Cardiff Rugby have launched an exciting new project to select a Greatest XV to be immortalised together in oils to celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary.
The painting has been commissioned with the support of Cardiff Rugby, Cardiff Athletic Club and Cardiff Former Players Association to mark the club’s sesquicentennial season.
Acclaimed Cardiff-based artist Malcolm Murphy has accepted the commission to produce the work and a specially established panel has been busy debating players using selection criteria designed to ensure the full history of the Blue & Blacks is properly represented in the canvas.
The panel comprised David Allen (Cardiff Rugby Museum Steering Group (CRMSG)), Simon Baker (CRMSG), Mike Brown (Cardiff Rugby Head of Marketing and Communications), Sal Carter (CRMSG), Andrew Collins (CF10), Chris Collins (Cardiff RFC chair), Gareth Davies (former player and CEO), Simon Down (Club Statistician/historian) and Peter Jackson (journalist).
Selection process
The group worked through a structured process that included:
- An initial XV being selected from each 50-year period in the club’s history and those nominated then scored on the following criteria:
- Number of seasons at the club
- Number of appearances
- Number of appearances as captain
- Points scored
- Post-rugby contribution to the club
- Cardiff RFC Hall of Fame
- World Rugby Hall of Fame
- British & Irish Lions tours
- British & Irish Lions Tests
- Wales Caps
- Wales appearances as captain
- Barbarian appearances
- There being a minimum of three players from each half century of the club’s existence selected for the final XV.
- The group being able to select one player as a ‘wild card’
The panel met on two occasions and over many hours to debate the merits of their nominations before finally settling on its chosen side.
David Allen said: “The concept of the painting will undoubtedly draw significant debate, and so it should. With so many great names to chose from, we had to acknowledge from the outset that some of the greats of Cardiff, and even world rugby, may not make it onto the canvas.
“Such is the rich history of Cardiff Rugby, that the painting is just as much about who is not included as it is those that were selected. Taking just one example, do you pick Percy Bush, Cliff Morgan, Barry John or Gareth Davies at fly-half?
“It’s been a brilliant process and we are very grateful to everyone who contributed and of course Malcolm, who is really excited about the project.
“The aim is that the painting will unite players from across the ages and show them in the style of a team photograph – just as if they had actually played together. Each will appear in the kit of their day, so there will be some interesting variations in styles of jersey and so on, but all will be united by being shown in Cambridge blue and black.”
The completed commission will hang in the Trophy Room at the Arms Park and a limited number of high-quality prints will be available for purchase. The unveiling is scheduled to take place in April 2027.
Who make your Cardiff Rugby Greatest XV