Club Legends
Club Legend #1
Arwel Davies
Position: scrum half
Era: Mid 70's to early 90's
Facts: Club captain for 7 seasons. Captained the club to an incredible 17 trophies during 80's and early 90's. After finishing an his playing career with the club, which also saw him represent Llanelli RFC and Aberavon RFC Davies became a successful coach, having three separate periods coaching the club. Davies also coached Llangennech RFC to great success in the 2000's and had stints with Llanelli RFC, Cefneithin RFC and New Dock Stars RFC.
Club Legend #2
Brian Jones
'Brian Number 8'
Position: loose head prop
Era: mid 1960's to late 1970's.
Facts: Club captain for 6 seasons. Captain during the famous 12-12 draw with Newport RFC in 1977. Was a goal kicking prop forward who lined up in most other positions at some point in his career. Later coached the club and also had stints with Llandybie and Pontyberem RFC.
Brian 'No8' Jones
Club Legend #3
Alan King
Era:1990's to 2013
Facts: Record club captain, 9 seasons (1998/99 to 2002/03) (2009/10 to 2012/13). Youngest of three brothers to represent the club following Andrew and Martin. Also represented Carmarthen Quins RFC and Kidwelly RFC during his career.
Club Legend #4
Gareth Davies
Position: Flanker
Era: Late 1970's to mid 1990's
Facts: Played circa 500 games for the club and was part of arguably the best backrow unit in the club's history during the 1980's along with Perris Williams and Robert 'Tonto' Roberts. Brother of fellow club Legend Arwel Davies. Would go onto be a successful coach taking on spells with the Magpies, Llangennech RFC, Carmarthen Athletic RFC, Llandovery RFC and Pontyberem RFC.
Club Legend #5
Perris Williams
Position: Number 8
Era: Late 1970's to early 1990's.
Facts: A hard nosed number 8 who was a legend of West Wales rugby. Club captain 1978-79, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83. Forwards coach 1995-96. A true club great and father of current Wales assistant coach Gareth Williams.
Club Legend #6
Wynford Lewis
Position: Full back
Era: Early to late 1980's
Facts: A gifted full back and goal kicker who played first class rugby for Aberavon RFC before returning to the Magpies. A Wales 'B' and Youth International Wynford coached a number of successful youth teams at the club after finishing his playing career. Wynford captained the club in season 1986-87.
Club Legend #7
Roy Price
Position: Hooker
Era: 1960's and 1970's
Facts: A booker in a formidable Magpies pack during the 1970's Roy was part of the team that clinched the 1971/72 WWRU Challenge Cup. The front row of Brian Jones, Keith Williams and Roy will go down as one of the most notable in the club's history. Following retirement Roy was a long standing member of the committee during the 1980's and 90's. Roy was club chairman during the WWRU 'Grand Slam' season of 1987/88. Two of Roy's sons, Wayne and Errol Price were standout players during the late 1980's and 90's, with Errol captaining the club for three seasons. Current club captain Steffan Price is Roy's grandson and follows his father Errol as captain.
Club Legend #8
Albert Merchant
Era: 1920's / 1930's
Facts: Talented fullback Albert Merchant was one of the club's key players during the 1920's and 1930's. Albert captained the club in season 1932/33, where despite finishing top of the league they lost out on the West Wales Championship in a newly introduced play-off. Albert also captained the club in 1933/34 when they clinched the WWRU Challenge Cup for the very first time. During his playing career Albert also represented Llanelli RFC and Swansea RFC. Following retirement Albert was a long standing member of the committee and served as club President during the late 1970's. The club's most promising player award is the Albert Merchant Trophy.
Club Legend #9
Raymond Morris
Era: Late 1960's / 1970's
Facts: A hard working flanker who gave great service to the club throughout his career. Ray was part of the side which won the WWRU Challenge Cup in 1971/72 against Penclawdd RFC, playing in the backrow along with his brother Dai. Ray also played in the side which gained the famous 12-12 draw against Newport RFC in 1977, playing this time alongside another brother Lynn.
Club Legend #10
Robert Roberts
Nickname: Tonto
Era: Late 1970's to late 1980's
Facts: Dynamic flanker Roberts was part of the legendary club backrow of the 1980's along with Gareth Davies and Peris Williams. A former Wales age group International Roberts was a key player in the club's success in the West Wales Rugby Union during the 1980's. Roberts left Tumble in the late 1980's to return to home village club Pontyberem RFC as player/coach.
Robert 'Tonto' Roberts
Club Legend #11
Errol Price
Era: late 1980's / 1990's
Facts: Former Welsh age group International Errol Price was one of the club's key players in the late 1980's and 1990's. Hooker Price followed in the footsteps of father Roy and along with twin brother Wayne Price played a part in the club wining the WWRU 'Grand Slam' in 1987/88. Errol went on to captain the club for three seasons, including our centenary and is the father of current club captain Steffan Price. Errol later became Chairman of the club's junior section.
Club Legend #12
Wayne Price
Facts: Twin brother of Errol and son of Roy. Talented flanker Wayne Price had the not enviable task of filling the boots of the departed Tonto Roberts in the Magpies backrow of the late 1980's, a task which he did with aplomb. Hardworking and dynamic Price was a key player in the 1987/88 WWRU 'Grand Slam' side. Unfortunately, a persistent knee injury limited his total appearances. Over the years Wayne has also served the club as a junior section coach, Youth coach, 1st team manager and committee member.
Club Legend #13
Hedley Evans
Position: Second Row
Era: late 1950's / early 1970's
Facts: Second row Hedley Evans was one of the club's main players during the 1960's and early 1970's. Evans was part of the Magpies side that won the WWRU Challenge Cup in season 1962/63 and again in 1971/72 after coming out of retirement. Evans captained the club in seasons 1961/62 and 1965/66.
