Cymru RL developing well.

[Damien]

10 hours ago, JM2010 said:

This is an area where Wales have more potential than France. The French junior players don’t seem to have much in the way of pathways into SL whereas the Welsh players have all the English SL clubs, especially St Helens, Warrington, Salford to develop into SL players. 
If a few players each year can become regular SL players with the addition of a few strong heritage players then they could become a potential opponent for England in the future 

I do think a Welsh SL club is needed to really kick on. For a good few years now SL clubs have signed Welsh lads in decent numbers but it'll always be limited how many of those actually make it.

Celtic Crusaders showed in a very brief period just how many Welsh lads can make it with a Welsh SL club in place (and even just as a strong, well financed Championship side).

[JM2010]

11 hours ago, welshmagpie said:

Off the top of my head I’m unsure but I’d say about 10-20 on scholarship contracts, another 3-6 in academies - that’s Wales born and developed only, obviously there’s heritage numbers on top of that. 

Would Wales be able to put out a good academy side next season to possibly take in England and France?

[welshmagpie]

2 hours ago, JM2010 said:

Would Wales be able to put out a good academy side next season to possibly take in England and France?

They’re supposed to be playing France at the end of October at U19s level, let’s use that as a gauge

[JM2010]

1 hour ago, welshmagpie said:

They’re supposed to be playing France at the end of October at U19s level, let’s use that as a gauge

Well, they beat England so it’s a pretty good gauge 

[fighting irish]

On 17/07/2024 at 22:09, Damien said:

I do think a Welsh SL club is needed to really kick on. For a good few years now SL clubs have signed Welsh lads in decent numbers but it'll always be limited how many of those actually make it.

Celtic Crusaders showed in a very brief period just how many Welsh lads can make it with a Welsh SL club in place (and even just as a strong, well financed Championship side).

It would be a dream come true for me Damien but I think we'd need at least twice preferably three times as many amateur senior clubs (in Wales) all with junior teams at every age group, before we could support/sustain a pro club.

I'm afraid there doesn't seem to be much of an effort (any effort) being made at the moment, to sprout new senior clubs.

It may be due to the desire/need to squeeze our season between the end of one RaRa season and the start of the next, but I think that's an extremely defeatist policy and for obvious reasons, severely curtails any serious hope of widespread expansion.

As you know, I'm against a passive (sit back and wait for newcomers to come forward) development policy. I think someone, should be engaged in actively searching out interested parties and bringing them into the fold and developing their interest in the game and their ability to carry on the work.

I hope the senior game can grow in the next few years, we'll see. 

[welshmagpie]

On 19/07/2024 at 11:49, fighting irish said:

It would be a dream come true for me Damien but I think we'd need at least twice preferably three times as many amateur senior clubs (in Wales) all with junior teams at every age group, before we could support/sustain a pro club.

I'm afraid there doesn't seem to be much of an effort (any effort) being made at the moment, to sprout new senior clubs.

It may be due to the desire/need to squeeze our season between the end of one RaRa season and the start of the next, but I think that's an extremely defeatist policy and for obvious reasons, severely curtails any serious hope of widespread expansion.

As you know, I'm against a passive (sit back and wait for newcomers to come forward) development policy. I think someone, should be engaged in actively searching out interested parties and bringing them into the fold and developing their interest in the game and their ability to carry on the work.

I hope the senior game can grow in the next few years, we'll see. 

You’d hope growth lies in the clubs with juniors only setting up senior teams (again or for the first time):

- Aber Valley Wolves

- Cardiff Blue Dragons

- Pontyclun Kings

- Vale Vultures

I’d equally encourage WRL to scope development in Newport and Carmarthen to fill in a few geographic gaps 

[fighting irish]

On 20/07/2024 at 22:21, welshmagpie said:

You’d hope growth lies in the clubs with juniors only setting up senior teams (again or for the first time):

- Aber Valley Wolves

- Cardiff Blue Dragons

- Pontyclun Kings

- Vale Vultures

I’d equally encourage WRL to scope development in Newport and Carmarthen to fill in a few geographic gaps 

I was interested to read of the new relationship between WRL and Neath RFC and just wondered why there isn't an amateur RL club in Neath (or is there?). 

[welshmagpie]

1 hour ago, fighting irish said:

I was interested to read of the new relationship between WRL and Neath RFC and just wondered why there isn't an amateur RL club in Neath (or is there?). 

Nope there isn’t - for now it’s Aberavon’s patch. The Neath link is because of the new CEO/Chairman both being local and having links in that community.

 

good move 

[White Chevron on Blue]

https://www.facebook.com/100091969544588/videos/1979846679118910

https://www.facebook.com/100091969544588/videos/1385021432180442

Rhondda Outlaws  making great progress , started with a seniors team now have over 100 registered youngsters. Have their own ground and clubhouse at Glyn Coch

[MatthewWoody]

On 18/07/2024 at 14:25, JM2010 said:

Well, they beat England so it’s a pretty good gauge 

Who? 

[welshmagpie]

3 hours ago, MatthewWoody said:

Who? 

France U19s

[Gomersall]

 

[Gomersall]

 

[Damien]

11 minutes ago, Gomersall said:

 

That's great stuff. Really bodes well for the future. 

[Gomersall]

 

[JT RL]

Step 1 … An Academy team 

[Gomersall]

https://wrl.wales/wales-are-u16-four-nations-champions-again

[JM2010]

Are any players from North Wales included in the Origin or national side? Are there any juniors teams in the North?

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

South wales jets have several players who made up the v successful Wales  u16 side that Regan Grace was part of - Ben Jones Marcus Webb Shane Lee Zak Williams. 

[welshmagpie]

4 hours ago, JM2010 said:

Are any players from North Wales included in the Origin or national side? Are there any juniors teams in the North?

No (though they can access camps). None this year.

North Wales needs reinvigoration in terms of community clubs and juniors - it’s years away from what’s in place down south.  

[JM2010]

59 minutes ago, welshmagpie said:

No (though they can access camps). None this year.

North Wales needs reinvigoration in terms of community clubs and juniors - it’s years away from what’s in place down south.  

Would be good if North Wales could compete against East and West in the Origin and set up an academy like the one in the South at some point in the not too distant future 

[clwydianrange]

North Wales Crusaders appointed a full time development officer last year and great strides are being made to get kids playing league. Things are happening.

[JM2010]

33 minutes ago, clwydianrange said:

North Wales Crusaders appointed a full time development officer last year and great strides are being made to get kids playing league. Things are happening.

Sounds positive. If North Wales can get a junior league up and running and more teams can be added in the South then the future looks bright for Wales RL

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

More and more kids in the school I just left were playing for Bridgend Blue Bulls in the lower age groups this year and great when you start talking to them and ask them who their favourite rugby player overall is and they say Reece Walsh. 

[welshmagpie]

1 hour ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

More and more kids in the school I just left were playing for Bridgend Blue Bulls in the lower age groups this year and great when you start talking to them and ask them who their favourite rugby player overall is and they say Reece Walsh. 

I had a similar with my young chaps in Cardiff. A couple even mentioned Jack Welsby which was impressive to see Super League having some breakthrough here.