HAYDN MORGAN
Haydn was born in Oakdale, starting his rugby career in the village before being moving, at 18, to Abertillery RFC. He was awarded 27 caps for Wales & toured with the 1959 & 1962 British Lions, making four appearances across tours to New Zealand & Australia and South Africa. Although a reliable & 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. Hadyn often returned to the village to help out with training and was often a ‘guest’ referee at pre-season trial games which guaranteed a big crowd would come to watch (the referee!)

WILLIAM TREVOR ‘OCKER’ THOMAS
Born in Merthyr in 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 for Wales versus England in 1930. Overwhelmed by the occasion he was arrested in Newport for over exuberance afterwards. He was a miner in Oakdale but when the great depression struck and work was scarce in the mines he took the decision to switch codes & move north to rugby league. Ocker gained representative honours playing rugby league for Wales, earning one cap, whilst also playing for Oldham and Wigan, making 241 appearances over seven seasons as a second row. Some say he was a ‘big man with a squeaky voice’ but no-one ever said that to him face-to-face!

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. He played for the Barbarians, the Gwent and British Police, Crawshay’s Welsh and the County teams against the All-Blacks and Springboks. He was Ebbw Vale Player of the Year in 1975, captain of the club four seasons in the Seventies, played four times for Wales A, was a Wales Reserve and worthy of a full cap. He made his Ebbw Vale debut in September 1965 and retired in 1981 after 608 appearances, a club record, earning a reputation as a very difficult and ‘hard’ forward to scrummage against. Gareth’s brother, Keith also played for and captained Oakdale, before transferring to Saracens in London.

RICHARD SMITH
Richard played his club rugby for Oakdale, before moving on to Cardiff, Sale Sharks, Merthyr, Bristol, Worcester Warriors, Ebbw Vale, Newport and Newbridge. A talented no.9, he was a regular in the Wales 22 but often overlooked for the likes of Robert Howley or Rupert Moon. He attained his only cap coming on as substitute against France at Cardiff but his skills & knowledge made him a prized possession whichever club he played for. When he joined Cardiff RFC former coach Dai Young said, ‘Richard is a man for all seasons, equally good whatever type of game we try to play – I am absolutely delighted that he is joining us.’ Richard carved out a very successful coaching career in the west of Canada when he retired but has now returned home and is a popular current member of our club.

PAUL YOUNG
Paul started his rugby career with Oakdale Under 7’s and played at every level that we put on the pitch. Whilst playing for Oakdale Youth, his skills and his leadership qualities were recognised & he became North Monmouthshire Youth Captain, leading them to the national M.K. Electric Cup. His performances were noticed by selectors and he represented Wales at Youth Level during the 1989/1990 season. 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 league having also represented Wales at this level; Paul has also coached Oakdale at senior level and has remained close to the club since his playing days ended.

JOHN JEFFRERY
John was born in Oakdale and educated at Pontllanfraith Grammar School where he represented Welsh Schools in the 1962-1963 season. His abilities were spotted early by Rhymney RFC who signed him as a youngster and from there he progressed to Ebbw Vale RFC before joining Newport RFC in 1965. He played there 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. John also represented Monmouthshire, Crawshays and the Barbarians and upon retiring he returned to the village to coach the senior side for a number of seasons.

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 hard men, 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 and appeared in a Challenge Cup final, Paul played fullback in Hull RLFC’s 5-10 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1980 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, on Saturday 3 May 1980, in front of a crowd of 95,000. Paul sadly passed away in 2008 due to leukaemia.

CLIVE DAVIES
Clive ended his rugby playing career with Oakdale where he became a Player/Coach in a successful period of the club gaining promotion to Division 1 of the Monmouthshire league structure in his second season. He started off his playing career at Tredegar Rugby Club before moving on and signing to play for Newbridge Rugby Club, captaining them for three seasons and where he gained international recognition gaining three caps. A big, imposing back row forward with a moustache to match, he toured Australia in the 1980s with Wales and due to many injuries ended up playing alongside a certain JPR Williams in the back row. Clive represented the Barbarians eight time and also toured France with the Crawshays team.

BILLY CLEAVER
Billy never played for Oakdale Rugby Club but in the three years that he lived on central Avenue in the village there are many instances of him being involved in the development of our village rugby club in its formative years. He became the Manager of Oakdale Colliery in 1950, three years after making his full welsh debut against England in the 1947/48 season going on to make 14 appearances for the national team. In his first year living in the village he was selected to tour with the British Lions to New Zealand where he played ten times on the tour, although not in his favoured position as an outside half, but full back due to injuries. Cleaver, when retired, became secretary of the Contemporary Arts Society for Wales (1972–91) and vice chairman of the Welsh Arts Council (1980–83).

