2blackrooks

SRL 2023 season fixtures now available seeing just 3 teams participating this year with Aberdeen, Forth Valley and Glasgow with Edinburgh concentrating on NERL 27/5/23 Forth Valley v Aberdeen 10/6/23 Aberdeen v Glasgow 17/6/23 Glasgow v Forth Valley 24/6/23 Aberdeen v Forth Valley 1/7/23 Glasgow v Aberdeen 15/7/23 Forth Valley v Glasgow Scottish Cup 8/7/23 Glasgow v Forth Valley Edinburgh v Aberdeen 22/7/23 Final

Edinburgh’s game against Saddleworth been shown live on BBC sport 1330hrs 11/2/23

Not a chance the SRU have destroyed club rugby in Scotland even the two pro clubs run at a loss. for RL to succeed it needs to stay independent. there are new people running the game up here so let’s see what happens. Already we’re seeing more games being organised internationally for the u15/16/18 students than ever before. But we do need to see and yet to see what their doing for the club game.

I do see the madness in the method of holding trials in Bradford, in the 90’s loads of Scots families moved south especially into Yorkshire for the mines, I’m sure (hopefully) SRL have done there homework to see if the interest is here, having a group of Yorkshire/Lancashire heritage lads playing regular RL down south bringing them through the ranks is a good thing, we just don’t have the numbers yet up here. We’re virtually starting from scratch again and got to start from somewhere, it’s a gamble down in Bradford but worth a shot asking as it’s supplemented by and action plan up here to bring in local lads.

Or the SRL with the RFL’s help, in the current climate I’m sure RU clubs would embrace the potential cash injection this could offer plus off season conditioning for some of their Union players, The SRU certainly don’t care about anything outside the super 6 series or Glasgow/Edinburgh pro teams

Strathmore RU have and hopefully in the coming season will re start their RL outfit and many RU players join the RL teams as conditioning. What we need to build is a group of players who focus solely on RL As for borders teams looking at RL is a great idea, either within Scotland or joining the NE league as Edinburgh do or a Cumbrian set up Meanwhile Scotland RL U16/U18 program for the coming year Open trial/training days - 20th Nov, Dec -Jan tbc, 26th Feb Bradford Bulls Academy, 26th March, 23rd April, 28th May, 16th July Matches - 18th June vs England Community lions, 13th Aug tbc, Sept tbc Scotland Students - trial/training days - 20th Nov, Dec - Jan tbc, 30th Apr, 28th May Training camps + match - 19th Feb vs Police (in Rochdale), 26th March home opponent tbc, 10th - 17th June student 4 nations in Wales

Scotland RL organising Try Rugby league days, first one coming up 20/11/22 10am to 3pm Peffermill Edinburgh u16/u18 + students

Further interview with Craig Robertson of Edinburgh on the Rugby football league FB page

This weekend see’s the NERL final to be held in Newcastle Kingston Park Edinburgh take on Jarrow KO 2pm Saturday Jarrow are keen favourites winning both league games but hopefully as in the semi final can pull it off Theres a great pod cast on ‘13 Pro Am community RL show’ 17 Aug show which speaks to both coaches (starts about 30mins in) and gives an insight into how Edinburgh is fairing with players etc The match will be streamed live on ‘Our league app’

Edinburgh hit form today beating Cramlington Rockets 38-24 in the NERL semi final play off round Meanwhile Scotland withdraw from the up and coming u19 champs in Italy 3/9/22 ‘Scotland Rugby League cited changes in their coaching staff and a lack of player availability at that age group as the reasons behind their decision not to travel.’

I would expect the lads have a background in RU purely down to the fact RL is as rare as hens teeth but with internationals etc it’s hoped they will continue to progress with RL Most clubs up here rely on RU players, as the season is so short it’s usually over before the RU season/training starts Talking to a good few RU players they do like playing RL the fact is we don’t have the clubs to offer them a regular season but we live in hope

NERL Championship Edinburgh 16 - 34 Jarrow Edinburgh now qualified for the playoffs next weekend

Scotland u16 20 - 28 England u16 massive effort from the lads coming from 24 - 10 down 10 mins into the 2nd considering there’s little or no u16 league games in Scotland this is an encouraging performance, brilliant effort to all involved in the development teams. Players coaches n volunteers

