Wales Rugby League name new youth squads

Welsh youngsters recently took their first steps to competing in professional rugby league after the recent trials for the Wales Schoolboys and South Wales Academy Under-20 squads.

Competing  at Hawthorn High School, Pontypridd, nearly 100 youngsters strutted their stuff in the hope of being picked to work towards the first internationals of the year in April.

Swansea youngster Jordon Liney was one of those selected for the under-16s, despite still being eligible for under-15s rugby. He told the Mid Glamorgan Press Agency of his pride at being selected.

“It’s a great achievement as I’m a year younger [than the rest of the squad],” said the Gowerton Comprehensive School pupil. “It’s a great honour to play for my country and my family are really chuffed.

“It was a hard day, a really hard trial. A lot of the boys were strong players. I just went for the experience really and when I found out I had been selected I was over the moon.”

Jordon plays for Bonymean Broncos but is also a member of the South Wales Scorpions scholarship side, as well as playing at county level in rugby union. He called for all union players to give league a go in the hope of helping the sport grow in Wales.

“I’m now working towards getting a trial with Wigan Warriors as part of my scholarship with the Scorpions and the link between the clubs.

“I gave rugby league a go, and now it is my first sport. It’s my dream to play senior rugby for Wales in rugby league over rugby union. Other boys should just give it a go in the summer.”

WRL Head of Performance Dan Clements was delighted that so many had turned out and exhibited such a high standard of rugby, saying: “We were really pleased with the turnout for this year’s schoolboys trial and we were even more pleased with the standard of play that was on show given the freezing conditions.

“The Wales Schoolboys side is an important stepping stone on the player pathway of rugby league in the Principality and, judging by the number of players and the talents they showed, we have got a big selection headache coming our way, which is only good for the game in Wales.

“Many of our youngsters at this age have gone on to represent their country at senior level and we hope there are a number of players who were with us last weekend who will be on that journey now.”

Clements was also pleased with those slightly older players who had turned out for the South Wales Academy trials in Treforest. He added:  “It was a really good day and we identified a number of players who can potentially go through the academy programme and into senior rugby league.

“Now the biggest challenge is to improve their rugby league knowledge that will hopefully help them reach their potential.”

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Scorpions look ahead to new season

South Wales Scorpions coach Dave Clark is looking forward to the new season having been able to bolster his squad.

The Scorpions have three new sides to face in the Championship One this season as the club look for promotion, with the season kicking off this Sunday (January 27) in their first pre-season friendly against a Wigan Warriors XIII side consisting of first team and under 19 squad members.

Clark said: “I’ve been very pleased with how the players have done in training so far. We’ve a committed bunch of 25 who are giving their all. It’s a far cry from last year when we only had half of that number near to the start of the season and were relying on our partnership with Wigan far too much.

“By the end of last season we had used 53 players in league matches alone, 16 more in cup games, and we know we can’t and we won’t do that again.

“But it’s given us the chance to have our longest pre-season ever. Our players may not have come back in training until December, and some in January, but in reality our pre-season planning for 2013 started in August 2012.

“By then we were out of contention to reach the play-offs so we were just seeing the season out. It gave us a chance to blood in a few youngsters and see who could be ready for a first team squad place this year.”

During the last month of the 2012 season, Clark gave debuts to Thomas Gwyn Morgan, Alex Jones, Mike Connor, Kristian Hawkes, Chris Leyshon and Sam Wellings, all of whom are in the Scorpions squad for 2013.

In fact, of the 25 players used in the last four games by Clark, 16 have been kept on for this campaign while there are six exciting new signings - two Welsh youngsters from the Leeds Rhinos junior ranks, Ollie Olds and Jack Pring, a former Cardiff Blues junior, plus three overseas players.

“We’ve brought in Kayle Connor, who was a Brisbane Broncos academy player,” added Clark. “He’s a half-back, a strong and powerful try-scorer and is a fantastic kicker of the ball.

“Haydn Peacock is a back rower from Cronulla Sharks. For those who have seen his video on YouTube of some his best tries, you’ll know how good a player he looks.

“Plus we’ve Tongan international James Tutuila, who is primarily a loose forward but can also do just as well 

at hooker, which was the position that he made his international debut at last year.

“Ollie Olds has been playing rugby league since age 11 in south Wales, so we’re delighted to have him on board. It’s also good to welcome back Jack Pring after a year at Leeds Rhinos. He’s played for the Scorpions before and I know he can’t wait to get going again.

“Plus we’ve high hopes for former Cardiff Blues junior Kyle Perry, who could be a very strong and tough asset for our forward line.”

Clark knows that he has a young squad, but it’s an experienced one. Of the 26 players named in their yearbook, seven are full Welsh rugby league internationals, nine are Welsh junior internationals (one of whom now has a full cap for Italy), two are Wales Student internationals and two are Wales Dragonhearts internationals.

And when you add to that a full Irish and Tongan international, two more Welsh-born prospects and their two Australian NRL academy players, it’s a good mixture of youth and experience for the Scorpions when they take to the field for an interesting and exciting encounter against a tough Wigan Warriors select side this Sunday at The Gnoll.

Scorpions’ 2013 squad:

Ashley Bateman (centre/second row).

Joe Burke (prop).

TJ Collin (centre/second row).

Kayle Connor (utility back).

Mike Connor (prop).

Courtney Davies (stand-off).

Rhys Davies (prop).

Connor Farrer (hooker).

Dalton Grant (centre/wing).

Kristian Hawkes (half-back).

David James (full-back/wing).

Alex Jones (wing).

Chris Leyshon (centre).

Thomas Gwyn Morgan (second row).

Ollie Olds (scrum-half).

Shaun Owens (stand-off/hooker).

Steve Parry (stand-off/hooker).

Haydn Peacock (second row).

Kyle Perry (forward).

Osian Phillips (half-back).

Jack Pring (centre).

Lewis Reece (wing/utility).

James Tutuila (loose forward/second row).

Chris Vitalini (loose forward).

Liam Watton (wing/half-back).

Sam Wellings (second row).

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