Rugby Shorts
After winning Wales’ 8th Triple Crown and first in 39 years, fans were at an all-time high but that came to a halt when 80 Welsh supporters lost their lives in the Llandow Air disaster on this day in rugby history in 1950.
The plane, the Star Girl, was chartered to take fans to Belfast to watch the Wales vs Ireland in the Five Nations at Ravenhill Stadium. The visitors won 6-3 and so were in a festive mood.
The Abercarn Rugby Football Club and Llanharan Rugby Football Club lost three and six club members, respectively. They both have a memorial to the accident on their team badge. Abercan has a propeller on the team badge while a black cross was added to the Llanharan crest.
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"I don't like talking about the crash because it brings back too many bad memories," Mel Thomas, one of the survivors said. "I lost six mates that day."
The flight included 78 passengers and five crew members. It was the worst air disaster in aviation history at the time.
Rugby Birthdays
1974 - Steve Price, Australia rugby league player
