Scorpions grow rugby league in South Wales schools

By Ian Golden, Date: 26/2/13

South Wales Scorpions Rugby League Club, in partnership with South Wales Evening Post, have launched a primary schools rugby competition that will take place in six of their home games this season.

 

The “South Wales Evening Post Primary Schools Cup” will be a touch rugby seven-a-side tournament with four matches being played before certain Scorpions matches and two at half-time.

The competition will kick-off on Sunday 3rd March when the Scorpions host London Skolars at The Gnoll in their first competitive home game of the season. Kick-off is 3pm with the junior matches starting from 1.30pm.

Five schools from Neath have entered – Waunceirch Primary School, Crynallt Junior School, Tonnau Primary Community School, Mynachlog Nedd Junior School and Gnoll Primary School – while a brand new Cardiff Demons primary school side has also asked to take part.

The South Wales Evening Post newspaper, available in Neath, Port Talbot, Swansea and further west, will feature this tournament on Saturdays throughout the season.

Scorpions’ head coach Dave Clark said: “We are very much looking forward to the start of our Primary Schools tournament. I have already visited the competing schools to talk about the tournament and train the pupils and there is so much enthusiasm there. We’ve had to delay the announcement of the draw as some schools were even talking about entering two sides!

“We are involving the whole school each time and not just the rugby players. We’ve asked each school to come up with a nickname for their sides and also perhaps design a new logo. I was just blown away with how keen everyone is to take part.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in setting up the tournament, and also the South Wales Evening Post for agreeing to sponsor it. It’s a fantastic community initiative and it’s great to see so many children wanted to take part.”

Admission to South Wales Scorpions v London Skolars on Sunday 3rd March costs just £12 for adults, £7 concessions, £3 for children aged 12 and over and free for under 11s. Adults and concessions can be admitted for just £5 on presentation of a ticket from the Neath v Bedwas rugby union match played the day before.

South Wales Scorpions season tickets are still available online from www.scorpionsrl.com.