View source for Cross Keys RFC

{{Infobox rugby team
  | teamname    = Cross Keys RFC
  | image       = Crosskeys RFC logo.jpg
  | fullname    = Cross Keys Rugby Football Club
  | nickname    = The Keys
  | location    = [[Crosskeys]], [[Wales]]
  | countryflag = Wales
  | founded     = {{Start date and age|1885}}<ref>''The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales'' page 178, John Davies, [[Nigel Jenkins]], Menna Baines and Peredur Lynch (2008) {{ISBN|978-0-7083-1953-6}}</ref>
  | ground      = Pandy Park
  | capacity    = 3,000
  | president   = {{flagicon|Wales}} Terry Howell
  | coach       = {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Morgan Stoddart]]<br />{{flagicon|Wales}} Greg Woods<br />{{flagicon|Wales}} Gewsyn Price-Jones 
  | captain     = Corey Nicholls
  | league      = [[Welsh Premier Division]]
  | season      = 2024-2025
  | position    = [[Welsh Premier Division]], 6th
  | url         = www.crosskeysrfc.com/
  | pattern_la1=_black_hoops| pattern_b1=_blackhoops
| pattern_ra1=_black_hoops| leftarm1=FFFFFF| body1=FFFFFF| rightarm1=FFFFFF| shorts1=000000| socks1=000000 }}

'''Cross Keys RFC''' ({{langx|cy|'''Clwb Rygbi Pont-y-Cymer'''}}) is a [[rugby union]] club located in the [[Wales|Welsh]] village of [[Crosskeys]]. The club is a member of the [[Welsh Rugby Union]], and is a feeder club for the [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]] regional team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3877085.stm |title=Wales' regional rugby map |author=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=2004-07-08 |access-date=2008-06-03}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Cross Keys RFC 1921.jpeg|thumb|Cross Keys RFC, Stade Bergeyre, France, 1 November 1921]]
The club achieved first class-status in 1909, winning the Monmouthshire league three times.{{cn|date=April 2019}}

By 1920 the team had their first international player, when [[Steve Morris (rugby union)|Steve Morris]] won a cap for [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]. Morris would win 19 caps and captained Wales in 1925.<ref>''A Century of Welsh Rugby Players 1890-1980'', Wayne Thomas; Ansells (1979) pg.61</ref> Caps followed during the 1920s for [[Ossie Male]] and [[Lonza Bowdler]], both returned over several seasons for Wales, facing not only [[Six Nations Championship|Five Nations Championships]] but also touring teams.

In 1926 Cross Keys RFC found themselves in dire financial trouble, and requested help from the [[Welsh Rugby Union]]. The WRU refused an appeal for a cash loan, but instead agreed to send the [[Wales national rugby union team|Welsh national team]] to play in an exhibition match at Pandy Park. The sell-out crowd assured Cross Keys future and resulted in an historic win for the home team thirteen points to eight.<ref>''The Rugby Clubs of Wales'' pp149, [[David Parry-Jones]] (1989) {{ISBN|0-09-173850-4}}</ref>

Rugby observers have noted the high level of talent in the Cross Keys pack, and criticised the fact they went under represented in the national team during the 1920s<ref name="Smith259">Smith (1980), pg 259.</ref> and 1930s.<ref name="Smith282">Smith (1980), pg 282.</ref>

Cross Keys reached the final of the [[2011–12 British and Irish Cup]], losing to [[Munster rugby|Munster A]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17647048|title=BBC Sport - British and Irish Cup: Cross Keys 20-16 Cornish Pirates|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Cross Keys won their first Swalec Cup, defeating table topping [[Pontypridd RFC|Pontypridd]] at the Millennium Stadium in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Swalec Cup: Cross Keys 32-19 Pontypridd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17982257 | publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2012|access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

