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.

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).

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.

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

Scorpions directors to talk on Bay Radio tomorrow

South Wales Scorpions owner Phil Davies and commercial director Rob Buckley will be talking on Bay Radio tomorrow (Saturday) between 11.30am and midday to answer any questions fans have on the new club.

The Scorpions are Wales’ newest professional rugby league side and will kick-off their Co-operative Championship 1 season against former Super League side Workington Town on Sunday 28 February at The Gnoll in Neath.

Bay Radio can be listened to in the Swansea and West Wales area on 102.1FM or online worldwide at www.swanseabayradio.co.uk.

Davies and Buckley, along with their fellow directors, were in attendance at the first ever Scorpions supporters evening at The Gnoll on Thursday (yesterday).

A supporters club was formed with Andy Birchall from Port Talbot elected as chairman. Neil Goodman was appointed secretary and Rob Yates as treasurer. Aaron Hill, Chris O'Brien, Jon Nightingale and Glenn Colbridge will also sit on the committee.

The prices to join the Supporters Club were set at £5 for adults, £2 for 12 to 16yr olds and free for children aged 11 and under. The club can be contacted by emailing swscorpions@rugbyfans.net.

The new supporters club discussed having an influence in half-time and post match entertainment as well as the selection of mascots from within the supporters club junior section.

All members will get a discount on Scorpions' merchandise which the club are aiming to have on release for the season opener on February 28th.

Everyone at South Wales Scorpions RLFC and the Supporters Club would like to thank all supporters for the excellent turnout.

Supporters Club meeting tonight in ON

The first ever South Wales Scorpions Supporters Club meeting is still definitely on tonight at The Gnoll clubhouse, Neath RFC and starts at 7.30pm. Please attend if you can.

Blackpool fixture date changed

The date of the Scorpions’ home Co-operative Championship 1 match against Blackpool Panthers has been changed from Sunday 2nd May to the Bank Holiday Monday in line with the rest of the division’s fixtures that weekend. Kick-off will be the slightly later time of 3pm.

This will allow fans of Scorpions, Crusaders and Blackpool to attend the entire Magic Weekend in Edinburgh and be back in time for the game in Neath.

This game will see the welcome return of Paul Ballard to South Wales as the talented 25-year old winger has signed for Blackpool.

Ballard scored 40 tries in 49 games in 2007 and 2008 for the Crusaders but didn't feature in John Dixon's plans for the 2009 Super League season and made just two appearances before being loaned out to Whitehaven where he scored seven tries in nine games.

He chose to sign for Blackpool after wanting to travel less in 2010 and remain close to his Wigan base.

Primary School children to go free

South Wales Scorpions' chairman Phil Davies has announced that children aged 11 years old and under have the chance to enter every game for free during their 2010 season which kicks off with a home game against former Super League club Workington Town at the Gnoll in Neath on Sunday 28 February.

A maximum of two children aged 11 or under, per paying adult or adult season ticket holder can enter free. Any additional children can see the rugby league match for just £4 at the gate. Adult entry will cost just £8 per game.

"We want to make every game a family affair," said Davies. "To do that we want to make prices economical for families. Our season tickets will be going on sale soon and we hope we'll have an excellent response as throughout 2010 we'll be hosting the best value for money professional sporting events in the country."

Season tickets will cost just £60 for adults and £30 for all concessions.

Season tickets on sale next Monday

South Wales Scorpions’ season tickets will go on sale on the home page of the website www.scorpionsrl.com by 4pm next Monday.

Prices will be just £60 for adults and £30 for all concessions giving fans an incredible 25% saving on match by match prices for Wales’ newest professional rugby league club.

The Scorpions’ Co-operative Championship 1 season lasts 20 games (10 at home and 10 away) and starts with a home match at The Gnoll in Neath against former Super League side Workington Town on Sunday 28 February (kick-off 2pm).

We are the Scorpions!

Wales’ newest professional rugby league club has been named “South Wales Scorpions RLFC”.

