Ebbw Vale Legends: Men of Steel Mural

Ebbw Vale Legends: Men of Steel Mural

The last home game against Cardiff RFC saw the official unveiling of the Ebbw Vale Legends; Men of Steel mural at the CiNER GLASS Community Stadium. The event which saw speeches by local AM Alun Davies and Club Chairman Jon Jones, was attended by family members and former players of Ebbw Vale RFC. The five men honoured in the mural were Denzil Williams, Arthur Lewis, Mark Jones, Clive Burgess and Gareth Howls who were chosen to represent all former players in the Steelmen family.

The mural was created by local artist, James Telford, who also created the Mark Jones mural in Tredegar.

As for the men who appeared in the mural:

Denzil Williams

Denzil Williams played for the Steelmen first as a lock forward before becoming an international prop forward. He twice played for the combined Abertillery & Ebbw Vale XV at lock, against New Zealand in 1963 and as captain against Australia in 1966. At prop he played for Monmouthshire against New Zealand in 1967 and for Gwent against South Africa in 1969. Between 1963 and 1971 he gained 36 caps for Wales. On the 1966 British Lions tour of Australasia he made 20 appearances, including five tests. He captained the Barbarians against Cardiff in 1971.

Gareth Howls

Gareth played as prop or lock for Ebbw Vale, the Barbarians, the Gwent and British Police, Crawshay’s Welsh and the County teams against the All-Blacks and Springboks.

He was Ebbw Vale Player of the Year in 1975, captain of the club four seasons in the Seventies, played four times for Wales A. He made his debut for his one and only club in September 1965 and retired in 1981 after 608 appearances, a club record.

Clive Burgess

Clive, a backrow forward, made over 200 appearances for the Steelmen before finishing his career in Italy.

He was capped for the Wales B team against France in 1976 and his first full cap came in a try-scoring debut against Ireland in 1977 Clive was a key member of the 1977 Triple Crown winning side and on his recall in 1981, voted Welsh Player of the Year. Renowned for his mauling strength, Clive won nine caps between 1977 and 1982.

Arthur Lewis

Arthur Lewis, played for Ebbw Vale RFC making his Welsh debut in 1970 in a Five Nations victory over France in Cardiff. Arthur went on to record 11 caps, winning nine times and losing just twice with his country. His sole try came against England at Cardiff in January 1973.

Arthur was part of the 1971 Lions Tour to New Zealand where he featured in ten midweek fixtures for the Lions scoring tries against Canterbury and Manawatu/Horowhenua.

Mark Jones

Mark Jones, a dual code international, returned to play for Ebbw Vale RFC from Warrington rugby league team in 1996 and played a major role in one the most successful periods in the club’s history playing in the SWALEC Cup Final and famous wins in Europe over the likes of Toulouse and Toulon.

Mark Jones won 11 caps for Wales in the 13-man game, including two during a famous 1995 World Cup campaign where Wales reached the semi-finals. He also represented Great Britain, playing one game against France in February 1992.

Mark won 15 caps in rugby union winning final cap as a lock against Zimbabwe in June 1998 while playing for the Steelmen.

Jason Strange – Head Coach, Ebbw Vale RFC commented,

“It’s a real privilege to be here today to celebrate and recognise some of the great players who’ve worn the Ebbw Vale shirt over the years. The unveiling of this mural isn’t just about remembering names and faces — it’s about honouring the standards, commitment, and passion these men represented, values that have shaped this club for generations.

As a club, it’s vital that we remember and respect our history. The players we honour today set the benchmark for what it means to be a Steelman — the hard work, the pride, and the resilience that define this community.

For us now, the challenge is to carry those traditions forward. We’re not just building a team; we’re building a club — one that represents the town, connects generations, and gives people something to be proud of. A strong club creates strong teams, and the standards set by the legends behind us inspire everything we do today.

This mural is a powerful reminder that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves. Every time we walk into the CiNER GLASS Community Stadium, we’re reminded of those who built the foundations — and it’s our responsibility to uphold their legacy and keep driving Ebbw Vale RFC forward.”

The club would also like to thank Ron Skinners & Sons, MCL Logistics, Dean James and Marcus Russell for sponsoring the mural.

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