RGC 1404 v Newport RFC by John Evans, 10th October 2026
Newport headed north in a buoyant mood; four wins from four with bonus points from each game can have that effect on a team. However, one club that is very good at upsetting the apple cart is RGC. Their talismanic outside half, Billy McBryde, was making his 100th appearance for he Gogs, as they call themselves, and he surely would want to beat the league leaders on his home ground.
Speaking of milestone appearances, Wade Langley was making his 50th outing in Black & Amber in a starting front row unchanged from the unit that bulldozed the Quins last week. Tiger Chatham started at 7 with Hunter Ward making an impact off the bench. The ongoing absence of Carwyn Penny saw Steff Davies start at Full Back.
Newport supporters varied their means of travelling to Colwyn Bay, many trusting Transport for Wales to get them there in a timely manner. If you become aware of a Newport RFC Supporters Club established in Crewe, you’ll know that optimism was misplaced.
There was quite a north-westerly breeze blowing off the North Sea as Will Ford got the game underway, Newport attacking left to right in front of the main stand. RGC fielded well and kicked to touch sensibly. The Black & Ambers tried to mount an attack, good surges by Tiger Chatham, Josh Reid and Joe Westwood stood out, but fierce defence ensured that progress was slow.
Newport got the nudge at the first scrum, but RGC whipped the ball away quickly to get to Newport’s 10-metre line. The Black & Ambers then lost the lineout, an apparent miscalculation of the wind strength making it nigh on impossible for Ben Roach to collect cleanly. RGC went hard at the Newport defence, but a pass out was picked off by Will Ford who sprinted 50-metres before being caught inside RGC’s 22.
A powerful Black & Amber scrum put Newport on the front foot; a neat kick-pass by Will Ford to Fin Baker saw him reach RGC’s 22-metre line, Steff Davies jinked around the cover, getting close to the try line. Dafydd Buckland ensured that the ball remained available, Chay Foster-Smith going close, but the ball popped up to Joe Westwood to crash over under the crossbar. Will Ford added the conversion to make it RGC 0 Newport 7 with 13 minutes played.
RGC started clicking the scoreboard over with a straightforward penalty by Billy McBryde following side entry to a maul. RGC 3 Newport 7 with 15 minutes played.
Newport were soon pinged again for shirt pulling, McBryde kicking his team up to the Newport 22. The Gogs were patient in their build-up, keeping calm and maintaining possession well. Stern defence from Newport, especially from Joe Westwood, seemed to stem the tide, but scrum half Tudur Jones wriggled through a half-tackle and popped the ball off the deck to centre Danny Cross to score. Billy McBryde converted to make it RGC 10 Newport 7 on 22 minutes.
Callum Bradbury made a superb steal to instantly relieve the pressure allowing Newport to work out of defence. Josh Reid was strong in attack, garnering a penalty for no release in the tackle as he went. Will Ford kicked to 10-metres out on the sea side, but a shocking lack of composure saw the position wasted, compounded by the scrum slipping and yielding another penalty.
The hosts were on the attack again, but Josh Reid did exceptionally well to clamp onto the ball and win the turnover. A powerful Newport scrum followed allowing Dafydd Buckland time to spark an attack. The ball quickly worked out to Sam Morgan who chipped ahead and chased his own kick. He only failed to gather following a push in the back. Unfortunately, Newport were awfully slack at the line out, spilling the ball. RGC wing Ieuan Cornelius caught hold and was away, only to be hauled down by Fin Baker. Newport were in possession and tried to spread the ball quickly but failed to be precise, gifting RGC a penalty. The Gogs kicked to the corner, number 8 Sam Williams claiming the lineout before hooker Osian Burt burrowed deep and crossed in the corner. Billy McBryde added the two-pointer to make it RGC 17 Newport 7 with 32 minutes played.
This was already proving to be an uncharacteristic Newport performance; too many mistakes by too many people was allowing RGC to dominate nearly every aspect of play. It would get worse.
Will Ford kicked Newport to the corner with a 33rd minute penalty, but Josh Skinner was left isolated and easily robbed of possession by a hungry Gogs pack. The hosts were fluid in attack and a knock on was all that stopped them scoring again. Newport were at 6s and 7s.
The Black & Ambers were doing their best to escape the RGC onslaught, but Steff Davies’ clearing kick going straight to the hands of RGC wing Sam Jones was becoming symptomatic. RGC set their attack and a neat cross-kick by Billy McBryde to hooker Osian Burt shouldn’t have worked. The fact that it cannoned off the hookers shin and forced Dafydd Buckland to retreat to cover showed that it did, meaning that the kick to escape netted a 40-metre territory loss. Despite the best efforts of the visiting pack, the RGC scrum held. Centre Osian Llewellyn weighed in first, but he simply sucked in the defence to allow Sam Williams to cross under the posts. Billy McBryde added the conversion to make it RGC 24 Newport 7 on 38 minutes.
Newport hit back with a neat Fin Baker try. The Black & Ambers worked hard, keeping RGC hands away from the ball, keeping it available. Joe Westwood drifted the ball out to Fin Baker allowing him to cruise in at the corner. Will Ford added the extras to make it RGC 24 Newport 14 with 40 minutes on the clock.
The notion that Newport might win the game vanished in the next action as wing Ieuan Cornelius caught the restart kick and waltzed through a sleepy Newport defence without a hand being laid upon him. Billy McBryde added the conversion making it RGC 29 Newport 14 as the players headed for the changing room and the gathered crowd pulled their coat collars a little tighter around their necks.
