149 replies to this topic

[brooza]

http://en.wikipedia....r_(gay_culture)
http://en.wikipedia....disambiguation)

Fixed the links for you

[Matt J]

Bears...Stags...

I know the sport is gay-friendly, but is Graham Norton picking the names?

Bristol Leather Daddies.

(Or Hull Dockers... )

[Kenny Bania]

For clarification there will be a press conference at Pennine Way on Tuesday 21st Feb @ 12 noon. Whether that is to dismiss or comfirm the rumour will be annouced then.

Assuming it's to confirm Hemel are in C1 for 2013....fantastic! I'm about a ten minute walk from Pennine Way and look forward to being a regular there this season and beyond!

[shrek]

Great news, well deserved. I like Riley but I find it disrespectful that every embargo is broken prematurely in RL.

Agreed, whilst this is great news (if confirmed at midday!) the RFL should really keep these things to themselves in future until the offical announcment, clearly some are to keen with the trigger finger and given the age of Twitter etc these stories get around quick enough when announced.

Great news for Hemel (if true!) and whilst not wanting to wish away 2012, really looking forward to seeing how CC1 shapes up in 2013.

[gingerjon]

I'm about a ten minute walk from Pennine Way

*shudder*

[bearman]

Fixed the links for you

Time to change my moniker?

[The 4 of Us]

Time to change my moniker?

Bearback?

[Stag Fan]

Assuming it's to confirm Hemel are in C1 for 2013....fantastic! I'm about a ten minute walk from Pennine Way and look forward to being a regular there this season and beyond!

And Kenny you will be most welcome at Pennine Way today.

*shudder*

GJ you sure your not Mr Bucket.

Edited by Stag Fan, 21 February 2012 - 08:33 AM.

[PhilCarrington]

Agreed, whilst this is great news (if confirmed at midday!) the RFL should really keep these things to themselves in future until the offical announcment, clearly some are to keen with the trigger finger and given the age of Twitter etc these stories get around quick enough when announced.

Great news for Hemel (if true!) and whilst not wanting to wish away 2012, really looking forward to seeing how CC1 shapes up in 2013.

Don't blame the RFL.
How do you get the press to turn up to a press conference if you don't let the press know there's a conference?
The problem is that one of the media has decided to guess what the announcement is going to be and put it out on twitter.

[shrek]

Don't blame the RFL.
How do you get the press to turn up to a press conference if you don't let the press know there's a conference?
The problem is that one of the media has decided to guess what the announcement is going to be and put it out on twitter.

I'm not blaming the RFL, I'm blaming the press for not respecting/being able to abide by the press embargo.

[PhilCarrington]

I'm not blaming the RFL, I'm blaming the press for not respecting/being able to abide by the press embargo.

Well if the RFL kept it to themselves as you suggested there'd be no press at the press conference.

We will all know for sure what it's about in a hour or so.

[BJW]

Excellent news. I always keep an eye on Hemel, they're the closest I'll get to a home town team. Unless anyone wants to help me set up the Aylesbury Avengers...?

Too late as there was an Aylesbury team (The Bears) in the London League for a couple of seasons around 1996/7. Surprised your encyclopaedic knowledge of TGG has this gap !

Before anybody questions the clubs name, there is a very good reason why they were called the Bears. The answer Brooks no argument

[shrek]

Well if the RFL kept it to themselves as you suggested there'd be no press at the press conference.

We will all know for sure what it's about in a hour or so.

Not sure what your issue is, I thought the whole point of a press conference is you call one, press turn up to hear what you've got to say, tell them in advance and I'm assuming alot of those members of the press already discussing this freely will be unlikely to be trapsing down to Hemel this afternoon anyhow.

But either don't have a press embargo on stories, or don't keep giving it to individuals who leak the information, to me it doesn't look professional and does a disservice to those organising the press conference in the first place.

Unless of course we just leave it to individuals discression as and when big announcments get made, thus rendering press conferences and the like useless anyway!

[tim2]

Not sure what your issue is, I thought the whole point of a press conference is you call one, press turn up to hear what you've got to say, tell them in advance and I'm assuming alot of those members of the press already discussing this freely will be unlikely to be trapsing down to Hemel this afternoon anyhow.

But either don't have a press embargo on stories, or don't keep giving it to individuals who leak the information, to me it doesn't look professional and does a disservice to those organising the press conference in the first place.

Unless of course we just leave it to individuals discression as and when big announcments get made, thus rendering press conferences and the like useless anyway!

You have to tempt the Press to go to the conference or they may not bother.

To be honest, if I heard that Hemel had called a Press Conference there would likely be only 2 outcomes.

1. They will be entering Championship One in 2013
2. They had withdrawn from the process

I doubt they would bother with a conference for item 2, so it would be a shoo-in for item 1.

[Impartial Observer]

Fantastic news, congratulations to everyone involved at Hemel.

