By James Hothersall - jamesh@picknowl.com.au
1850s- Handling games played around Wales.
1881 - The Welsh Rugby Union is formed.
1893 - Wales win their first triple crown.
1907 - Merthyr Tidfil and Ebbw Vale joined the Northern Union (NU).
Welsh clubs are awarded 10 pounds per match in England by the NU.
The Welsh Northern Union is formed in Wrexham, but the NU refuse it affiliation
as they wanted the body located in the South of Wales - the WNU soon folded.
1908 - Aberdare, Barry, Mid-Rhondda and Treherbert joined the NU.
Merthyr Tidfil finish eighth out of 31 clubs in the NU.
Wales play their first international match - won against New Zealand in Aberdare (17,000).
Win the first Anglo-Weslh match 35-18.
1909 - The Welsh League XIII defeat the touring Australians.
Aberdare, Barry and Mid-Rhondda fold.
1910 - Treherbert fold.
1911 - Merthyr Tidfil convert to soccer.
1912 - Ebbw Vale fold.
1921 - Cardiff RU player Jim Sullivan signs for Wigan.
1922 - The Northern Union become the Rugby Football League (RFL).
1925 - Jim Sullivan scores 22 goals in a match for Wigan.
1926 - Wales defeat New Zealand 34-8 - the New Zealanders award full caps for the match.
The RFL form the Welsh commision to covert RU clubs to Rugby League.
Pontypridd join the RFL.
1927 - Pontypridd resign eight game into their second season.
1936 - Wales win the second European Championship with a 17-14 Victory over England in Hull.
1938 - Wales win the European championship for the third consecutive season.
1945 - 30,000 people attend a match against England in Swansea.
1946 - Jim Sullivan retires from Rugby League.
1947 - Wales defeat England 10-8 in Wigan.
1949 - Huddersfield, St Helens, Warrington and Wigan play exebition matches in Wales.
The Welsh commision form a Welsh league.
1951 - Cardiff join the RFL.
The Cardiff club have a gate of 14 pounds, the RFL subsidise the club to finish the season.
1952 - Cardiff fold at the end of their first season (1951-52).
1955 - The Welsh league disbands due to lack of interest and finance.
1975 - Wales finish third in the World Cup, which included a 12-7 victory over England.
1981 - Cardiff City join the Second Division and finish eighth.
1984 - Cardiff become the Bridgend Blue Dragons.
1985 - Bridgend fold after finishing bottom of Division Two.
1988 - Welsh RU international Jonathan Davies signs with Widnes.
1989 - Welsh and British Lion RU international Jim Devereux signs with Widnes.
1991 - Wales defeat Papua New Guinea 68-0 in Swansea (record win for Wales).
In that match Jonathan Davies scored 24 points.
1993 - Jonathan Davies signs with Warrington.
1995 - Wales win the Eurpean Championship, with an upset win over England (its first since 1968).
Wales make the semi-finals of the World Cup, only to loose to England.
After the World Cup Jonathan Davies returns to RU.
1996 - South Wales join the RFL second Division, only to fold after the season.
1997 - Anger as the RFL announce that at the proposed 1998 World Cup (never played), Wales would
not be included at the expense of the NZ Maoris. Wales were once again to form part of Britain.
1998 - Emerging England defeat a full Welsh side in Widnes.
A bid was made for Cardiff and Swansea to enter the RFL, but the bid was refused.
THE FUTURE OF LEAGUE IN WALES
Due to Rugby Union being the main sport in Wales, they will always be able to field a strong international team. The advent of professional Rugby Union will probably prevent a Welsh club from succesfully competing in the RFL or the formation of a domestic competition, but their will always be numerous fringe RU players willing to bolster the squads of English clubs
NOTES - The Two great eras of Welsh Rugby League coincides with the playing Careers of Jim Sullivan, Jonathan Davies and John Devereux. One in four Welsh RU internationals convert to RL (1997).
BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS M.Andrews, 1995, ABC of Rugby League, ABC Books. R.Gate, 1989, An Illustrated History of Rugby League, Widenfield and Nicholson Ltd. K.Macklin, 1974, The History of Rugby League Football, Stanley Paul & Co. N.Mason, 1974, The Story of all the World's Football Games, Hicks Smith & Sons. G. Morehouse, 1995, A People Game - The Official History of Rugby League, Mackays of Chatham. D.Sommerville, 1997, The Encyclopedia of Rugby Union, Arum Press. YEARBOOKS Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1994-95 Rugby League 1995 Rugby League 1996