THE Welsh Rugby Union is appealing to Argus readers for help in tracking down missing Wales match programmes from their collection, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

They would like to hear from anyone who can assist them with tracing the Zimbabwe v Wales programme in 1998, any from their tour to Argentina in 1968 and East Africa v Wales in 1964.

The 1998 clash at the National Sports Stadium, Harare, on June 6 was won 49-11 by Wales, just a week before they suffered their record 96-13 mauling at the hands of South Africa in Pretoria.

In that victory against Zimbabwe, Ebbw Vale outside-half Byron Hayward had a dream debut, coming on as a replacement and scoring three tries.

In September 1968, Wales toured Argentina, playing in six matches, including two clashes with the Pumas in which full caps were not awarded by the WRU.

Captained by Abercarn-born 1971 British and Irish Lions skipper John Dawes, Wales lost the first ‘unofficial Test’ match 9-5 before drawing the second 9-9.

Curiously, all six tour encounters were played at the Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires stadium which is now a music venue that has featured the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Jennifer Lopez.

The tour blooded two Welsh players who would go on to become superstars in full-back JPR Williams and stand-off Phil Bennett.

The historic 1964 tour of Africa, skippered by Pontypool scrum-half Clive Rowlands, was the first to the southern hemisphere and the first Wales had played outside Europe.

The opening game was played in Kenya against East Africa at the RFUEA Ground in Nairobi on May 12, 1964, an encounter which Wales won 26-8.

They went on to play four more matches, including South Africa in a Test match later that month, going down 24-3 to the Springboks at Kings Park in Durban.

If you have any information regarding the programmes, please contact Peter Owens, Rugby Administration Manager at the WRU, by email at powens@wru.wales