Corus (Port Talbot) RFC

Corus Saints RFC

Full name	Corus Saints Rugby Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Saints
Founded	1908
Location	Port Talbot, Wales
Ground(s)	Margam Sports & Social Club, Port Talbot
Chairman	Alf Hays
Coach(es)	Lee Ratti
League(s)	WRU Division One West
2009/10	3rd[1]
Team kit
Official website
corusrugby.co.uk

Corus Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union clubs based in Port Talbot. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Ospreys.^[2]

The club was historically known as The S.C.O.W (Steel Company of Wales) but changed its name to British Steel RFC in the late 1960s when the steel manufacture British Steel evolved from The SCOW. The name CORUS was adopted following the demise of British Steel but locally, the team is still known as "The SCOW".

The team plays at the sports ground at Margam (just off J.38 of the M4) which it shares with other sections - Cricket, Soccer, Bowls etc.

Although it could be considered as a "works side" traditionally most of its players have not worked within the industry but have been Margam and Port Talbot parishners.

Over the years there has been a mistaken belief that the steel industry itself have sponsored the team, though this is untrue. Since 1980, the club has been totally self-sufficient due to the work of the committee and sponsors.

Like many of other rugby clubs, during the earlier part of this Century, playing numbers started to dwindle and the Club successfully joined up with a local District side called St Josephs Old Boys RFC. This jump started the Club and they quickly moved up the leagues.

Since the formation of the professional era the club has lost its local player base but this is being effectively managed

players of note

Traditionally the club has produced a strong youth team. Between the 1960s and 1980s in particular the team was one of the strongest lower tier clubs in Wales producing the following players who moved on to the then "first class" set up - Mark Morgan (Aberavon RFC), Alfred "Alfie" Hayes (Bridgend RFC), John Mahoney (Aberavon RFC), Richie Davies (Aberavon RFC) - Captain during their Centenary Season, Hedley Jenkins Bridgend RFC, Paul Hughes (Neath RFC), Jeffrey Griffiths (Aberavon RFC, Llanelli RFC and Wales (Romania 1979- an un-capped game at the time)), Martin Thomas (Aberavon RFC), Paul Ridsdale (Aberavon RFC), Robert Emmitt Aberavon RFC, Kevin O'Leary Aberavon RFC, Hywel Evans Aberavon RFC,Phil George Aberavon RFC, Dai Rees Aberavon RFC & South Wales Police RFC,Ian Rees (Neath RFC), Robert Beresford (Aberavon RFC), Andrew Jones (Aberavon RFC and Bridgend RFC), Stuart Evans (Swansea RFC, Neath RFC and Wales), Dai Joseph (Aberavon RFC, Swansea RFC, Cardiff RFC and Neath RFC), Huw Griffiths (Aberavon RFC and South Wales Police RFC), Lee Bridgeman (Aberavon RFC, Deane Jones (Aberavon RFC, South Wales Police RFC and Neath RFC), Richard Diplock (Wales - one cap v. Romania 1988), Chris Bradshaw (Aberavon RFC), Bridgend RFC, Cardiff RFC and Swansea RFC), Wayne Morris (Aberavon RFC), Phil Hamley (Aberavon RFC)- Captain.

References

1. ^ WRU official site
2. ^ BBC News (2004-07-08). "Wales' regional rugby map". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3877085.stm. Retrieved 2009-01-09.