Cross Keys RFC

File:Cross Keys RFC 1921.jpeg

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 won a cap for Wales. Morris would win 19 caps and captained Wales in 1925.A Century of Welsh Rugby Players 1890-1980, Wayne Thomas; Ansells (1979) pg.61 Caps followed during the 1920s for Ossie Male and Lonza Bowdler, both returned over several seasons for Wales, facing not only 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 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.The Rugby Clubs of Wales pp149, David Parry-Jones (1989) {{ISBN|0-09-173850-4}}

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 1920sSmith (1980), pg 259. and 1930s.Smith (1980), pg 282.

Cross Keys reached the final of the 2011–12 British and Irish Cup, losing to Munster A.{{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}} Cross Keys won their first Swalec Cup, defeating table topping Pontypridd at the Millennium Stadium in 2012.{{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}}

• Welsh Club Champions - 1921–22, 1935–36
• Welsh Division One Champions - 1992–93,{{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 }} 1999–00
• 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

{{Rugby squad start}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=PR | name=John Lavender}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=Wales | pos=PR | name=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}}

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 caps, 1 British and Irish Lions cap
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Frederick Arthur Bowdler (15 caps)Smith (1980), pg 463.
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Archibald "Archie" Brown
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Lloyd Burns (7 caps)
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Mervyn Hicks (Great Britain Rugby League)
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Ron Herrera (8 caps)Smith (1980), pg 466.
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Jack Hurrell (1 cap)
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Ossie Male (11 caps)Smith (1980), pg 469.
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Steve Morris (19 caps)
• {{flagicon|WAL}} Con Murphy (3 caps)
• {{flagicon|WAL}} Gerwyn Price
• {{flagicon|WAL}} Dai Rees
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Fred Reeves (2 caps)Smith (1980), pg 471.
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Rex Richards (1 cap)
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Russell Taylor (3 caps), 1938 British LionsSmith (1980), pg 472.
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Joe Thompson (1 cap) for Wales (RU). Whilst at Leeds (Great Britain RL 12 caps, Wales RL 8 caps, Other Nationalities RL 5 caps)
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Trevor Williams (8 caps)Smith (1980), pg 473.
• {{Flagicon|WAL}} Stanley 'Docker' Winmill (2 caps)Smith (1980), pg 474.

2006/06-2009/10

2010/11-2019/20

2020/21-

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{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}}

• [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