The newly formed club, who will play their home matches out of Neath RFC, open their inaugural Co-operative Championship 1 campaign with a home game against former Super League club, Workington Town, at The Gnoll on Sunday 28 February (kick-off 2pm).

The Scorpions moniker was chosen following an internet and radio campaign to suggest a nickname for the club. Congratulations must go to supporter James Bowes from Cardiff for originally suggesting the nickname. He will be sent two season tickets for the Scorpions as a prize.

“We’d like to thank all the fans for submitting their entries,” said Scorpions’ chairman Phil Davies. “We chose Scorpions above all other names as we felt we needed a new identity. It’s a new nickname for professional rugby league and one that is completely original for the area.

Of the two other possibilities, Celts had connotations from the Crusaders while Phoenix suggested a rising from the ashes. There have been a few suggestions that the mascot could be called “Sting” and the junior teams be known as “The Stingers”.

“We hope you all get behind the new team in the new year. I can further inform you that we have a website which is currently under construction at www.scorpionsrl.com. All the latest club news will be posted here for fans to read as soon as any is announced. The complete website, designed by a professional organisation, will be online before we kick off in February.

“I for one now can’t wait for 2010 to begin. In January, maybe before, we’ll be able to announce our head coach and after that, our squad. There are exciting times ahead as we continue to develop rugby league in Wales.”

The Scorpions have also launched their new badge which comes in two colours, the pink and black version will be the primary badge and worn on the home kit while the yellow version will go on the away kit.

Ticket prices confirmed for 2010

South Wales RLFC have announced their season ticket and match admission prices for the 2010 Co-operative Championship 1 season.

The newly formed club, who will play their home matches out of Neath RFC, open their inaugural campaign with a home game against former Super League club, Workington Town, at The Gnoll on Sunday 28 February (kick-off 2pm).

Match admission prices per game for anywhere in the ground are just £8 for adults and £4 for concessions (under 16s, students and seniors) but for the ten-game season, season tickets will cost just £60 for adults and £30 for all concessions giving fans a 25% saving.

Fans will be able to order their tickets early in January.

The new club are also hoping to come up with a nickname by tomorrow.

South Wales RLFC director Mark Rowley said: “Our favourites are Celts, Phoenix and Scorpions, all of which were suggested by fans on internet message boards. All three have their merits, Celts has tradition in the area and fans will already have songs with that name in, Phoenix has a rising from the ashes connotation while Scorpions is something brand new and original and we Welsh always play with a sting in our tale.

“The board are now considering all three names and, all being well, we will make a further announcement tomorrow.”

Swansea Sound to join in the campaign for new name

Swansea Sound’s “Kevin Johns Breakfast Show” has joined in with the campaign to find a nickname for the new rugby league club, South Wales RLFC.

The newly formed club, who will play their home matches out of Neath RFC, open their inaugural Co-operative Championship 1 campaign with a home game against former Super League club, Workington Town, at The Gnoll on Sunday 28 February (kick-off 2pm).

If you listen to Kev Johns’ show on Swansea Sound between 6am and 10am tomorrow on 1170MW, DAB or online at http://www.swanseasound.co.uk/breakfast.php, he will announce details of the competition where you can win two season tickets to watch all the South Wales RLFC games live at The Gnoll throughout 2010.

South Wales to hold open trials for players

South Wales RLFC are holding an open trial for players for their first season on Sunday 10th January at 1pm at the University in Glamorgan playing fields in Trefforest.

The newly formed club, who will play their home matches out of Neath RFC, open their inaugural Co-operative Championship 1 campaign with a home game against former Super League club, Workington Town, at The Gnoll on Sunday 28 February (kick-off 2pm).

Players need to apply by filling in an form. These will be online by the end of this week at www.cymrurl.com and on the new South Wales RLFC website that will go live next week.

"The open trial is for League or union players to come along,” said South Wales director Mark Rowley. “The player base is fantastic here in South Wales. We know that we'll be able to use players who were in the Crusaders reserve team last season but there is still a lot of untapped talent out there.