JOHN PATRICK O’SHEA
John was born in Weston Super Mare and educated at Lewis Boys School, in Pengam along with John Dawes. They were both members of the Oakdale Youth team before completing their education. O’Shea was selected for the 1968 British Lions tour to South Africa and played in the first international against South Africa. In the match against Eastern Transvaal he became the first Lion ever to be sent off for foul play, after throwing a punch. O’Shea played club rugby for Cardiff between 1963 and 1970, becoming club captain in his final year. In total he played 213 games for them and scored 19 tries. John unfortunately passed away in 2024 and was also the Father of former Scrum V’s roving reporter, Rick O’Shea

JOHN DAWES
Sidney John Dawes OBE was born in 1940 in Chapel of Ease, Abercarn. He was educated at Lewis Boys School, Pengam and on the weekends, played for Oakdale Rugby Club’s Youth team. 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. Dawes also had considerable success as a coach with Wales, and coached the 1977 British Lions. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1972 New Years Honours List for services as Lions captain. and is the only welsh player never to have lost to an English side.

OWEN DAVIES
Always destined for great things, Owen had a rugby ball in his hands at birth & never let it go. The son of a former captain and coach of Oakdale, Owen was a standout player for Oakdale minis and junior rugby. His talent was spotted early and he soon progressed into the Dragons setup and represented Wales at under 16 level and under 18 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, enjoying a successful rugby period in a developing nation. Owen currently plays for Wimbledon RFC

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 career in Wales with Ebbw Vale & Bridgend before the transition into regional rugby saw him move to France where he had a successful spell with Bourgoin. Matthew gained international honours in 2002 representing Wales in their ‘A’ team.

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 village as he grew up in the area. Joining Newport in 1997, he went on to make over 300 1st class appearances with Newport, Llanelli, Scarlets, Gloucester, Dragons and back to finish his career at Newport. Matthew also represented the full Welsh side on 18 occasions. After retiring from rugby he took up coaching with Oakdale Minis & Juniors where he really made his mark. An inspirational coach and an integral member of the section, his side moves into senior rugby in the 2025/2026 season and we are fortunate to have such talented players, a marque of his qualities.

OLLIE GRIFFITHS
Ollie played his junior rugby in Oakdale before being identified and being signed by the Dragons. A typical example of what a modern day rugby player should be, fast, dynamic and as physical as they come. Although injuries hampered a consistent run in the regional side, the Dragons were always better with Ollie in the line-up. Ollie also played for Cross Keys and Newport at a first class level and made his full Welsh debut on the tour to Samoa and Tonga in 2017. Ollie retired from professional rugby in 2024 due to persistent injuries.

WINSTON JONES
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 career in Wales with Ebbw Vale & Bridgend before the transition into regional rugby saw him move to France where he had a successful spell with Bourgoin. Matthew gained international honours in 2002 representing Wales in their ‘A’ team.

BRENDAN A’HEARNE
A ‘Markham boy’ through & 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. Brendan was 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 & Belgium in the 1996 season.

JONATHAN HAWKER
Another product of our Mini & Junior section. Jonathan grew up playing rugby with Richard Smith and they both gained numerous representative honours before leaving school. Jonathan started his senior rugby career with Newbridge before moving to Ebbw Vale. This transfer actually had a Trivial Pursuit question as Jonathan was the first player to move between two clubs which involved a transfer fee (£5000.00). It was Ebbw Vale where he gained international honours gaining a Wales ‘A’ cap. After leaving Ebbw Vale he moved to Bristol where he enjoyed a number of successful seasons before returning home to play for Pontypool.

JOHN ‘BEDWELLTY’ JONES
John would have been Oakdale Rugby Club’s first ever international cap, the only trouble was that Oakdale did not have a rugby club when John pulled on the red jersey. John grew up on Westview Terrace and started his rugby career with Blackwood Crusaders before moving onto Tredegar, Brynmawr, Pontypool and then Abertillery. John won caps while at Abertillery in 1914 against England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. Jones, a collier by trade, was a member of the ‘Terrible Eight’, the nickname the Wales pack was given by the press in the games against Scotland and Ireland in 1914. Both matches were reported as very abrasive contests. Just two weeks after his final rugby union international for Wales, he turned professional when he joined Oldham. He made his début for Oldham against St. Helens on 4 April 1914, and scored three tries in the match.