THE Welsh Rugby Union and Newport RFC are looking to trace the families of three former Black and Ambers players over the award of Wales ‘President’s caps’.

Presidents caps have been presented over the last two years to ex-players, or their relatives, in honour of them playing in matches which were not granted full international status.

The search is on for the families of DH Steer, Frank Morris and wing Billy Williams after they represented their country in the Victory Internationals of the 1945/46 season, played to celebrate the Allies’ triumph in the Second World War.

Mr Steer was a back row forward who scored no less than four tries on his debut for the club against the Royal Air Force in November 1944 – the fourth player to score a hat-trick on his first game for the club.

He made 15 appearances for Newport between 1944 and 1945, scoring eight tries.

Prop Mr Morris, who died in 1991, was one of seven Newport men who played in the Monmouthshire team who beat the New Zealand Services side 16-0 at Pontypool Park in February 1946 and in the Black and Ambers side who earlier drew with the Kiwis 3-3 at Rodney Parade on December 29, 1945.

He made 52 appearances for the club in his three seasons with Newport.

The third player, wing Billy Williams, was awarded a President’s cap in 2013, but it has yet to be presented because his descendants have not been traced.

It is believed that Mr Williams’ daughter Rebecca may be living in the Shrewsbury area.

Born in Cwmtillery in 1925, he was a maths and PE teacher who taught at Loughborough Grammar School, later moving to Ramsgate, Kent, also playing rugby league for Swinton.

He too played for Newport and Monmouthshire against the 1945/46 New Zealand Services and scored an impressive 25 tries in 41 appearances for the club.

Mr Williams died in 2007 at the age of 82.

If you have any information, could you please contact Mike Dams, Newport RFC historian and committee member, either by e-mail at mike.dams@ntlworld.com or by calling him on 07909 964260.