Cardigan Rugby Club was founded in 1876 making it one of the 30 oldest clubs to be founded, even preceding some of Wales' premier first class clubs such as Bridgend RFC. (1878), Ebbw Vale (1878), Maesteg (1882), and Newbridge in 1881.

Realistically the Club's history can be divided into three phases from foundation to the first world war in 1914, between the wars 1919 - 1939, 1947 to present day.

The era of the pioneers

A group of professional men who set out to form a club in the town, when the new craze of rugby was taking the country by storm.

Rugby had been introduced to Cardigan in the 1860's when the local Free Grammar School had fixtures with Lampeter and Llandovery Colleges. Initially membership was 2s 6d and the club colours played were Oxford Blue. Early travelling to away fixtures was by horse drawn brake, which meant long, cold, hazardous journeys.

Between the wars

After the first world war the club was reformed with many ex servicemen in time for the 1920-21 season. This period saw fixtures with Llanelli, London Welsh, Carmarthen, Laugharne and Burry Port. Under the captaincy of Lyn Jones in 1938-1939 the Club achieved a record season of, Played 29, Won 27 Drawn 1 Lost 1, a record which has still to be beaten.

The 1950's, 60's and 70's

After the second world war the club was again reformed and in 1956 was accepted as a member of the Welsh Rugby Union.

The 50's saw a good playing record for the Club and although the 60's did not start off so well things improved later.

The Athletic Club, which had been administering the Sports Pavilion in King George V Playing Fields found it could not afford to keep the building open and so, at a meeting of the town's sports clubs, Cardigan R.F.C. offered to take control of the building and run it on behalf of the clubs. After carrying out alterations and extensions the new clubhouse opened on April 27th 1967.

On a fateful Sunday night in July 1969, a fire totally destroyed the clubhouse which had been opened barely two years before. Undaunted, the club officials set about the task of planning and overseeing the erection of the present club facility. Astonishingly this was achieved in only four short months.

1976 saw the Club's centenary year and an ambitious programme of fixtures was arranged with many 1st class clubs. Under the captaincy of Graham Rees, an outstanding flanker, the team enjoyed a very successful centenary season against very strong opposition.

1980 to the present day

In 1980, Jonathan Davies, the renowned Welsh International, opened new changing facilities, a very welcome addition to the club's facilities and indeed, so a rolling programme of improvements carried on.

The 1990/1 season saw the pitch, often a quagmire in wet winters, being completely levelled, drained and re-seeded at a cost of £50,000. This large sum of money was raised, in the main by Denley Rees, backed by a hard working committee.

Mrs V M Gollop--a period of commitment and sponsorship

The club will forever be indebted to the late Mrs V.M. Gollop who, throughout the late 1980's and early 1990's dug deep to ensure the club could count on facilities to be proud of.

Without her generosity and sheer determination, the club would not now be able to count on the facilities of floodlights, erected in 1992, and, erected in time for the 1992/3 season, the permanent 350 seater, all weather stand which is the envy of most clubs who come to play at Cardigan and which bears Mrs Gollop's name..

Following Mrs Gollop's death, her son Ian has continued the family tradition with generous gifts and donations for the development of facilities.

Ian Gollop, elected Life President of the club in 2001 continues to work energetically for the good of the club and words cannot adequately express the gratitude felt be all members of the club for the Gollop's generous input.

Extracts from "A history of Cardigan Rugby Club" first published in The Cardigan & Tivyside Advertiser in 1992. Our thanks to Mr Donald Davies, the well known Cardigan Historian for permission to use his work.