1901 saw the eventual merging of the Abertillery Town and Harlequin teams, whose union formed Abertillery Rugby Football Club. This was followed during the 1901/1902 season with the formation of the Abertillery Athletic Club, which saw the football and cricket clubs combine. The Abertillery rugby team continued to grow, but would often slip back towards the more lawless style of their early years. In August 1903 the club fell out with the Monmouthshire Football League, refusing to comply with an order to replay a match with Blaina, which was followed in September with a game against Pill Harriers that descended into a brawl.