Cardiff Ladies 1917

The first officially recorded women's rugby match is believed to be between the Cardiff women in this photograph and a Newport women's team on the 15h of December 1917.

Most organised rugby was paused during the World Wars, however some matches were organised in the aid of wartime charities. This included this match between Cardiff and Newport Women, most of whom came from a local brewery and iron works, at Cardiff Arms Park. Newport were victorious, beating their opposition by 6-0.

This photograph, along with a photograph of the Newport team (housed at the World Rugby Museum) are possibly the oldest photographs of a women's rugby teams.

This photograph is part of Cardiff Rugby Museum's collection.