[5] The early history of Welsh international rugby saw players selected not so much for form or ability but club connections.
[6] Both men were early exponents of the 'Rhondda forward', heavy labourers chosen for their aggressive style of play.
Despite being based in the heart of the industrial South Wales coalfield, Penygraig also supplied one of the most devastating fly-halves of early Welsh rugby when Percy Bush went through the team's ranks before joining Cardiff.
During the turn of the 19th century, Penygraig, like many other successful Welsh clubs, lost several players to the professional Northern Union.
Penygraig RFC beat Pontypridd RFC 30-25 in the 2003 Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy final; but after the game the entire winning Penygraig XV refused to give a drug sample to UK Sport officials requested by the WRU.