Newport returned to Cardiff in 1961 hoping for further success after the previous season’s disappointment. That shrewd tactician Brian Jones led the side with backs Richie Wills, Gordon Britton and Geoff Davies (scrum-half). The forwards were Glyn Davidge, Bryn Meredith and Brian Price. Geoff Davies was formerly a reserve outside-half at Ebbw Vale who had successfully filled the problem position in Newport’s XV. In fact he had played 11 matches and had not been on a losing side for Newport.

Newport had a nervous start getting past old rivals Cardiff after an extra-time try by Glyn Davidge. They then accounted for Neath and romped past Swansea in the semi-final with Brian Price scoring a hat-trick to set up another all Monmouthshire final against Pontypool. They duly won their 5th title with an 8-3 win thanks to tries by Davidge and Wills and a conversion by Brian Jones to a try by Malcolm Price in front of a record 30,000 crowd.

The Newport VII had experienced campaigners such as Brian Jones, Glyn Davidge and Bryn Meredith but also included for the first time newly capped Welsh centre Gordon Britton and Welsh second row Brian Price. These were to become two of Newport’s best ever sevens players in future years. Interestingly Geoff Davies was never to play for a Newport VII or XV again in spite of never playing on a losing side for Newport. He was to lose his place to an ex-youth player David Watkins who was destined to become the greatest ever Newport seven-a-side player.

Cardiff 6-3 W (Tries : B Meredith, G Davies)
Neath 10-5 W (Tries : G Britton, B Jones and G Davies 2c)
Swansea 19-0 W (Tries : B Price 3, G Britton 2 and G Davies 2c and B Jones 1c)
Pontypool 8-3 W (Tries : G Davies, R Wills and B Jones 1c)