[John Drake]

Here's the official RFL press release in full:


Hemel Join Rugby League’s Championship 1

The RFL has today confirmed that Hemel Stags will join Rugby League’s Championship One competition in 2013.
The Stags will line up with Northampton and two other clubs who have yet to be announced in making the step up to semi-professional level in a re-vamped Championship One from next season.
The Hertfordshire club’s elevation is part of the RFL’s strategic objective to develop the sport’s geographical footprint by giving more players the opportunity to play in the Championships.
RFL Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer said: "We are delighted to announce that Hemel Stags have been successful in their application to join Championship One from the 2013 season.
“This is another exciting day for Rugby League as we work tirelessly to grow and develop the sport.
"As with Northampton, this means further geographic expansion for Championship One and fits with our strategy to widen the sport’s catchment area and increase the number of Rugby League players involved.
“Player supply will be key for the new teams and we’re utilising experienced Rugby League consultants to work in co-ordination with local colleges and universities as well as the Armed Forces to create a successful player pathway for each club.
“South Wales Scorpions and more recently North Wales Crusaders have demonstrated what is possible and have introduced pools of new competitive talent into the competition.
“Hemel have a long and proud history and have played at the highest level of the community game for a number of years.”
Hemel Chairman Bob Brown believes the announcement is a significant milestone in the history of the club he founded 31 years ago.
“We are delighted to be taking the step up into Championship 1,” said Brown. “From the day in April 1981 when we kicked off as a pub team in borrowed shirts we have been determined to grow the sport in Hemel Hempstead.
"Two decades of playing in non-professional national leagues have prepared us for the demands of Championship One. A long-term commitment to facilities and youth development has paid dividends and has made the Stags one of the leading sports clubs in the region.
"We had the team, but not the facilities in place in 1998 when we unsuccessfully applied to join the Northern Ford Premiership. The one-year lead time we now have to prepare will ensure that we will be ready both on and off the field in 2013.”
Hemel already have a good pedigree of producing players that have graduated to Super League, including Dan Sarginson and Kieran Dixon of the London Broncos.
Sarginson, the London Broncos stand-off who burst onto the Super League scene towards the end of last season, began his Rugby League career at Hemel as a 14-year-old and is proud of what the club have achieved.
He said: "I'm really pleased that the club where I started my career has worked so hard to better themselves as a group of players and as a club. After a lot of hard work it's great to see it's finally paid off!"
Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, welcomed the news, saying: “This is fantastic news for the club and for Hemel. It is great that they will be in Championship 1.
“We have a long and proud sporting tradition in Hemel Hempstead and it is wonderful for us to have another professional sports team which can provide a means for children and adults to play sport and whose players can act as community role models.
“I wish them well and very much look forward to seeing the guys in action.”
The RFL will announce the identity of the two remaining new clubs that will join Northampton and Hemel Stags in Championship One in 2013 over the next few months.

HEMEL HISTORY

Founded 1981 and joined Rugby League ranks in the second division of the Southern League.
1991 – Accepted to Rugby League Alliance and rejoined in 1997
1993 – Moved to National Conference League
1999 – Made the decision to become a summer club and joined the RLC Eastern Division finishing second to Ipswich
2000 – Made Harry Jepson Trophy play offs after taking Eastern title
2002 – Appear in Harry Jepson Trophy Final - Coventry Bears 21 v 14 Hemel Hempstead Stags at Cheltenham
2003 – Become inaugural members of Rugby League Conference National
2006 – Appear in Grand Final - Bramley Buffaloes 30 v 8 Hemel Stags at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Matt Walton voted RLCN Player of the Year
2007-11 made RLCN play offs

[shrek]

You have to tempt the Press to go to the conference or they may not bother.

To be honest, if I heard that Hemel had called a Press Conference there would likely be only 2 outcomes.

1. They will be entering Championship One in 2013
2. They had withdrawn from the process

I doubt they would bother with a conference for item 2, so it would be a shoo-in for item 1.

With respect, I understand that, but presumably it was embargoed with good reason. For me press conferences are much better medium for getting great news like this out to the public at large than an overly keen 3rd party individual or organisation rattling off a message in a 140 characters or less!

Either way, great news for Hemel and good luck to all those involved in the preperation for 2013.

[West Country Eagle]

They've been on/off trying for 20 years but have obviously sorted out the ground.

They really needed to get in so glad they're in. Now we really need Coventry Bears to be one of the last two. Bristol would be my preference for the other spot.

Agreed re: Bristol and Cov. I understand work is ongoing to sort out a rock solid Bristol bid. Indications are that the RFL are still keen, so we'll see what happens. Major announcement from the Sonics soon that could help in this regard - obviously we're not applying as a club, but it would benefit us having an NL1 club on our doorstep as part of the "performance pathway".

Congratulations to everyone at Hemel on their elevation to NL1 status for 2013 - I remember going down there years ago (probably early 90s) to watch my brother play for Hillsborough (or maybe Junior Eagles as it was in the early days, pre open age side). It's great to see such a long-established RL development club - probably the most successful of all time given their history - make the step-up to the semi-pro leagues. I'm sure everyone outside the "heartlands" will wish them luck… Hemel provides a model that other clubs south of the M62 would be wise to look at closely.

[audois]

Its super for blokes like Bob Brown and all the effort put in. The thing that stands out for me in this process though is this twelve month lead-in time.

A lot earlier with Mansfield Marksmen, Kent Invicta et al if memory serves me well this wasn't the case and there wasn't certainly the developments mushrooming around them. Well done the RFL.

[Northern Sol]

I call that good news. Hemel are exactly the kind of club CC1 needs.