Local MS Supports Campaign to Honour Local Rugby Heroes

On Wednesday 30th September the One Team – One Race, Honouring the Cardiff Bay Rugby Codebreakers campaign was launched. The aim of the campaign is to recognise and celebrate Wales’ greatest rugby league heroes in a permanent artwork in Cardiff Bay.

The One Team- One Race project will raise money to create three statues chosen from 13 sports stars who made a telling contribution playing in Rugby League over the past 120 years. The 13 Rugby Codebreakers, who all hail from the Cardiff Bay area and surrounding neighbourhoods are: Billy Boston, Dennis Brown, Gerald Cordle,  Joe Corsi, Colin Dixon, Roy Francis, Johnny Freeman, Gus Risman, Clive Sullivan, Jim Sullivan, Frank Whitcombe, William ‘Wax’ Williams and Dave Willicombe.

All 13 nominees grew up within a three-mile radius of Cardiff Bay. Many battled prejudice and racism before leaving Wales to find fame as Rugby League superstars in the North of England.

The campaign is will be designed to ensure their stories – and the story of the proud and vibrant multi-cultural community which helped shape them – are never forgotten.

Vaughan Gething said:

“At the start of Black History Month in 2018 I hosted an event to celebrate the achievements of our local rugby players. It was a pleasure to work with Gareth Davies, Chair of the WRU and Carolyn Hitt, who presented the BBC programme Rugby Codebreakers, in honouring our local sporting heroes. I am delighted that with this campaign they will at last get the recognition that they deserve”.

To vote for your favourites, go to https://www.rugbycodebreakers.co.uk/