Club Legend #14
Allan John
Position: Back Row / Coach
Era: 1970's / 1980's / early 1990's
Facts: Arriving at the club in the early 1970's having represented his home village club Cefneithin RFC and Llanelli RFC, flanker Allan John would make a massive contribution to the club over the next two decades as a player and then coach. John, who had toured Argentina with Wales whilst with the Scarlets, but remained uncapped captained the Magpies in 1975/76. As a coach in the 1980's and early 1990's John, along with brother Clive would oversee a Golden period in the club's history wining an incredible 17 trophies.
Club Legend #15
Clive John
Position: Coach
Era: 1980's / early 1990's
Facts: Wales B International and former Llanelli RFC captain Clive John, whose playing career had been ended at a cruelly young age following a knee injury arrived at Parc y Mynydd Mawr in the early 1980's to become part of a formidable coaching unit with brother Allan. The pair would go onto great success together coaching the club to an amazing 17 trophies. John retired from coaching the club after clinching the Heineken League Division 4 title in 1991/92 but would later return for a period at Llangennech RFC.
Club Legend #16
Chris Morris
Position: Back Row
Era: 1990's / 2000's
Facts: The second player from the Morris family to feature on the list following his uncle Ray. Son of former Magpies back rower Dai Morris, former Welsh Youth trialist Chris Morris broke into the Tumble RFC back row of the early 1990's. A fully committed and talented flanker Morris gave great service to the Magpies, playing to near the age of 40 despite a number of knee injuries. A brief spell at Kidwelly RFC and a couple of years travelling and playing in Canada and Australia aside Morris gave stellar service to the club. Morris was part of the last Tumble RFC team to win the West Wales Challenge Cup in 1995/96. Since retiring Morris has served as a coach of the youth team and in the junior section.
Club Legend #17
Hefin Dumbrill
Era: 2000's / 2010's
Facts: A fantastic line out forward Hefin Dumbrill came through the club's junior and Youth teams to represent the 1st team on more than 300 occasions. A popular captain, Dumbrill would skipper the club for four seasons between 2013/14 and 2016/17 before retiring from playing. Dumbrill captained the club to the WRU SWALEC Division Three West B title in 2015/16.
Club Legend #18
Roy Harries
Position: Centre
Era: 1960's / 1970's
Facts: Playmaking centre Roy Harries was a key player for the club during the 1960's and 1970's. Harries played a prominent part in the teams which won the West Wales Challenge Cup in seasons 1962/63 and 1971/72. Harries also represented Llanelli RFC during his playing career and after finishing with the Magpies played and coached with Pontyberem RFC. A talented all round sportsman Roy was also a keen cricketer.
Club Legend #19
Jim Wiltshire
Position: Inside half (scrum half)
Era: 1930's / 1940's
Facts: Diminutive scrum half Jim Wiltshire first came to prominence during the early 1930's and was part of the dominant Tumble sides which clinched a hat trick of West Wales Challenge Cups in 1933-34, 1934-35 and 1935-36 plus the club's first West Wales championship in 1937-38. Unfortunately the Second World War would account for six seasons of Wiltshire's career, but the end of hostilities saw organised rugby return and the 34 year old veteran appointed captain for the 1945-46 season. It proved an outstanding season for both player and club with Wiltshire scoring 66 of Tumble's total 385 points. The club clinched the West Wales Challenge Cup final, against Amman United in front of a crowd of 10,562 at Stradey Park, Llanelli. After being scoreless at full-time Wiltshire chipped in with a drop goal and a conversion of Wyn Jones' try during extra time. Wiltshire played for the Magpies against Cardiff RFC in March 1947 and picked up another West Wales Challenge Cup in May 1947 against Ystalyfera RFC. During his career Wiltshire also featured for Llanelli RFC.
Club Legend #20
Ophie Evans
Position: Wing Threequarter
Era: 1890's
Facts : The club's first captain in the 1897-98 season and widely regarded as the club's founder. Along with his brother George, Ophie (or Theophilus) Evans spent a number of months coaching a group of local miners in the finer points of the handling football code. Training commenced beside a Colliery tip towards Cross Hands before moving to a field lent by Morgan Hughes of Tyisha Farm (brother of the transported Rebecca Rioter Jac Tyisha or John Hughes).
Evans captained the club in its very first game when the team walked to Pontyberem and returned with a try to nil victory. 50 years later the club celebrated its half century with a celebration game against Cardiff RFC. The first half was kicked off by the former Welsh international, Archie Skym whilst Ophie Evans had the distinction of kicking off the second.
Club Legend #21
George Davies
Position: Centre Threequarter
Era: 1910's to 1930's
Facts: A key figure in the early years of the club George or 'Geo' Davies captained Tumble RFC for five seasons and would have likely done so more had the First World War not occurred between his first and second seasons as captain. First elected captain in 1913/14 Davies regained the captaincy off Edward Thomas (Tommy Gwag) in 1919/20 following Thomas' decision to turn professional with Oldham RLFC. Davies was captain in the 1920/21 season where the club became members of the Welsh Rugby Union and adopted the famous Black and White colours, switching from Cherry and White. Having also represented Llanelli RFC Davies announced his retirement from playing following a game against Pontyberem RFC in season 1929/30. He did this having just made club history in playing in the same team as his son, Myrddin. Davies tragically passed away at an early age in 1939 whilst still the serving club vice-chairman. Coincidentally whilst Davies captained the club in the last season before the First World War, his son Myrddin had the same dubious honour in the season before the Second World War.
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