News

Steve Neal (Nelly): a Tribute
By John Humphreys

A little more than a year since the death of his great friend and sidekick Dave Hobbs, I’m deeply saddened to have to write a tribute to another club legend. 

Steve passed away suddenly but peacefully on the morning of Saturday 21 st January, and his tragic death has left a massive hole in the life of his dear family and the rugby community. 

All seemed normal on that Saturday – Cardiff City had just lost again and it was cold and damp, but all that was put into perspective when I had that awful text from Hally. 

I’m finding it hard to write about the big man in the past tense and I know, from meeting people in and around Rhiwbina, that all his many friends feel the same. 

He was both respected and admired on and off the rugby field, and tributes have been pouring in from many clubs, underlining the respect that Steve had built up over the past 40 years of representing
Rhiwbina RFC.

Steve first played for Rhiwbina in 1983, and I had the pleasure of partnering him in the second row.

From that moment on he was one of the cornerstones of the 1 st XV and went on to play more times for the club than anyone else – a record that will be hard to beat. 
Rhiwbina went on to have some great seasons, and Steve was always a constant in that success.

I had the pleasure of being Captain during the club’s Jubilee Year in 1986-87 and, as part of those anniversary celebrations, we played several special matches and went on a memorable tour to Italy.

Steve played in all those matches and came on tour, and here is his pen-picture from the Tour Booklet: “Steve ‘Heifer’ Neal: a gentle giant, Steve is a mixture of a grafting second row forward, a hard-tackling flanker and a Dutch barn. 

His speciality is drinking ten pints of cider and black by 6pm on a Saturday. 

His nickname is derived from his interest in artificial insemination. 
He has not heeded the advice given to him by Rocky’s trainer – Women Weaken Legs! 
He hasn’t been the same bloke since he fell in love with an Italian lady.”

He was a feared opponent and was known for sometimes taking the law into his own hands, as Gonzo describes from a game that was played somewhere in the Valleys: “Everyone loved Nelly.

These were the early days of lifting in the lineout and during one line out our jumper was taken out early. 
Nelly said he'd sort it next lineout. 
Many people describe rugby punch ups as  "handbags"; but Nelly had an anvil in his! 
Anyway, back to the next lineout...again our jumper went up ( I can't remember if it was lulu or Pont) 
By the time our jumper had landed Nelly had dealt justice to the miscreants with three of their players being dealt with – their noses would never be the same again.”

However, the important people at the centre of this tragic loss are Steve’s wide and loving family who have lost a husband, father, grandfather and son, and we all send our deepest condolences to Anna, Luisa, Cameron and the family.

I’ll end with a heart-felt, affectionate and touching tribute from one of Steve’s many second row partners, Mike Pontin: 
“Steve was already a 10 year veteran when I joined Rhiwbina. 
The big man put his arm around me and dragged me into the second row (upsetting as I thought I was playing No8). 

Twenty years later we were still turning out together and I was enjoying his company. It’s hard to believe I will never have that privilege again. 
My school motto was ‘Gorau Gwaith Gwasanaeth’ (the best work is service) and there was no better servant of Rhiwbina RFC than Nelly.”

We’ll miss you so much Steve.