Half Time: RGC 1404 29 Newport RFC 14
Hunter Ward came out for the second half replacing Josh Reid. However, Ty Morris’ words at halftime seemed to have little effect as RGC scored again on 42 minutes. Another patient build up seemed to have been bottled up by Newport, until prop Gareth Parry emerged from a maul with ball in hand and made the simplest of passes to Tudur Jones. Billy McBryde improved the try, making it RGC 36 Newport 14.
Newport tried a patient build of their own, Hunter Ward leading from the front, Dafydd Buckland moving the ball around nicely until Tudur Jones intercepted a pass and kicked long. Steff Davies quickly turned in pursuit, but Sam Jones sniffed blood too. It was a straight race as the ball bobbled over the line. Both men dived at the ball. The referee, Mr Carwyn Sion, paused, consulted his assistant, and awarded the try to RGC. Billy McBryde converted to make it RGC 43 Newport 14.
The front row was changed over on 46 minutes, Messrs. Devine, Langley, and Harris making way for Ed Thompson, Henry Palmer and Nathan Davies, while Kobi Rees relieved Tiger Chatham of duty at the same time.
Newport built a response as Fin Baker broke through causing an RGC infringement. Will Ford kicked up to 21-metres, just as Cerrig Smith replaced Callum Bradbury and Joe Salter took over from Steff Davies. RGC went offside at a tackle prompting Will Ford to put Newport to the corner. Ben Roach rose highest, Henry Palmer latched onto the tail of the maul before releasing the ball to Dafydd Buckland. Joe Westwood surged ahead but it was Ed Thompson on hand to pick up the ball and cross for the try. Will Ford added the extras to make it RGC 43 Newport 21 with 53 minutes played.
The game was halted on 56 minutes due to an injury to Assistant Referee Gwyn Morris. Both sets of medics attended to, what appeared to be, a painful leg injury. Everyone at Newport RFC wishes Mr Morris well and hope to see him back on the field soon.
Danny Cross extended the hosts lead on the hour as another patient set of phases was rewarded with a try. It was far too easy for the big centre to step through some featherweight tackling. Billy McBryde did what Billy McBryde does to make it RGC 50 Newport 21.
Will Ford’s ingenuity wasn’t rewarded as he caught his own chip kick before popping the ball to Ben Roach, the captain being isolated and stripped of possession just metres from the line.
Newport’s cause wasn’t helped by a yellow card for Henry Palmer on 64 minutes, the hooker having been noticed infringing at a ruck.
Lucas Welsh replaced Dafydd Buckland at this juncture. Newport didn’t lie down as Hunter Ward spearheaded the attack. Chay Foster-Smith chipped ahead for Sam Morgan and Joe Westwood to pursue, but RGC dealt with the threat well.
Wade Langley was reintroduced to the game on 66 minutes, Josh Skinner giving way.
The Black & Ambers had plenty of intent, but it all seemed a little half-hearted. Kobi Rees tried to stir things up, but he was easily dealt with by a resolute defence. However, Newport showed what they were capable of via an ace score by Chay Foster-Smith on 71 minutes, earning the Black & Ambers the try-scoring bonus point. A clean ball off the top of a line out from Cerrig Smith saw Lucas Welsh push the ball wide. Sam Morgan joined the line at pace before passing infield for Chay Foster-Smith to run in and score. Will Ford kicked the conversion to make it RGC 50 Newport 28.
Newport coughed up possession in a, seemingly, innocuous position. RGC went hard, going through phases before Danny Cross appeared to have a cloak of invisibility thrown over him as he jinked around two or three half-hearted tackles before popping the ball off to Niall Povall to score. McBryde’s conversion hit the right-hand post, so the score now was RGC 55 Newport 28.
Unfortunately, the hosts weren’t finished with us. A needless 78th minute penalty put the pressure back on, allowing McBryde to kick to 15-metres out. The lineout was completed and, once again, patient, well protected phases saw RGC approach the line and flanker Dafydd Thirsk cross to score. Billy McBryde added the two, making it RGC 62 Newport 28 on 80 minutes.
Newport constructed a decent chance themselves on 80+1 minutes, but the final pass to Fin Baker was judged to be forward.
Deep into stoppage time and RGC held the momentum again. Newport were barely keeping the black shirts out, but a penalty for not releasing in the tackle was to be the final action of the game. Rather than chance the kick to the corner, McBryde opted to twist the knife and kick the simple three-pointer to make it RGC 65 Newport 28. This, by my reckoning, was Newport RFC’s heaviest defeat since going down 7-46 to Pontypridd in April 2019, and the first time leaking 60 points since the 93-0 hammering away at Newcastle Falcons in the British & Irish Cup in December 2013. Disappointing, yes, but RGC were excellent value for their six-point win. The squad know what they need to do and I’m sure we’ll see a reaction next Saturday.
Full Time: RGC 1404 65 Newport RFC 28
Newport RFC are at home next Saturday, October 17th, when the Drovers of Llandovery RFC visit. Kick-off will be at 2.30pm at Newport Stadium. Following that, the Black & Ambers visit our old friends at Pontypool RFC. Again, kick-off is at 2.30pm up at the Park.
The Friends of Newport Rugby are eager to run a bus for supporters to the return fixture at Carmarthen Park on Friday October 30th. It’s priced at £20 a seat which must be paid up front and is non-refundable, unless in the event of cancellation. Please get in touch with FoNR via Socials to book.
Newport RFC host their Hall of Fame Awards on Friday November 6th, in the Bisley Suite at Rodney Parade. Tickets are £45 which includes a carvery dinner. Please email Kevin Jarvis on commercial@newportrfc.co.uk
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Final Score – RGC 1404 65 Newport RFC 28