News

Recent acquisition on 1^st XV players missing statistics and achievements end 2000-2001 season and seasons 2001-2003 have been addressed in Ath history reports post 1995.

We are now updating players profiles pre 1995 below whose recorded appearances have increased significantly.

Revised Player Profiles 1985-90

Stuart Morris – Outside Half, Full Back

529 Apps, 471 1^ST XV – 160 tries and 4723 points

Played outside half, full back, wing, and centre. Awarded Club Cap 2012.

First 1^st XV App while in Youth on Scottish Tour on Jan 19^th, 1989 against Marr contributing 15 pts 3P, 3C in 27-11 win (David Williams try scorer in game) Last 1^st XV App Nov 2019 in 17-12 win at Waunarlwydd 30 years later

Stuart’s Club Records:

Only Athletic player to break the 500 Appearances mark and points above 4000 points barriers with a remarkable 4723 points in 529 appearances. Difficult to see these stats ever being exceeded.

 Most seasons as captain 8 incl 7 consecutive 1998-2005. During Stuart’s captaincy the club in successive seasons from 2000-2004 went from Div 5 Central to Div 1 West via Div 4 East (Silver Ball Finalist season 2001-2002), Div 3 East, Div 2 West (2003-2004).

 Most Senior Apps 529 – Most 1^St XV Apps 471. Most Ath points – 4723 (incl 160 tries). 136 1^ST XV tries is a record,160 senior tries 2^nd best. while Most Ath points in a season 2003-2004 – 393. Stuart regularly exceeded the 300 points a season landmark. During the 4 promotion seasons he scored 391, 320, 315 and 393 points – an astonishing 1419 points averaging 373 points a season.

 Stuart also has many POY awards. Currently Ist XV backs coach since 2013,

 Stuart now administers the fund raising for Ath rugby at all levels the 100+ Club – a true Ath stalwart and legend.

David Williams - Flanker

288 Apps, 231 1^st XV – 45 tries and 225 points

Made his senior debut when Youth Team Captain 88-89. Position Flanker or No 8, David has been involved at senior level – either playing or as 1^ST XV forwards coach or assistant for 34 years since his first XV debut in season 1986-1987. Started coaching the Ath season 2003-2004 as forwards coach alongside backs coach Huw Hathaway – the Ath winning promotion from Div 2 West to Div 3 East.

He is the current forward coach and despite a short 2 season break, when he was still assisting on match days is the longest Ath senior coach with 15 seasons behind him.

He was always a great thinker of the game as well as a tenacious forward and has kept abreast of developments in the game throughout that time. His experience shines through during games when his eagle eye and brain can quickly assess how Ath players are performing and remedy any shortcomings during a game situation.

David is among a select band of 15 players to be awarded Athletic caps and at the POY Presentation Ceremony in 2015 was awarded Club Person of the year as well as the ultimate Athletic honour of becoming a well-deserved Life Member of BARFC.

Lee Grabham - Flanker

245 Apps, 233 1^ST XV – 32 tries and 158 points

Position No 8 or Flanker – also played at lock. Senior debut Season 1988-1989 on Scottish Tour v Marr College - retired 2006.Prominent member of successive promotion seasons from Div 5 Central to Div 1 West 2000-2004. Awarded Club Cap 2013.

Club Captain 2 seasons 1994-1996. Won many MOMS and POY Awards.

A no nonsense immense player who led from the front both as a captain and youth head coach.

Coached M&J team right through age groups and the followed team as Youth Coach. His Youth Team won successive Ospreys League titles and the Welsh Youth Cup and Welsh League Championship. 12 of his youth sides have played 1^ST XV senior rugby.

Wayne Yardley – Centre

138 Apps, 90 1^sts XV, 30 tries and 151 points

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.

He acted as a Team Manager for both the Youth and senior sides and acted as a player link when he joined the main club committee109 Apps, 86 1sts XV, 17 tries and 85 points

Gareth “Bailey” Bartlett first appeared sharing appearances between 1^ST & 2^nd XV in 1999-2000 season. In 2001-2002 replaced the injured Ian Hemburrow and played in the Silver Ball final. Became a regular 1^ST XV player2002-2003 making 28 Apps and followed up in 2003-2004 making 29 appearances in the back row that season. He disappeared following promotion to Div 1 West season 2003-2004 (rumour has it he crossed the bridge in Newbridge Fields!!). However, when the 1sts had a lock crisis in 2017-2018, he came back making 4 appearances before a serious bicep’s injury curtailed his comeback.

Gareth also represented the Welsh Districts in a 14-11 win over Cefn Forest.

Gareth’s aggressive running and ball carrying struck fear into the opposition and one of the characters of the game, he is extremely popular with players and supporters alike.

Revised Player Profiles 1990-95

John Doherty – Scrum Half

323 Apps, 263 1^sts XV, 48 tries and 243 points

Made 1^ST XV debut back in 1992 and last complete season in 1^ST XV 2006-2007 fifteen seasons later. John’s 323 Apps is the 4^th highest recorded Ath senior player Apps

John’s 263 1^st XV Apps is the 7^th highest recorded and his 40 1^ST XV tries the 15^th highest recorded.

Long term half back partner of Stuart Morris which saw the clubs climb 5 divisions. John was a great passer and tactical kicker. He was always awake to openings and trying to speed up play with tap penalties. John was the scrum half for the 2001-2002 Silver Ball final.

Winner of many MOM and POY awards and one of 15 Ath players awarded a club cap.