during the first world war some women's charity games were organised, the most well documented taking place at cardiff arms park on 16 december 1917, when cardiff ladies beat newport ladies 6–0. maria eley played full-back for cardiff and went on to become probably the oldest women's rugby player before she died in cardiff in 2007 at the age of 106. the cardiff team (who all worked for hancocks a local brewery) all wore protective headgear, which predates their male counterparts by some decades.