Halftime Scotland u16 10 - 18 England u16

Scot 10 - 12 Eng

(‘Thanks for the info mate. Do you know if Scotland under 16s are generally Scottish based or are they English with Scottish anscestory? ‘) As far as I’m aware all Scottish born and bred or with Scottish nationality, a lot of clubs (laughable I know we only have a handful) have been doing a lot of work with juniors Also as part of a double header Edinburgh take on Jarrow in Rd 10 of NERL KO 15:15pm Dalkeith RFC after the U16s International

So Edinburgh retained the Scottish Cup beating a spirited Vikings 56-16 and enter the Challenge Cup This weekend see’s Scotland u16’s take on England Community Lions KO 12 noon Dalkeith Rugby Club

This Saturday sees the final of the Scottish Cup Edinburgh vs Forth Valley ko 1400hrs Nethercraigs, Glasgow

Important thing is these guys stick together for next year in what’s been a season to forget for SRL

Scottish Cup semi final time Glasgow taking on Forth Valley today at Nethercraigs KO 2pm Scottish RL giving the teams some much welcome and needed (about time) coverage Winners take on Edinburgh in the final on 23rd July https://www.scotlandrl.com/2022/07/07/scottish-cup-semi-final/?fbclid=IwAR3wWHBnlIKtC1AwZVQ9v4KuVaGG4kmtZIWAa7z41EB7JgpmkqYQckBG97U&fs=e&s=cl

Anyhow meanwhile in the land of normality Forth Valley take on Glasgow today as the only 2 clubs playing in the domestic scene kick off is at Hillfoots rugby club 2pm

Edinburgh do have and building a good sustainable set up and their next step is to build a youth set up. Strathmore recently did youth coaching sessions in RL but they are predominantly a Union squad Scottish RL just last weekend held an u16 development session but then what, there’s nothing for these kids to go to I could probably get a dozen or so kids together this weekend play a bit of league then say goodbye thanks for turning but there’s absolutely nothing to follow this on, no clubs to go and play for I know it’s not fair to constantly bash Scotland RL I’m not privy to any plans they have or have in place but they never release anything they certainly haven’t supported the clubs on Social media but they will post about sending a U19 team to Ireland to play in an international tournament, but where are these guys going after this ??? No clubs to play for, Nigeria can muster 8 teams Ghana 7 teams even put the games on YouTube. Scotland nothing There are a lot of Union players out there to tap into, many union clubs have packed in, it just needs some proactive action. We’ve in essence lost 4 teams this season, they say they will be back but will they I just fear for Glasgow and Forth valley now

Your right since funding from the RL stopped, RL in Scotland has really been a struggle. Fortunately the volunteers do a massive job in keeping it going. Im unsure what help Scotland RL give to the likes of Forth Valley etc but I suspect it’s negligible if anything. What is frustrating Scottish RL do development days at u16 u19 level etc which is great but what the hell for when there’s nothing for them to play for, no development league no u19 league, just a bunch of lads playing a few games then they disperse. Recently spending cash on sending a U19 team to Ireland to play some international matches when the money could be spent on the domestic game. Also what I’ve noticed especially this year is the total lack of social media coverage the national body gives the league where Wales and Ireland are all over this. we've a WC coming up, bunch of guys representing Scotland but who knows apart from maybe a couple of thousand will even know this, and with no real domestic league out there to highlight that RL is played here I really don’t see the point anymore. Maybe they expect the WC will be the golden chalice of cash and will see an injection of money into the game. In a recent article pst players bemoaned that the game isn’t what it was, well maybe these guys who drew with NZ should come up and give something back and help with coaching, getting people interested, the total lack of international’s don’t help but I guess it’s down to cash which appears to be scarce. If action isn’t taken soon what scraps of RL Scotland have will just go

Edinburgh are back in action this weekend away to Jarrow Vikings 1330pm Monkton Stadium Jarrow Sadly due to lack of games and I’ve no doubt little support Aberdeen Warriors have called it a day for 2022 but hope to be back in 2023, basically making this season virtually a non starter now Hopefully Glasgow and Forth carry on with some games Victoria Hogg has been appointed the new chair of Scotland RL hopefully this appointment will spur interest and support for the domestic game, which it badly needs

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/scotland-gone-backwards-andrew-henderson/?fbclid=IwAR2v9hhinFtKZW4fhkLGR_1MsDbBZL3WSjqsXta2xlqUt9EZaEmHNqNFO3M&fs=e&s=cl Interesting article on Scottish RL