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Megan Webb

We must also mention Megan Webb in the centre category as the only female playing for the Ath M&J age group to go on and play for the Senior Welsh Women’s side, and join her cousin Rhys and other Ath Welsh Senior Caps on the Club Internationals wall.

Megan played until the maximum mixed age of U13 winning many POY awards, before joining Cardiff Harlequins and Cardiff Blues. Megan also has U18 Caps and played for the Wales Women’s Sevens side. Her 5 caps to date have come against Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Barbarians & France.

Carle Ellis

Made 1^ST XV debut in season 1998-99 and played in the 2001-2002 Silver Ball final against British Steel on the Brewery Field. Played for 2^nd XV season 2014-2015 17 years later.

A strong powerful centre with a trademark hand off and scorer of 45 tries. Sidestep was not an option for Carle.

As one of old club characters as part of Byrne, Stoker, Towzer, Bailey group their Saturday post-match activities were as much talked about as their on-field exploits.

Robert Coles

Son of club treasurer Terry, Robert burst onto the scene while still in youth with his try scoring in the semi-final of the Silver Ball and two tries in the final of the 2001-2002 campaign while on the wing.

Robert’s 89 1^st team tries is the 4^th highest recorded 1^St XV tries and 8^th highest senior tries while is 20 1^ST XV tries in a season is the 8^th highest recorded. Amazingly with only tries scored his 445 points is also the 8^th highest senior points scored.

Robert is one of the quickest players to have played for the Athletic. He soon converted to inside centre where he struck up a tremendous partnership with outside half Stuart Morris. Stuart would draw the defence and chip over their head for Robert to catch and outsprint any defender. His 89 tries in 168 games is a tremendous ratio of scoring a try every 1.8 games.

Llanelli came calling – but after a season Robert returned to the Athletic preferring to play for enjoyment rather than in a more stereotyped way.

Hywel Davies

Hywel “Fuzz Davies” played 1^ST XV rugby between seasons 2003-2011.

He was a John Dawes type centre with a good rugby brain who could draw defenders and subtly put his fellow players into space. Also, a good defender. His 17 tries also demonstrated he knew where the try line was.

He is now a Mini & Junior coach of the team his son plays in.

Tom Goodwin

Tom the son of 1^ST XV match assistant Phil started in the Ath U9’s and played alongside James Hook with the Central Glamorgan Distict side before going on to play rugby with the Ath youth team.

He was on the 1^ST XV scene mainly between 2006-2011 playing in Div 1 West Central and the Championship, at centre or wing.

He was a solid reliable player with a sound defence and strong burst and a good pass.

His best memories are playing Maesteg in the Swalec Cup Season 2006-2007 and defeating Bridgend when in Div 1 West Season 2009-2010.

Wayne Yardley

Brother of current Ath Youth Team and former 1^ST XV Coach Paul, Wayne first featured in senior rugby season 1993-1994. He was on the bench for the 2001-2002 Silver Ball Final.

Wayne an ebullient and wise cracking character was a strong running powerful centre with a good 25% average try scoring record per game.

Marc Bennett

Marc played seasons 2003-2009 before joining Aberavon as a full back where he scored the try that relegated the Ravens, before joining them 2 seasons later playing in a back three including Michael Powell.

His 32 1^st XV tries is the 24^th highest recorded.

He was an extremely talented player with a great sidestep who was equally at home in the full back or outside half as well as centre position. His 41 tries in 98 games is testament to his rugby skills.

Chris Price

Chris was in the2007 Ath Youth squad that defeated Waunarlwydd 26-3 in the final of the Webb Ellis WelshYouth Cup.

Chris played for the 1^ST XV in 2012-2013. He is a brave centre who will try and run through centres much larger than him and a strong tackler.

Could have made a lot more appearances than his 82 to date but a succession of injuries and drifting in and out of rugby has not seen him realise his full potential.

Tom Morgan

Tom Morgan brother of Welsh full back and former Ath youth cap at outside half Matthew was a No 8 in the 2009 Youth side that won the Webb Ellis Cup Final and started as No 8 in senior season 2009-2011 before joining Bridgend Ravens.

 Returned for a spell in the Championship converting to centre and wreaking havoc with his speed and strength. Scored a try from his own 22 shaking off Championship leaders Ebbw Vale defenders like rag dolls.

Played twice last season for the Ath on permit in the centre before in the New Year trying a new venture as a Player Coach at Pyle.

Michael Hathaway

Son of former club stalwart full back and coach Huw.

Michael a gifted player able to play at high skill levels at full back, outside half or centre was part of the youth Welsh & League Cup winning side of 2008-2009, also making 3 1^ST XV appearances that season.

Resumed Ath career season 2012-2013 playing through our Championship seasons. A prolific try scorer with 29 tries in his 74 senior appearances.

Transferred from Ath to Bedwas to link up with Bedwas coach and former Ath player Tom Cole.

Tom Jenkins

Tom made his first XV senior debut in season 2016-2017 and has since been an ever present normally at inside centre.

He is an exceptionally reliable and consistent performer doing all the basics of the position with good distribution and a sound defence.

Stuart Floyd – Ellis

Part of recent youth side that under coach Lee Grabham won the Welsh Youth Cup and the following season the Welsh Youth League.

Has a big sidestep and turn of speed that has made him a prolific try scorer at both youth and senior level. Now dual registered with Bridgend Ravens – but always makes himself available whenever not required by the Ravens. Also supports the club off the field.

Rhys Ward Jones

Rhys is the son of respected Athleic Club sponsor Ward Jones.

Rhys made his debut during the 2013-2014 Championship season, A speedy and comparative centre made an impression in his first two season crossing for an average of a try every 3 games, which attracted the Ravens where he joined them as mainly a wing three quarter remaining on dual registration with the Athletic. Now retired from rugby.

James Olds

An extremely fast an elusive centre who could beat a player on a sixpence with a sidestep and turn of speed.

Played 2009-2012 in 1^ST XV scoring 12 tries in 34 games.

Followed his brother Ollie to Australia and playing rugby league there now with New South Wales club Albury Thunder Like his brother capped for Wales rugby league in 2018-2019 and for Wales 9’S Rugby League side.

Tom Davies

Like Stuart Floyd-Ellis a valuable member of the successful Ath youth side under Lee Grabham – though as a flanker.

The Athletic at that time were suffering a dearth of centres so experimented with Tom in that position. He took to the position like a duck to water where his long strides made him quick and able to make line breaks and score important tries. His back-row experience also benefited his sound defence.

Last season went to Plymouth University and was only able to play when home on leave. His father Rod is the current 1^ST XV Physio.

Joe Patterson

Son of former Ath flanker Andrew and grandson of former Bridgend flanker George.

Joe was like Stuart and Tom part of the successful Ath youth side as a strong and fast centre or wing.

He has played in both positions in the 1^ST XV. Last season did harbour thoughts during preseason when he trained hard of reverting to flanker. Moved to Cardiff and disappeared late 2019. Hopefully will return next season.

Dan O’Sullivan

Very much the new kid on the block. Made his 1^ST XV debut as a substitute against Tondu when a 3^rd year youth player and impressed to then make the position his own.

A tall well-built strong player who gained a Wales U16 Cap and was part of an Ospreys Development squad – though a serious knee injury ruled out many youth appearances for the Ospreys or Ath.

Hopefully will now stay injury free and add strength to the Ath midfield.