Torfaen Tigers have strengthened their squad ahead of their Tetley’s Challenge Cup debut this Saturday when they travel to Chiswick Rugby Club this Saturday to face South West London Chargers (2.00pm).
Last year’s South Wales domestic champions take on their London equivalents with a number of new players in the side including Jarad Hinnem, who joins from local rivals Newport Titans, Jonathan Daniels, who played for the Tigers up until two years ago, and former Wales under 16 international Matthew Cummins.
Hinnem a centre by trade but equally comfortable in the halves or back row, was a member of the Wales Dragonhearts training squad in 2010.
Stand Off Matt Cummins, who played for the Tigers junior sides and gained international recognition at under 16 level before returning to rugby union with Tredegar, Garndiffraith and Pontypool, was originally due to link up with the squad last season but was forced to undergo knee surgery instead.
Jon Daniels impressed playing for the club in 2011 before suffering a nasty leg break playing against Cardiff Demons that year, putting him out of the game for a long period of time.
Tigers head coach Jamie Williams said: “I’m delighted to have signed all three players who will add some much needed depth to our backline and create genuine competition for places. I played alongside Jon in 2011 and it’s great to see him back on the field.
“Everyone is chomping at the bit to get stuck in on Saturday. The lads have been training hard and it's going to be hard to only pick 17 players.”
Fellow coach Chris Bailey added: “Matt and Jon have looked really sharp in training, and I've worked with Jarad in RU. I’m really excited to be working with them all and I’m sure they'll be great additions to the squad.
“There’s a real sense of excitement for Saturday’s game. Everyone, old and new, looks sharp and hopefully we can carry on where we left off last season.”
Torfaen chairman Rob Davies said: “Everyone is excited to be playing in such a prestigious competition. The local community and media have all been very supportive and hopefully this can push us on to bigger and better things.”
The winner of this game will be just one victory away from being included in the third round draw, which is when Kingstone Press Championship opposition, such as Leigh Centurions, Workington Town and Sheffield Eagles – all past winners of Rugby League’s oldest and most prestigious competition – enter the fray, along with Wales’ top sides in North Wales Crusaders and South Wales Scorpions.
But the Tigers opponents, a club that is the product of a recent merger between South London Storm and West London Sharks, will of course be equally as determined to get into the hat for round two.
“Showing no disrespect to Torfaen Tigers, I believe that we are an equal standard to them,” said South West London Chargers President Cameron Paul. “It is a great opportunity for us, but we have got to keep ourselves grounded.
“A few West London Sharks players played in the Challenge Cup back in the 2009 competition, so a few have had a taste but it is not hard to motivate the guys – if we win two games then we could get drawn against Championship opposition.
“We’ve been training for a month now, so will be able to go out and give it a good shot. We have people from Australia and New Zealand involved in the club and they all know about the competition. It’s the Challenge Cup – it’s an honour to play in it.”
Saturday’s game will the 61st in the Challenge Cup involving a Welsh club. For a full list of results and links to many recent match reports, please go to http://www.walesrugbyleague.co.uk/clubs/challenge_cup.
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