The West Wales Cup (as written in 1994)
(1933-1980, 1981 onwards The "Tovali Cup")
It took four years before the WWRU Cup was launched and it has a varied history. The efforts of Mr D. Ewart Davies of Ammanford (WRU President in 1963-64) resulted in the Cup being presented to the Union by the Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Ltd. It was in 1966 that the present cup was presented to the Union by Mr Jim Williams of Neath and called the Challenge Cup allowing the former trophy to be awarded to the team heading the championship table. Eight years later, following the introduction of four sections the awarding of this trophy became void.
However, in the interest of running rugby, the Management Committee decided to award it to the team scoring the most number of tries in the season's league programme of 18 matches. Tumble were the first winners with 73 tries but the undoubted star performers were Glynneath, who in seasons 1987-89 scored no fewer than 234 tries (105 and 129 respectively) and a further 109 tries in the 1991-92 season.
No other team has scored 100 tries in any WWRU league programme. with the advent of the WRU League Competition in 1993-94 this trophy ceased to be awarded.
It is mere coincidence we have 62 member clubs in the WWRU and the Cup has been in being for 62 years. During this time only 23 clubs have won the competition and of the major winners Pontarddulais has 4 successes, Seven Sisters and Hendy have 5 apiece and Felinfoel can boast six wins. Far outstripping all others are the WWRU's most renowned cup fighters, Tumble, with twelve wins, which includes four on the trot between 1986 and 1989 inclusive,
The West Wales Rugby Union Challenge Cup has been known as the Tovali Cup for nearly a quarter of a century and there is no doubt we would not be celebrating our 75th Anniversary this year were it not for the generosity of Tovali's Managing Director, Eurwyn Harries who has asked for nothing in return for his continued support.