Born Bicester, Oxon 1852. In 1874 Mr Thomas Phillips, a brewer from Northampton, bought Dock Road Brewery and came to Newport with his two sons William and Clifford. They had both played rugby football and brought with them a rugby football, the first ever seen in the town. In Sept 1874 a meeting was held and a team was set up to play Association but as time went on it became more and more difficult to arrange fixtures and so a rugby match was arranged. In Newport RFC?s first season of 1875/6 they were captained by J Leonard and so followed Newport?s first invincible season. J Leonard was elected captain again in 1876/7 but after Dec 9th he was transferred from Newport in his job with National Provincial Bank and Will Phillips took over as acting captain. Newport completed yet another invincible season. Will Phillips was elected captain for the next 5 seasons ie 1877/8, 1878/9 1879/80,1880/1 and 1881/2. Under his captaincy Newport achieved a further 2 invincible seasons as well as winning the South Wales Challenge Cup in 1877/8, 1878/9 and 1881/2. Newport?s record under Will Phillips was: P85 W67 D8 L10. If his previous season?s 5 matches are included it reads: P90 W70 D10 L10 ie 83% record. Played for Newport 1875/6-1881/2. Died in 1899.