== Club honours ==
* Welsh Club Champions - 1921–22, 1935–36
* Welsh Division One Champions - 1992–93,<ref name="rugbyarchive.net">{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/PaginaCompetizioni.aspx?ID%3D73 |title=- the history of rugby through its competitions |access-date=2014-06-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207041734/http://www.rugbyarchive.net/pagine/PaginaCompetizioni.aspx?ID=73 |archive-date=2013-12-07 }}</ref> 1999–00<ref name="rugbyarchive.net"/>
*British and Irish Cup Runners-Up - 2011–12
*Swalec Cup Winners - 2011–12
* Swalec Cup Runners-Up - 2013–14
*Welsh Premier Division Runners-Up - 2013–2014
* WRU Admiral Championship East Promotion (3rd) - 2023-24

==Current squad==

{{Rugby squad start}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=PR | name=John Lavender}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=PR | name=[[Leon Brown (rugby union)|Leon Brown]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=PR | name=Lewis Pryce-Jones}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=PR | name=Richard Cornock}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=PR | name= Jordan Rogers}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Poland | pos=PR | name= Jake Wisniewski}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=PR | name= Aaron Dowse}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=HK | name=Nathan Huish}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=HK | name=Connah Vaughan}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=HK | name=Connah Hughes}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=HK | name=Chris Davies}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=HK | name=Louis Tovey}} 
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=LK | name= Josh Wall}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=LK | name= Kiaran Lewis}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=LK | name= Osian Rowe}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=LK | name= Matthew Hall}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=LK | name=Brian Feeney}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=LK | name=Callum Hague}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=LK | name=Tom Lampard}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=LK| name=Harvey Reader}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FL | name=Sam Taylor}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FL | name=Jake Davies}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FL | name=Jack Davies}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FL | name=Alfy Johnson}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FL | name=Ashley Gibson}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FL | name=Morgan Koloi}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FL | name=Will Gregory}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FL | name=Chris Johnsey}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=N8 | name=Lewis Robey}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=N8 | name=Joe Thomas}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=N8 | name=Kobi Rees}}
{{Rugby squad mid}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=SH | name=Dan Babos}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=SH | name=Dan Buffrey}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=SH | name=Zach Bartlett }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=SH | name=Sam Ireland }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FH | name=Harri Ford}} 
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FH | name=Ben Murphy }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FH | name=Drew Musa}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FH | name=Owain Davies}}  
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=CE | name=Kieran Vodden}} 
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=CE | name=Alec Jones}} 
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | 
pos=CE | name=Kellan Nicholls}} 
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales |pos=CE | name=Tom Sullivan}} 
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=CE | name=Liam Thomas}} 
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=CE | name=Corey Nicholls }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=CE | name=Adam Tetley }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=WG | name=Ralph Miller}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=WG | name=James Smith}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=WG | name=Lawrence Donnelly}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=WG | name=Josh Congreve}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=WG | name=Will Rees}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=WG | name=Walker Price }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=WG | name=Tom Gillespie }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=WG | name=Tom Davies}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FB | name=Callum Tomsa}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FB | name=Ben Elliott}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FB | name=Jake Hillman }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=FB | name=Morgan Johns}}
{{Rugby squad end}}

== Notable former players ==
The following list is made up of ex-Cross Keys players who have all won international caps as either a rugby union or [[rugby league]] player.
:''See also [[:Category:Cross Keys RFC players]]''

