Our History

1999 September

Sydney based Australian Zak Agah (Scrum Half) signs for Hafodyrynys RFC from Western Suburbs District RUFC; the date is 1999. Zak, born in Sydney in 1973, has strong family roots in the area and has visited Wales on many occasions. His grandfather Bill Knight was born in, what is now, the flat over our local Chinese Take Away in Hafodyrynys and was the caretaker of the old Swffryd School (now a housing site). The Knight family lived in Swffryd for many years but one day Zaks’ mother Eira (sister to our Garrad) emigrated to Australia where she married Sam Agah. Rugby was always a love of Zaks’ and he played for West Harbour Pirates Colts (under 20s) in 1992 & 1993 before progressing to the Grade (over 20s) and playing up to 1995. He then spent a season with St. Pats Old Boys in 1996 before visiting Wales in 1997 when he was roped in to play in the Hafod Past & Present match for the Past team, who won that day; he also won the Bob (Bombsher) Lloyd Memorial Award. During this visit Zak had a few guest appearances for the Hafod and Pontypool United before signing for Llanhilleth and while playing for them in 1998 he was selected to play for Monmouthshire on two occasions. In 1999 he signed for the Hafod until 2000 when his itchy feet takes him back over to Oz where he signs for the West Harbour Pirates (Wiki) again. A bit of ‘toing and froing’ from 2000-2001 occurs when he guests for Llanhilleth and Hafod before returning full time (rugby-wise) to the West Harbour Pirates in 2001. He remains with them until the present day progressing to club captain in 2005 and also taking up coaching (Zak is now a Level 2 ARU Accredited coach). He does have a day job as manager of a motor insurance company, National Roads & Motoring Association (NRMA), also known affectionately as NORMA; he is not married nor does he have any children (we know of) – I’m not surprised with all the rugby and travel. It was nice to meet him on his latest visit – “Good on ya mate”.