South Wales Scorpions have selected their initial train-on squad following a successful trial on Sunday afternoon where over 50 players turned up at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
The 28-man squad contains three players who scored tries for Wales when they beat Scotland 28-16 to win the European Cup last year, Ashley Bateman, Christiaan Roets and Lee Williams.
The Scorpions will be entering Co-operative Championship 1 in 2010 and will open their season with a home game at The Gnoll in Neath against former Super League side Workington Town on Sunday 28 February.
By sheer co-incidence, the Crusaders faced Workington at their first ever game at this level four years ago. The Scorpions have selected two players in their first training squad who starred in that game which finished 50-18 to the Welsh side, Dean Scully and Phil Cushion, both of whom were regulars throughout the Crusaders' inaugural 2006 season. Cushion is the fourth full Welsh internationalist in the squad.
Many of the rest of the training squad have been starring for either Crusaders in Super League reserves or clubs in the successful Welsh Conference Premier including two players with the same name, David James. One previously played for Bridgend Blue Bulls and the other for Blackwood Bulldogs.
This is a train on squad, further in house trials and friendlies will be held and players will be added and deleted from the squad in the next six weeks prior to the first League game.
TRAIN-ON SQUAD
Adam Coupe
Alan Pope
Ashley Bateman
Barrie Phillips
Christian Roetts
Craig Foster
David James
David James
Dean Scully
Gareth Dare
Garyn Lucas
Harri Greville
Jamie Stewart
Jamie Tibbs
Joe Burke
John Saniger
Lee Williams
Leigh Taylor
Loren Quick
Neil Dallimore
Paul Boden
Phil Cushion
Sam Studley
Shaun Owens
Stephen Ireland
Steve Parry
Stuart Harvey
Stuart Volkes
TRAINING INFORMATION - ALL PLAYERS PLEASE NOTE
• All players are to attend training on Monday 18th January at Bridgend College, Pencoed Campus, 6:45pm meet for a 7:00pm start. Please meet Dan Clements in the car park at the College.
• Wear your own kit but it must be suitable for the gym.
• All players to bring a water bottle and protein shake.
