Neath RFC play Royal Wootton Bassett RFC at The Gnoll on Saturday, August 30 (3.00pm) and it will be a case of two sets of All Blacks playing each other.

Neath, of course, are the oldest All Blacks and – when rugby football was first played in Wales – Neath can trace their roots to 1864 when the following article appeared in “The Cambrian” on Friday, November 4 :-

“FOOTBALL – It is with much pleasure that we announce the formation of a Club for playing this healthy game during the winter months at Neath. On Thursday a game was played in a field near Court Herbert, though the number of players was not so large as may be expected when the Club becomes more formed. As President, we notice the name of J.T.D. Llewellyn Esq., a gentleman well known in the neighbourhood for the interest he takes in all athletic games – under his auspices we think the Club cannot but succeed. The rules of the game, as played at Rugby, are being attended to, and would some other club in this locality adopt the same, a spirited match might soon be looked for.”

That account puts Neath firmly among the oldest clubs in the country but the All Blacks (Welsh version) will come up against the Wiltshire All Blacks on August 30 – for that is Royal Wootton Basset’s nickname although they are much younger as they were formed in 1971.

Before the ‘Battle of the All Blacks’ (Wales v Wiltshire), Neath RFC has two other interesting warm-ups – against Gorseinon (Thursday, August 14 – 7.30pm) and against London Welsh (Saturday, August 23 – 3.00pm).