150 years ago on the last Saturday in January in 1872, 15 young men took the field to play rugby football for NEATH against 15 opponents from Swansea in what is the first recorded club fixture in Wales.

This Saturday, Neath line up against unbeaten Championship leaders Bargoed at The Gnoll (kick off 2.30pm)  exactly 150 years on and Gnoll supporters are encouraged to come along and mark the birthday.

Then next week, Neath’s 150th celebrations go “All White”.

With a full programme of WRU league fixtures lined up for Saturday, both clubs were keen to mark one of the most significant milestones in Welsh rugby history by playing a fixture as close to the original date as possible.

Therefore, on Friday, February 4, Neath and Swansea will do battle again at St. Helen’s (kick off 7.15pm) thus returning the early-season celebration fixture played at The Gnoll in September when Swansea held off a strong Neath rally and won 17-14.

And before that on Monday January 31, the next generation – Neath Schools Under-15’s will play their Swansea counterparts at The Gnoll (kick off 6.00pm) to make it a week of Black and White rugby.