LAUGHARNE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

The Township of Laugharne is known throughout the literary world as the home of Dylan Thomas. Laugharne RFC is renown through the rugby world for the enterprising play of its back and the stern test afforded by its forwards to any team.

No-one is quite sure when Laugharne Rugby Football Club was formed or the game itself first played here. Our Centenary year took place in 1993/94 because an 1893/4 team photograph is our earliest actual proof of the Club's formation. However, it is said locally that Laugharne had a Rugby team in 1883, and quite probably in 1879, two years before the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union.
 
Evidence for 1879 is strong. A newspaper report appeared that year saying Llandeilo had to cancel their football game in Laugharne because of flooding on the railway line outside Llandeilo. The word ' Rugby' was not used, but in those days football was football and the separate names had not fallen into everyday use. Searching through back issues of The Carmarthen Journal, we have discovered that 'Rugby' was not referred to as such until many years later.
 
The club has always offered its visitors a very warm welcome on the field and magnificent hospitality off the field. Although in recent years the Club has not enjoyed the success the talent it has produced suggests it should enjoy, it has always played with passion.
 
Players nurtured at Laugharne have gone to other Clubs to hone their talents. The classic example being Gary Pearce whose totalling skills were developed at home in Laugharne before flourishing with Bridgend RFC, Llanelli RFC and Wales. He was a fine Ambassador for Laugharne RFC. It is a testimony to the Club that players who have tested rugby with the larger Clubs are anxious to end their playing days back home in Laugharne, contributing to the development of the Club.