Final post

This is the final post on this board as the new website will go live tomorrow. Please keep bookmarking www.scorpionsrl.com for all the latest Scorpions news.

Scorpions link up with Bay Radio and Nation Radio

South Wales Scorpions Rugby League Club have announced that their official radio stations for the 2010 season will be Nation Radio and Bay Radio, part of the Town and Country Broadcasting Group that own six radio stations throughout South Wales.

Bay Radio, the local radio station for the Swansea Bay region covering the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot county boroughs, has increased its audience by over 20% since last year. Its sister station, Nation Radio, covers the whole of South Wales including Cardiff, Newport and Swansea, and is the fastest growing station in the UK.

The two stations will together be providing what is believed to be the largest amount of advertising ever for a rugby league club in Wales, with broadcasts the week prior to each of the Scorpions’ 11 home fixtures, starting with the prestigious friendly against Wigan Warriors at The Gnoll on Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm).

The Scorpions are the newest professional rugby league side in Wales. Following their game against Wigan, they will be playing 20 matches in the Co-operative Championship 1 against some of the UK’s well-known rugby league sides including former Super League clubs Oldham and Workington Town.

In addition to the radio adverts throughout 2010, Bay Radio and Nation Radio will be providing editorial support when needed in form of interview opportunities plus a link to the Scorpions website on home pages on both Bay Radio and Nation Radio sites.

The Bay Radio and Nation Radio logos will appear on the Scorpions’ home and away shirts, they will also receive advertising boards at The Gnoll, while both stations will have adverts in the match programme and links from the Scorpions website.

Scorpions’ owner Phil Davies said: “We are delighted that Bay Radio and Nation Radio are our official radio stations for 2010. We have built a good relationship with the over the last couple of months already. They’ve had us in as studio guests a few times already and next Sunday’s Wigan fixture was announced first on Bay Radio. We know this will be the start of a long and fruitful partnership and we can’t wait for kick-off on Sunday. Thanks to the additional advertising the Bay Radio and Nation Radio will be providing this week, we should get a bumper crowd and an occasion to remember.”

Andy Griffiths, Broadcast Director of Town and Country Ltd said: “We have always been keen to support local sport and we are very excited about this partnership with South Wales Scorpions. I have already been very impressed with the club’s enthusiasm, determination to develop local talent and their already good relationship with the supporters and local community. We are glad that we are able to provide support locally, in the shape of Bay Radio, and nationally with the very popular Nation Radio. We will have a presence at all matches and are very much looking forward to Sunday’s kick-off when Wigan come to town.”

Tickets for South Wales Scorpions v Wigan Warriors priced £4 for concessions and £8 for adults, can be bought by going to www.scorpionsrl.com.

Support the Scorpions lads in the Wales under 18 squad this Sunday

UNDER 18 INTERNATIONAL
Wales v France
Carmarthen Athletic RFC
Sunday 14th February, Kick-off 2pm

Wales under 18s are looking to extended their fine run of form as they take on France Juniors at Carmarthen Athletic RFC this Sunday (kick-off 2pm).

The match is the first of two junior internationals in South Wales this week with the French staying in the area and taking on Great Britain at Blackwood RFC on Wednesday evening.

Wales go into the match in a confident mood following their outstanding display in Leeds two weeks ago when they outclassed an England side 28-14 excelling in both attack and defence.

They have already named their 17 and have made just three changes from the side that beat England with Harlequins duo Jack Molloy and Gerrard Ellis and Crusaders' Jack Pring being the new additions to the side.

As expected, the majority of the Welsh players have been drawn from the Crusaders while there are two representatives from the new South Wales Scorpions side that kick-off on Sunday 21st February with a home match against Wigan Warriors.

Likewise, France's squad is dominated by players who are on the books of UTC, or Union Trieze Catalans, to give them their full name, the main feeder side to Super League outfit Catalans Dragons. However eight other clubs are represented in France's 21-man travelling squad, including four from Lezignan where they play and train alongside former Crusaders Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn and Aurelien Cologni.

France and Wales last met at under 18 level in September 2008 in the European Cup Final in Prague, a game that Wales won 38-24 to take the European crown.

