Overview
A founder member of the Welsh Rugby Union, Swansea RFC is one of Wales' oldest and most illustrious rugby clubs. It was the first to beat the 'big three' touring teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, and enjoyed multiple Welsh Cup and Merit Table successes, over its first 150 years. Formed in 1872 as an association football team before converting to rugby football in 1874, White Gold tells the fascinating story of the club's first 15 years, when a group of Swansea cricketers established a football club for winter recreation, found a home at St. Helen's and how they created an open, running playing style that quickly became known and revered around the rugby world. Lavishly illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, White Gold has been meticulously researched by club historian David Dow and is the most comprehensive study of the early days of rugby in Swansea ever published. White Gold also vividly describes rugby politics both inside and outside of Wales, the social attitudes of the day and how they influenced Welsh rugby and society. David Dow's comprehensive and definitive study also contains extensive appendices covering all the players, the club's first internationals, complete fixture lists, club captains and point-scorers of the period.
Full Product Details
Author: David Dow
Publisher: St David's Press
Imprint: St David's Press
Dimensions:
Width: 17.00cm
, Height: 2.70cm
, Length: 24.40cm
Weight: 0.986kg
ISBN: 9781904609070
ISBN 10: 1904609074
Pages: 580
Publication Date: 08 June 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Out of stock
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.
Reviews
‘an incredible insight into the formation of Swansea RFC: its characters, games played and the evolution of the ‘Swansea Style’.’ David Richards, Swansea, Wales and British & Irish Lions; ‘White Gold describes accurately and entertainingly, the formation and rise of one of rugby’s great clubs. The personalities and sometimes bizarre events will fascinate and educate the reader. There is something here for everyone and it is a valuable addition to our knowledge of early rugby in Wales.’ Mike Ruddock, Swansea (player & coach), Wales & Ireland (coach)
'an incredible insight into the formation of Swansea RFC: its characters, games played and the evolution of the 'Swansea Style'.' David Richards, Swansea, Wales and British & Irish Lions; 'White Gold describes accurately and entertainingly, the formation and rise of one of rugby's great clubs. The personalities and sometimes bizarre events will fascinate and educate the reader. There is something here for everyone and it is a valuable addition to our knowledge of early rugby in Wales.' Mike Ruddock, Swansea (player & coach), Wales & Ireland U20s (coach)
Author Information
David Dow is the archivist at Swansea RFC. A former official photographer to Ospreys Rugby, he spearheaded the creation of a digital archive at Swansea RFC, in partnership with Swansea University, to protect & promote the unique cricket and rugby collection at St. Helen's.