* {{flagicon|WAL}} [[George Boots]]
* {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Taulupe Faletau]] 38 [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] caps, 1 [[British and Irish Lions]] cap
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Lonza Bowdler|Frederick Arthur Bowdler]] (15 caps)<ref name="Smith463">Smith (1980), pg 463.</ref>
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Archie Brown (rugby)|Archibald "Archie" Brown]]
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Lloyd Burns]] (7 caps)
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Mervyn Hicks]] (Great Britain Rugby League)
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Ron Herrera]] (8 caps)<ref name="Smith466">Smith (1980), pg 466.</ref>
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Jack Hurrell]] (1 cap)
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Ossie Male]] (11 caps)<ref name="Smith469">Smith (1980), pg 469.</ref>
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Steve Morris (rugby union)|Steve Morris]] (19 caps)<ref name="Smith469"/>
* {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Con Murphy (rugby, born 1908)|Con Murphy]] (3 caps)
* {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Gerwyn Price]]
* {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Dai Rees (rugby union, born 1964)|Dai Rees]]
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Fred Reeves]] (2 caps)<ref name="Smith471">Smith (1980), pg 471.</ref>
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Rex Richards (rugby player)|Rex Richards]] (1 cap)<ref name="Smith471"/>
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Russell Taylor (rugby player)|Russell Taylor]] (3 caps), 1938 British Lions<ref name="Smith472">Smith (1980), pg 472.</ref>
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Joe Thompson (rugby)|Joe Thompson]] (1 cap) for [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales (RU)]].<ref name="Smith472"/> Whilst at [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] ([[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain RL]] 12 caps, [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales RL]] 8 caps, [[Other Nationalities rugby league team|Other Nationalities RL]] 5 caps)
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Trevor Williams (rugby union)|Trevor Williams]] (8 caps)<ref name="Smith473">Smith (1980), pg 473.</ref>
* {{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Stanley Winmill|Stanley 'Docker' Winmill]] (2 caps)<ref name="Smith474">Smith (1980), pg 474.</ref>

==Games played against international opposition==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Year
!Date
!Opponent
!Result
!Score
!Tour
|- 
|1985
|9 October
|{{ru|FIJ}}
|Loss
|12-26
|1985 Fiji rugby union tour of Wales and Ireland<ref>{{cite book |editor= Stephen Jones |title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1986-87|year=1986 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn= 0-356-12361-8|page=38}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|2 November
|{{ru|POL}}
|Loss
|37-12
|2022 [[Rugby Europe Championship]] Preparations <ref>{{cite web | url=https://community.wru.wales/2022/11/03/stoddart-steals-away-win-at-pandy-park-as-poles-triumph/ | title=Stoddart steals 'away' win at Pandy Park as Poles' triumph | date=3 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/23099522.cross-keys-beaten-poland-pandy-park-friendly/ | title=Keys boss Stoddart happy with away win at Pandy Park earned by Polish power | date=3 November 2022 }}</ref>
|}

== Past season performance ==
'''2006/06-2009/10'''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Season
! League
! Finish
! Number of Teams
|-
| 2006-07
| Premiership
| 13th 
| 14
|-
| 2007-08
| Premiership
| 11th
| 15
|-
| 2008-09
| Premiership
| 9th
| 14
|-
| 2009-10
| Premiership
| 10th
| 14
|}

'''2010/11-2019/20'''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Season
! League
! Finish
! Number of Teams
|-
| 2010-11
| Premiership
| 6th
| 14
|-
| 2011-12
| Premiership
| 6th
| 14
|-
| 2012-13
| Premiership
| 5th 
| 12
|-
| 2013-14
| Premiership
| 3rd
| 12
|-
| 2014-15
| Premiership
| 3rd
| 12
|-
| 2015-16
| Premiership
| 4th
| 12
|-
| 2016-17
| Premiership
| 12th
| 16
|-
| 2017-18
| Premiership
| 11th
| 16
|-
| 2018-19
| Premiership
| 14th
| 16
|-
| 2019-20
| Championship
| 7th
| 14
|}

'''2020/21-'''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Season
! League
! Finish
! Number of Teams
|-
|-
| 2020-21
| align=center colspan="7" |[[COVID-19]]
|-
| 2021-22
| Championship
| 7th
| 14
|-
| 2022-23
| Championship
| 8th
| 14
|-
| 2023-24
| Championship East
| 3rd
| 12
|-
| 2024-25
| Premiership
| '''TBC'''
| 13
|-
|}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last=Smith |first=David |author2=Williams, Gareth |title=Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union |year=1980 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |isbn=0-7083-0766-3}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.crosskeysrfc.com/ Official Site of Cross Keys RFC]
{{British and Irish Cup}}
{{Rugby union in Wales}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cross Keys Rfc}}
[[Category:Rugby union teams in Wales]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1885]]
[[Category:1885 establishments in Wales]]
[[Category:Sport in Caerphilly County Borough]]