Sunday's match will be preceded by an under 16 encounter between local side Dinefwr Sharks and St Albans Centurions, which kicks off at 12.30pm, while following the international, St Albans senior side goes up against South Wales Thunder, a representative Welsh amateur side, selected from players from the Welsh Conference Premier.

Wales: Rhys Evans (Warrington Wolves), Dan Godwin (Crusaders), Loren Quick (South Wales Scorpions), Owen Williams (Crusaders), Jack Pring (Crusaders), Dafydd Carter (Crusaders), Dale Evans (Crusaders), Ben Evans (Warrington Wolves), Kyle Blackmore (Crusaders), Adam Davies (Crusaders), Dale Blackmore (Rhyl Coasters), Rhodri Lloyd (Crusaders), Lewis Reece (South Wales Scorpions),
Jack Molloy (Harlequins), Owain Griffiths (Leeds Met), Nathan Hawkins (Crusaders), Gerrard Ellis (Harlequins).

France (from): Lilian Albet (Villeneuve), Noel Andreuccett (RCC Carpentras), Andrew Bigat (FC Lezignan), Theo Bonneriez (UTC), Pierre Louis Bourrel (Limoux), Julian Bousquet (FC Lezignan), Damien Cardace (FC Lezignan) Anthony Deleigne (FC Lezignan), Morgan Escare (UTC), Julien Laffite (UTC), Alexis Falip (ETC), Lenny Foncillas (UTC), Nicolas Houbloup (AS Corbeil Essonnes), Thibault Margalet (UTC), Guillaume Martinez (UTC), Marc Meye (Pia), Joseph Negre (UTC), Eloi Pelissier (UTC), Clement Soubeyras (RCC Carpentras), Remi Vignau (Toulouse).

Sunday 14th February - Carnegie Challenge Cup Second Round - Edinburgh Eagles v Blackwood Bulldogs - Meggetland Sports Complex - Boroughmuir RFC - kick-off 12.30pm

When reading that a match is taking place between Edinburgh and Blackwood, one would immediately think that this is a total mismatch.

After all, it's not often that you read about a team from Scotland's capital city going up against representatives from a town in the Caerphilly County Borough which has a population of around 23,000.

However Edinburgh Eagles and Blackwood Bulldogs are the rugby league champions of Scotland and Wales respectively and the two meet this Sunday in the second round of rugby league's oldest knockout tournament, the Carnegie Challenge Cup, with a possible tie against a professional side awaiting the winners.

In a match that extends the Wales v Scotland weekend to both codes of rugby, whatever the outcome, a piece of history will be made.

If Edinburgh Eagles win, then they will become Scotland's first ever representatives in the Third Round of the Cup while Blackwood Bulldogs hope to become the first non-professional Welsh side in ten years, and the first from the Welsh Rugby League Conference, to reach this stage.

In 2000, Cardiff Cougars, an amalgamation between Cardiff Demons and UWIC university reached the third round and lost to Keighley Cougars. Since then, only Celtic Crusaders have represented Wales in Round Three onwards.

Bulldogs chairman Andrew Smith says that it's been a hard slog to even get to Edinburgh but they are prepared for the challenge.

"When we first heard the draw, we were excited but then reality came in," he said. "How were we going to afford to get up there? It would cost us over £2,000 all told!

"But we've had a few donations thanks to articles in the local papers, Wales Rugby League are also helping us out and we've applied to the RFL to up their donation due to the distance. We're ready to go and we're all looking forward to it.

"We've our strongest team out and they're all available to travel as there's no club rugby union games this weekend. We're going up in two mini-buses early on Saturday morning, hopefully in time to watch the Six Nations game on TV, staying near to the Murrayfield ground and coming back on Sunday following the game. It's a shame that we weren't drawn at home really as it would have been a real Wales v Scotland weekend in the area, but we're prepared to travel and we want to do Wales proud."

Edinburgh's chairman Ashley Carroll, who also stars for their side, is equally looking forward to the encounter.

"This is probably the biggest match in our history," he said. "We got to the second round last year but having a home draw is a massive bonus. Hopefully we can get a decent crowd down to Meggetland, and if our preparation is good and we believe in our ability and talent then I think we can win."

The BBC have confirmed this game as their featured match which kicks off at 12.30pm at Boroughmuir RFC.

Crusaders enter the competition in round four which takes place on the weekend of 17/18 April while the final is at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 28 August.