"We'll be a 99 percent Welsh club which will be good for our identity. We won't be importing any players at all from Australia or New Zealand. We want Welsh players to go on and play Super League.

"Moving from the Conference to the Super League is too big a step. They need this middle ground in order to go on and play Super League and then for Wales. As a nation, we’re building towards qualification for the 2011 Four Nations and 2013 World Cup and this club is an important stepping stone in player development."

"We are hoping to develop links where players can travel back and forth. We’ll be more than a feeder side as players will be able to travel both ways. If the Welsh youngsters are not being used by the Crusaders, hopefully we can get them back.

"We’re hoping to be good enough to gain promotion to the Championship within two years and in six years time, we want to be able to compete for a Super League licence. I'm confident that we have the structure here to enable that to happen.”

Mark Rowley talks to League Express

OUT of the Ashes of the Crusaders sudden 127-mile relocation from Newport to Wrexham spring South Wales RLFC, Rugby League's newest professional club who will play their first League match on February 28th against Workington Town (kick-off 2pm).

The new club will only play Championship One matches this season and will not enter either the Northern Rail Cup or the Challenge Cup, whose formats had already been agreed upon. They will rely mainly on players who played reserve-team football for the Crusaders last season - the Super League side will no longer run a team at that grade.

Mark Rowley, one of the South Wales directors, told 'League Express' that the club will not sign any players from Australia or New Zealand and that they aim to be in the Championship in two years and applying for a Super League licence in six years.

"It all came about two or three weeks ago when the talk of the Crusaders going to North Wales materialised," said Rowley.

"I'm confident that the structure is all there. We have very good people on board. Phil Davies is the owner of the club and the board of directors includes Mike Nicholas, John Devereux and myself.

"John has been the sponsor of amateur Rugby League in Wales for the last five years. He has a number of business interests.

"Other people have agreed to come on board but that won't be publicised just yet."

The side will play their matches at The Gnoll, the home of Neath RUFC, which holds up to 6,000 people and Rowley is confident of attracting healthy first-year crowds, claiming that any negativity among local Rugby League fans over the Crusaders relocation has been extinguished by the formation of the new club.

"We've budgeted a worst-case scenario of 200 a game but we're confident that we'll get 600-700 a game," he said.

"I thought there was some negativity around to be fair, but people seem to be coming round and we've answered some people's questions. The birth of a new club will alleviate the frustration here.

"In six years we hope to be able to compete for a Super League licence and we hope to be in the Championship in two years, even though this first year might not be easy.

"As for players, none are signed on at the moment but there will be an open trial on 3 January for League or union players to come along. The player base is fantastic here and we'll be able to use players who were in the Crusaders reserve team last season.

"We'll be a 99 percent Welsh club which will be good for our identity. We won't be importing any players at all from Australia or New Zealand. We want Welsh players to go on and play Super League.

"Moving from the Conference to the Super League is too big a step. They need this middle ground in order to go on and play Super League."

Rowley is confident that the new outfit will soon be able to announce a new coach.

"I can't say anything about the new coach at the moment but we will be interviewing three or four people this week," he said.

South Wales RLFC fixtures announced

South Wales RLFC will, as announced last week, kick-off their inaugural season in Co-operative Championship 1 with a home game against the former Super League club Workington Town on Sunday 28th February.

The full season’s fixtures were announced today with the much anticipated home “local derby” match against London Skolars taking place a week before Easter on Sunday 28th March.

The club, who will be playing their home games out of the famous Gnoll ground in Neath, will only play league matches in their inaugural season and will enter the Northern Rail Cup and Carnegie Challenge Cup from 2011 onwards.

Executive chairman of Wales Rugby League and one of the South Wales’ club’s directors Mark Rowley said: “We’re looking forward to the first game on February 28th which we’re delighted to see is at home. We anticipate that we will get a good crowd as there has been a lot of excitement regarding our launch. We have an enormous player base to call on in South Wales now so I know that we have the structure down here to be very competitive.”