World of Groggs at Auction: Rare Groggs for Sale and What They're Worth

For Welsh rugby fans, a Grogg is more than a figurine. It is a small, slightly irreverent piece of the game's history, made by hand in a former pub in Treforest. This guide covers where Groggs come from, how to identify and date them, what they sell for at auction, and how to buy or sell them through Rogers Jones.

Groggs are hand-sculpted, hand-painted clay caricatures, best known for their portraits of Welsh rugby players. They take their name from the type of clay John Hughes first used. Each figure exaggerates its subject's most recognisable features, which is a large part of their appeal to fans and to the players themselves.

Alongside rugby legends, the range includes other famous Welsh figures, Welsh dragons, animals, and characters from the Mabinogion. The tradition established from the start was that the first Grogg of each new character went to the person it depicted.

John Hughes (1935–2013) began hand-sculpting and painting figures in 1965, in a garden shed behind his home in Treforest, near Pontypridd. His early subjects were characters from the Mabinogion, the Old Testament, and animals.

A passionate rugby fan, Hughes soon turned to caricatures of Welsh sporting heroes. His first were Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams. As Welsh rugby's golden era of the 1970s took hold, Groggs became popular with fans and players alike.

In 1971 the Hughes family bought the derelict Dan-y-Graig pub in Treforest. After extensive renovation, it became the Groggshop gallery and studio, home of World of Groggs. John's son, Richard Hughes, later joined the business and widened the range to other famous Welsh figures. Richard's work includes numbered limited editions such as Groggmore and Captain's Climb to Kilimanjaro, both offered in our October 2026 sale.

Turn it over. Most Groggs are signed and dated underneath or on the base, and that inscription tells you who made it and when.

Condition matters too. Clay chips easily and paint can rub off, so look closely at the fingers, noses and boots of the figures. Check for restoration before you bid, and ask for a condition report if you can't view in person.

What makes one Grogg more valuable than another? Auctioneer Ben Rogers Jones outlines the five factors he considers when assessing a figure for auction: "In this order (1) quality and character (2) size (3) rarity (4) signed by player? (5) period = ie. John or Richard Hughes".

Our Groggs Galore timed auction closes on Sunday 25 October 2026 from 8pm. Every lot below comes from a single private collection in Blaenau Gwent. Lots are held at our Cardiff saleroom and can be viewed by appointment.

Released to mark the shop's 45th anniversary, Groggmore reimagines Mount Rushmore with four Welsh rugby greats carved into the rock: Neil Jenkins, Gareth Edwards, Shane Williams and JPR Williams. Richard Hughes also used it to honour Bill McLaren, who died in 2010, inscribing commentary by McLaren on the reverse. 

This sculpture records the charity climb of Kilimanjaro by former Wales captains. The climbers include Gareth Thomas, Colin Charvis, Scott Quinnell, Rob Howley, Scott Gibbs, Ieuan Evans and Bob Norster, with Warren Gatland among them. Photographer Huw Evans sits at the summit with his camera, and a leopard nods to Ernest Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro. 

An early John Hughes Grogg of Neath's Mark Jones in the black club jersey, No. 8 on the back. The base is inscribed "WRU Cup Winners 1989-1990 Mark Jones Neath". 

This Grogg has already attracted bidding well beyond its original estimate. Auctioneer Ben Rogers Jones explains what makes this particular figure so rare:

Browse the full Groggs Galore catalogue. Bidding through Rogers Jones Live is free.

Our recent estimates run from £80–120 for individual player figures to £500–800 for numbered limited editions. The table below records our own estimates and hammer prices, newest first. Hammer prices exclude buyer's premium.

Auction is the main route to secondhand Groggs that are no longer made, including early John Hughes pieces and sold-out limited editions. Here is how buying with Rogers Jones works.

1. Register on Rogers Jones Live. Bidding there is free; bidding through the-saleroom.com carries a surcharge. A debit card is needed for registration and security only.
2. View or request a condition report. Viewing is by appointment; email info@rogersjones.co.uk or call 01492 532176. Condition reports: lotenquirysw@rogersjones.co.uk.
3. Bid. Timed sales let you leave a maximum bid and watch the lot until it closes.
4. Pay and collect. Buyer's premium is 30% including VAT. Payment is by bank transfer within three working days. Collect from Cardiff by appointment, or arrange insured delivery.

We hold dedicated Grogg and rugby memorabilia sales, and include Groggs in our Club House auctions. If you have a single figure or a whole collection, our specialists will give you a free, no-obligation auction valuation.

To help us value your Grogg, send a photograph of the front and of the signature underneath, and mention any certificate or edition number. Request a free valuation.

Explore more Welsh rugby collectables on our rugby antiques and memorabilia page.

At auction. Rogers Jones offers Groggs in dedicated timed sales and in our Club House auctions, with lots held at our Cardiff saleroom. Registration and online bidding through Rogers Jones Live are free.

It depends on the maker, the date, the subject and whether it is a numbered limited edition. In our October 2026 sale, estimates ranged from £80–120 for an individual signed player figure to £500–800 for limited editions of 45.

Check the signature underneath or on the base. Figures by the founder are signed "John Hughes Wales", usually with a year; later work is signed "Richard Hughes Wales".

The name comes from the type of clay John Hughes originally used to make the figures.

John Hughes's first rugby caricatures were of Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams.

Yes. We offer free, no-obligation auction valuations for single Groggs and whole collections. Send photographs of the figure and its signature to our valuers.