Supporters Club meeting this Thursday at The Gnoll

The next meeting of the South Wales Scorpions Supporters Club will take place this Thursday, February 11th at 7.30pm at The Gnoll in Neath.

The meeting will give fans chance to discuss away travel and a host of other issues - and enjoy a relaxing beer in the Gnoll's excellent bar.

The supporters club look forward to welcoming many new members as everyone is welcome.

Members of the Scorpions staff will also be in attendance while season tickets and match tickets for Scorpions v Wigan Warriors will be on sale.

If you are unable to make the meeting, the tickets are available online at www.scorpionsrl.com or by calling 01656 863896.

Represent the Scorpions in Rugby League World magazine

Following Rugby League World's Super League fans preview in the current issue the magazine are wanting to do something similar for the Championship and Championship One clubs for next month's issue.

They are looking to interview three Scorpions fans via a small questionnaire.

If anybody would like to take part, please contact lorraine.marsden@totalrl.com and she'll let you have the questionnaire. They only need a brief sentence or two per answer and a small picture of yourself to go with it.

South Wales Scorpions initial 23-man squad

South Wales Scorpions have announced a 23-man squad for their 2010 Championship 1 season with the promise of more players to be signed in the near future.

The Scorpions play their first ever match on Sunday 21 February, a friendly against Super League side Wigan Warriors at The Gnoll in Neath (kick-off 2.30pm).

The squad was selected following a public full contact trial match between “The Greens” and “The Reds” which the Greens won by 5 tries to 2 (no conversions were taken) where over 200 fans turned out to watch with many buying both tickets for the Wigan Warriors game and season tickets on the night.

As expected, almost half of the Scorpions squad are players who have come through the junior and reserve ranks at the Crusaders, but there are a number who are new to the area, the country or rugby league itself.

In rugby league terms, Loz Wildbore could be the club’s highest profile signing. The experienced 26-year old full-back or winger arrives in Wales from York City Knights. Hull-born, he has also had spells at Hull FC, Hull Kingston Rovers, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Widnes Vikings, Featherstone Rovers, Doncaster and Dewsbury Rams.

Craig Richards returns to The Gnoll after a spell with Stourbridge RFC. The former Neath RFC winger and Wales Sevens RU and Commonwealth Games international played a few games for Celtic Crusaders in 2007 and has also turned out Newport, Llanelli, Coventry and Bridgend in the 15-man game.

The Scorpions have brought in one overseas import in Welsh-Australian Andrew Gay from Toukley Hawks RLFC who play in the Central Coast Rugby League in New South Wales. Welsh qualified, his dad was born in Splott in Cardiff, he was the Hawks player of the year in 2008.

There are three players who have been signed from Welsh Rugby Union clubs - Stephen Ireland, Neil Dallimore and Sam Studley.

Ireland comes to the Scorpions from St Peters in Cardiff, but he has also had lengthy spells at Cardiff RFC and Newport RFC in the Welsh Premiership, while Neil Dallimore and Sam Studley both arrive from Llanharan RUFC. For all three players, it will be their first taste of club rugby league, but Studley has previously turned out for Wales and Great Britain under 18s after attending an open trial in 2006. His first ever competitive game of rugby league was for Great Britain under 18s against Australia! Following these games, he went back to rugby union but has now decided to give the 13-man game another try.

Six players have been signed from local Welsh Conference Premier rugby league clubs – Phil Cushion, Steve Parry, Paul Boden, Alan Pope, Shawn Owens and Christiaan Roets.

Cushion and Parry sign from Nelson-based Valley Cougars, Boden adds the local flavour to the side after arriving from Neath Port Talbot Steelers, Pope has signed from Dinefwr Sharks in West Wales while Owens and Roets previously played for Bridgend Blue Bulls.

The South African born Roets started his rugby league at the now defunct Swansea Valley Miners. He was a surprise selection for the Iestyn Harris’ full Wales side late last year and immediately starred, scoring a hat-trick on his debut against Serbia winning man of the match in the process. He scored a further try against Scotland two weeks later as Wales won the European Cup Final live on Sky Sports.

Cushion played for Valley Cougars last year, but spent three years at the Crusaders before that making 47 first team appearances and winning two full Welsh caps. He had previously played for Swinton Lions.
Roets and Cushion are two of five full Welsh internationals in the Scorpions squad with fellow Dragons Lee Williams, Ashley Bateman and Gil Dudson, all of whom have Crusaders first team experience, also being named.

