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ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʀᴏɴᴛ ʀᴏᴡ On the 18th of January 1975, three Welsh forwards made history by becoming the first club front row to represent their country as a unit. They would go on to become legends in the sport and the name “The Pontypool Front Row” would inspire fear and respect in rugby nations around the world….. it still does to this day. The 70s began well with Wales winning a Grand Slam in 1971 and only missing out on a possible back to back Grand Slam when the Irish game was cancelled in 1972. From that point on Wales’s fortunes varied widely, despite Welsh players contributing strongly to the unbeaten British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 1974. In 1975, Wales’ selectors made the bold decision to cap six new players away from home, in the cauldron of Parc des Princes, Paris. It proved to be an inspired call as Wales went on to register a remarkable win, consigning France to their heaviest home defeat since 1952. At the forefront of that unforgettable victory was the Pontypool Front Row. Bobby Windsor was well established having already been capped by Wales in 1973 against the Wallabies and then earning his Lion’s caps as the test hooker in South Africa. In Wales, with his Pontypool team mates Charlie Faulkner and Graham Price either side of him, they developed a platform which ensured the quality ball Wales’s great backs of the 70s era needed to shine. Saying that, it was the young tight-head Graham Price who finished the scoring that momentous day in Paris, running 70 yards to follow up his own kick out of defence which resulted in a magnificent try! Wales missed out on a Grand Slam that season, with a single, narrow defeat to Scotland, but with the Pontypool Front Row leading the charge, they went on to win two Grand Slams in 1976 and 1978 and many Triple Crowns. These victories ensured the seventies would be remembered forever as the “Decade of the Dragon”. As a young Grogg maker it was an enthralling time to be involved in Welsh rugby. In 1976 the decision was made for me to leave school and join my father in his studio on the Broadway. Dad had been making rugby figures since the early 1970’s but I was hot on his heels, as I loved capturing the features of my heroes in clay. I was soon handed that role on a permanent basis and with it came the unique task of sculpting three faces in one piece - the Pontypool Front Row posed a new and exciting technical challenge for me. Dad’s front row was the 1971 Grand Slam unit of Denzil Williams, Jeff Young and Barry Llewellyn. I was lucky to have the inspiration of my Pontypool heroes and took on the task with gusto and to be honest, they were born to be Grogged. I loved making them with their distinctive characteristics, but together I think they are the greatest of Grogg pieces. So once again I’ve had the pleasure of modelling this legendary trio to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of their first game together for Wales. And while we have struggled to think of a subject which encompasses 60 years of our history at the Groggshop maybe it is appropriate that this phenomenal triumvirate becomes part of our double celebration, having been there with us, almost since our very beginnings. 50 years of The Viet Gwent and 60 years of Groggs ~ Coming Soon.

💐Our Mother's Day collection is now available to shop online or in store. Don't forget any Grogg can be personalised with your own special inscription for Mam for just £5 extra 👌groggs.co.uk/browse/mothers-… #GroggsMakeGreatGifts

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Happy St David's Day ~ Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 – at Pontypridd, Wales