful period of the club gaining promotion to Mon Division 1 in his second season. He started off at Tredegar before moving on to play for Newbridge where he gained international recognition gaining three caps. A big, imposing back row forward with a moustache to match, he toured Australia in the early eighties with Wales and due to many injuries ended up playing alongside a certain JPR Williams in the back row.
GARETH HOWLS
Gareth was born and brought up in Oakdale and started his career at the Recreation Ground. Ebbw Vale spotted his talent at both Prop & Second Row and he eventually moved to them spending many years there as Captain. He was selected to play for the Wales ‘B’ team in the 1970’s and currently holds the record for the most appearances in the ‘B’ side earning a reputation as a very difficult and ‘hard’ forward to scrummage against. Gareth’s brother, Keith also played for and captained Oakdale.
JOHN DAWES
Sidney John Dawes was born in 1940 in Chapel of Ease, Abercarn. He was educated at Lewis Boys School, Pengam and played for Oakdale Youth. He started his senior career at Newbridge before moving to London Welsh. He won his first cap in 1964 and went onto make 22 appearances, captaining Wales in six of them. In 1971 Dawes was appointed Captain of the British Lions for the unbeaten tour to New Zealand and is the only welsh player never to have lost to an English side.
PAUL YOUNG
Paul started his rugby career with Oakdale Under 7’s and played at every level that Oakdale put on the pitch. Whilst playing for Oakdale Youth he became North Mon Captain & represented Wales at Youth Level. His senior career included spells with Oakdale, Ebbw Vale, Newbridge, Pontypool, Swansea & Tredegar as well as a spell in New Zealand with the Counties team. A tenacious & committed player at home in union as well as rugby league having also represented Wales at this level; Paul has also coached Oakdale at senior level.
WILLIAM TREVOR THOMAS
Born in Merthyr on 1st July 1909, Ocker's family moved to Oakdale where he went to school. A prodigious talent he moved from junior rugby in Oakdale to Abertillery where he was chosen to play Flanker for Wales versus England in 1930. Overwhelmed by the occasion he was arrested for over exuberance afterwards. He was a miner in Oakdale before switching codes & moving north to rugby league. Some say he was a 'big man with a squeaky voice' but no-one ever said that to him face-to-face!
BRENDAN A'HEARNE
A Markham ‘boy’ through and through, Brendan was recruited to strengthen Oakdale’s’ foray into the Heineken Leagues in the 1990s and he became a mainstay in the second row for a number of years, captaining the side in the 1994/1995 season. A tenacious player, you could always rely on Brendan to go into a maul and pop up in the middle after taking the ball from the opposition. A solid dependable forward who improved all aspects of Oakdale’s forward play. He was recognised for his playing prowess when he was selected to play for Welsh Districts against Holland and Belgium in the 1996 season
JONATHAN HAWKER
Another product of our minis and junior section, Jonathan grew up playing rugby with Richard Smith and they both gained numerous regional honours before leaving school. Jonathan started his senior career with Newbridge before moving to Ebbw Vale becoming the first ever player to command a transfer fee. It was at Ebbw Vale where he gained his Wales ‘A’ cap.. After leaving Ebbw Vale he moved onto Bristol where he enjoyed a number of successful seasons before returning home to play for Pontypool
MATTHEW JAMES
Matthew grew up in a well-known rugby family in the village and played minis, junior and youth rugby for Oakdale. After moving out of the village he started his senior career with Garndiffaith before being quickly snapped up by Newbridge. He continued his first class rugby career in Wales with Ebbw Vale and Bridgend before the transition into regional rugby saw him move over to France where he had a successful spell with Bourgoin. Matthew gained international honours in 2002 when he represented Wales in their ‘A’ team
OWEN DAVIES
Always destined for great things, Owen had a rugby ball in his hands at birth and never let it go. A standout player for Oakdale mini and junior rugby he soon progressed into the Dragons set-up and represented Wales at under 16 level. His senior career started at Newbridge and he gained under 20s Welsh honours whilst at Newport in 2015. After a year spent in New Zealand with Waikaka, he returned to studying and played for Cardiff University After graduating he returned to the Dragons for two seasons before setting off on his travels again to play for USRC Tigers in Hong Kong. Owen currently plays for Wimbledon RFC
OLLIE GRIFFITHS
Ollie played his junior rugby in Oakdale before being identified and signed by the Dragons. A typical example of what a modern-day rugby player is, fast, dynamic and as physical as they come. Although injuries have hampered a consistent run in the regional side, they are always better with Ollie playing. He has also played from Cross Keys and Newport at a first-class level and made his welsh debut on the tour to Samoa and Tonga in 2017. Hopefully there will be many more caps to come
MATTHEW J WATKINS
It’s a well-known fact that Matthew never played his rugby in the village (let’s get that out of the way) but he was always a common sight in the club and in the village. Joining Newport in 1997 he went on to make over 300 1st class appearances with Newport, Llanelli, Scarlets, Gloucester, Dragons and Newport as well as making 18 appearances for Wales. After retiring from playing, he took up coaching with Oakdale Minis & Juniors where he really made his mark. An amazing coach & integral member of the section, Matthew lost his battle with cancer in March 2020
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