Loren Quick, Lewis Reece, Joe Burke, Jamie Tibbs, Barrie Phillips, Dalton Grant, Garrick Legge and Harri Greville have all come through the ranks at the Crusaders in their under 18s and Super League reserves with Quick and Reece already becoming the Scorpions first ever international players after turning out for Wales under 18s against England two weeks ago.

Wales won that game 28-14 and they now take on France at Carmarthen Athletic this Sunday at 2pm. They have also both been selected for the Great Britain under 18 squad who take on France on Wednesday 17th February at Blackwood RFC.

The Scorpions will also be able to use British-born Crusaders players who are not in their Super League side in any particular week.

The club’s first social night out was yesterday (Sunday) where in a unique link-up, South Wales Scorpions were official sponsors of the Elite Ice Hockey League match between Cardiff Devils and Edinburgh Capitals. The club hope it will be the first of many such link-ups with the Devils and other local sports sides.

Tickets for South Wales Scorpions v Wigan Warriors or season tickets can be bought by going to www.scorpionsrl.com or calling 01656 863896.

FULL SCORPIONS SQUAD: Ashley Bateman (Crusaders), Paul Boden (Neath Port Talbot Steelers), Joe Burke (Crusaders), Phil Cushion (Valley Cougars – former Crusaders), Neil Dallimore (Llanharan RU), Gil Dudson (Crusaders), Andrew Gay (Toukley Hawks, Australia), Dalton Grant (Crusaders), Harri Greville (Crusaders), Stephen Ireland (St. Peters RU, Cardiff), Garrick Legge (Crusaders), Shaun Owens (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Steve Parry (Valley Cougars), Barrie Phillips (Crusaders), Alan Pope (Dinefwr Sharks), Loren Quick (Crusaders), Lewis Reece (Crusaders), Craig Richards (Stourbridge RU), Christiaan Roets (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Sam Studley (Llanharan RU), Jamie Tibbs (Crusaders), Loz Wildbore (York City Knights), Lee Williams (Crusaders).

3D images of the kit

Here are some 3D images of our new kit. We currently don't have a release date as yet.

As you've probably seen, due to feedback from the original design of the badge, it has gone through a bit of a re-design and the one you see on these shirts and shorts will be the club badge.









The new website is expected to be launched next week and it will be replaced there too.

Scorpions to face Wigan in a pre-season friendly

Wales’ newest professional rugby league side, South Wales Scorpions will open their season with a prestigious home friendly against Super League side Wigan Warriors.

The match will take place at The Gnoll in Neath on Sunday 21st February (kick-off 2.30pm).

Wigan will bring a team consisting of first team squad members as well as players from their Super League under 20 squad.

The Warriors visit to Wales comes less than a year after they were famously beaten by the Crusaders at the Brewery Field in the 2009 Super League.

Scorpions’ chairman Phil Davies said: “It is a fantastic coup for the club in bringing Wigan to The Gnoll. They are the most famous name in rugby league and they will test our young side to the limit. It will be the perfect trial match for us before we go into a tough Championship 1 campaign.”

Tickets for the match cost just £8 for adults, £4 for concessions with children aged 11 and under admitted free (a maximum of two under 11s per paying adult). They will go on sale online today at www.scorpionsrl.com and are also available to buy at the Scorpions trial match in Porthcawl this Friday evening.

The Scorpions’ Co-operative Championship 1 season starts on Sunday 28th February with a home game against Workington Town. Kick-off for this game is now at 1pm following a request from the visitors.

The club’s newly designed website is expected to launch next week.

Seven Welsh youngsters in GB squad

There are seven Welsh youngsters in the Great Britain Community Lions Under-18s squad who will face France Juniors at Blackwood RFC on Wednesday 17th February (kick-off 7.30pm).

Head coach Dave Woods has named five players from the Crusaders and one from the South Wales Scorpions in his 18-man squad. In addition, Lewis Reece, currently a Crusaders under 18s player, is also in the Scorpions train-on squad.

