The South Wales CC was a proto-county side, with the team – largely composed of well-to-do gentlemen and their cricketing friends – playing matches from 1859 until 1886.
The Club was founded by Samuel Homfray, a member of the wealthy family of ironmasters from Tredegar, after the victory by a Newport and District XXII against the All-England Eleven at Newport in 1858. The highlight of their fixture list was an annual tour of the London area, during which they played the MCC at Lord’s as well as Surrey Club and Ground at The Oval.
The Club was disbanded in 1886 with the specific intention that its members should form fully constituted county organisations. Within two years, Glamorgan County Cricket Club came into being, with many of the leading members of the South Wales club playing for the new county team, including Edmund David, who led the Welsh county in their inaugural fixture against Warwickshire at Cardiff Arms Park in June 1889.
You can find out more about the South Wales CC by clicking on the links below
Player list (by surname):