This lighter was awarded to G.D.Davidge who played for Newport RFC against New Zealand in 1963. They became the only rugby team to lower the All Blacks' colours on this tour of the UK, winning 3pts to nil.
It was a time of amateur rugby, played by hardened and uncompromising men who used many physical means in which to exploit the opposition which would not be tolerated in today's softer game. It was not uncommon to leave the field with a torn jersey, stud marks along your body and blood seeping from wounds if you found yourself on the wrong side of a ruck.
Let it not be forgotten that all this was in an era of working class men who held down full-time jobs in the week, only to lay their bodies down every Saturday afternoon for our enjoyment.
Rodney Parade was jammed to the rafters that cold October afternoon and the result left an indelible mark in our memories. Thank God for rugby, and for thank God for those brave enough to play it.
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