The Welsh players come from all around the south with Quick and Rhys Fenton both from Llanrumney in Cardiff, Owen Williams from Ystradgynlais, Dale Evans from Maerdy, Adam Davies from Newport, Lewis Reece from Rumney in Cardiff and Kyle Blackmore from Blaengwynfi, Port Talbot.

The squad has been named following last week’s game between England and Wales, which Wales won 28-14, and Woods is confident that the international will have been beneficial in the preparation for the Test Match.

“I’m really looking forward to the game against France,” said Woods. “The England and Wales game gave me the chance to have a really good look at the players and I’m sure that the squad we’ve selected to take on France will acquit themselves really well.”

Woods will be assisted in the coaching set up by Kelvin Lockett and Wales under 18 coach Stuart Williams.

The Crusaders youngsters are back in action this Sunday when their team take on Keighley Cougars under 18s at Treherbert RFC (kick-off 1.30pm).

Great Britain Community Lions Under-18s squad to face France Juniors:

1 Shane Ackerly (West Cumbria)
2 Rhys Fenton (Crusaders)
3 Owen Williams (Crusaders)
4 Loren Quick (South Wales Scorpions)
5 Reece Lazenby (West Hull)
6 Callum Phillips (West Cumbria)
7 Dale Evans (Crusaders)
8 Stephen Welton (Gateshead Thunder)
9 Alistair Leak (West Cumbria)
10 Adam Davies (Crusaders)
11 Glenn Riley (West Hull)
12 Matthew Huby (Wath Brow Hornets)
13 Lewis Reece (Crusaders / South Wales Scorpions)
14 David Orwell (Saddleworth Rangers)
15 Kyle Blackmore (Crusaders)
16 Matthew Syron (Queens)
17 Kirk Collins (West Hull)
18 Daniel Bergon (Widnes St Maries)

Great Britain Community Lions Under-18s v France Juniors
Wednesday February 17
Blackwood RFC, Gwent

Public trial match this Friday at Porthcawl (kick-off 7,30pm)

South Wales Scorpions RLFC are inviting fans to watch their final public trial match this Friday at Porthcawl RFC (kick-off 7.30pm).

This will a proper 80 minute 13-a-side rugby league match and will put all of the Scorpions train-on squad through their paces as they aim to get into the final squad for the big kick-off against former Super League club Workington Town at The Gnoll in Neath on Sunday 28 February.

Thirty seven players have currently been in training at the Scorpions and 35 of them have been split into two teams for this exciting trial match. Lee Williams and Christiaan Roets are the two absentees. Williams has a knee injury while Roets is currently on holiday.

Scorpions chairman Phil Davies said: “This game is set to be as exciting and dramatic as any rugby league game that you’ll ever see. It’s a proper match but with an added twist as the players know that a position in the Scorpions professional squad is up for grabs. We’re expecting a large crowd to watch. It’s free of charge to get in so don’t miss out.”

Season tickets will also be on sale at the ground on Friday night.

The two teams have been split into “green” and “red”. Following the game, a 27-man squad consisting of 22 first team and five development players, will be selected and announced at www.scorpionsrl.com on Saturday. The selection will also take the players’ training ethics, current fitness levels and commitment to training into account.

The teams (numbers subject to change) will be as follows…

GREEN TEAM: 1. Jamie Tibbs, 2. David James (Blackwood), 3. Lewis Reece, 4. Steve Ireland, 5. Ashley Bateman, 6. Andrew Gay, 7. Steve Parry, 8. Joe Burke, 9. Shawn Owens, 10. Neil Dallimore, 11. Barrie Phillips, 12. Loren Quick, 13. Sam Studley. Subs: 14. Harri Greville, 15. Garrick Legge, 16. Phil Cushion, 17. Stuart Volkes. Coach: Dan Clements.

RED TEAM: 1. Marc Bennett, 2. Dalton Grant, 3. David James (Bridgend), 4. Craig Foster, 5. Tom Rees, 6. Matt Hutchings, 7. Jamie Stewart, 8. Adam Coupe, 9. Garyn Lucas, 10. Leigh Taylor, 11. Dean Scully, 12. John Sangier, 13. Adam Pope. Subs: 14. Paul Boden, 15. Stuart Harvey, 16. Tom Payne, 17. Anthony Symmonds. Coach: Hywel Davies.

The players are requested to bring their own shorts, socks and boots.

Directions to Porthcawl RFC here