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Posted

I am not sure if they have borrowed the union calculator for some of these numbers. Nearly 800 men registered. As far as I can see there were 7 teams playing in the conference. That means an average of over 100 players per team. 3000 juniors, let us say each team has 30 players. Are there 100 junior teams in Wales?

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Posted (edited)

Hardly a precise calculation but worth sharing.

I recently visited south Wales and whilst there I got talking to my taxi driver about 'rugby'. To his dismay, he was disappointed to tell me of how many lads down south wales were turning to league. I had to come across sympathetic but inside I was jumping for joy.

Edited by Jack Russell
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Posted
23 minutes ago, Impartial Observer said:

I am not sure if they have borrowed the union calculator for some of these numbers. Nearly 800 men registered. As far as I can see there were 7 teams playing in the conference. That means an average of over 100 players per team. 3000 juniors, let us say each team has 30 players. Are there 100 junior teams in Wales?

The season started with 8 teams: Swansea, Bridgend, Cynon Valley, Jets, Outlaws, Torfaen, Aberavon, Saints - Swansea withdrew but let’s say they contributed a few registered players also. Cardiff registered men’s players and would’ve been the 9th team but didn’t make the start line, I think the league requires 20 registrations to be eligible for the senior season, I assume they were below that numbers 

The numbers likely include university players at Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor also. Admittedly we’re not quite near the 800 players registered but there’s hopefully some context there.

As for juniors, theres 12 clubs across south Wales running juniors at various ages. That averages at 250 per club. Some clubs run 8s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s and even 19s (latter may contribute to men’s numbers) - A few of these clubs field multiple sides per age group.

The breakdown for last season was: 

U16s teams: 8

U14s teams: 9

U13s teams: 7

U12s teams: 10

U10s teams: 12

U8s teams: 11

At the team I helped coach at U16s level we registered 29 players but had anywhere between 11 and 16 on matchdays. 
 

Positive numbers nonetheless.
 

 

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Posted
26 minutes ago, Jack Russell said:

Hardly a precise calculation but worth sharing.

I recently visited south Wales and whilst there I got talking to my taxi driver about 'rugby'. To his dismay, he was disappointed to tell me of how many lads down south wales were turning to league. I had to come across sympathetic but inside I was jumping for joy.

Where abouts were you visiting mate?  

Posted
1 hour ago, DoubleD said:

Good to see a 300% increase in the number of non-binary players. Expect this to be a big growth area in the coming years

Is there a separate division for those 3 non-binary players?

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Posted
On 20/12/2024 at 20:53, langpark said:

Is there a separate division for those 3 non-binary players?

It depends on their status. If they’re gender fluid then potentially they could play for men’s or women’s. However if they identify as a unicorn then that could create a whole new exciting rugby league variant 

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Posted
On 20/12/2024 at 19:43, DoubleD said:

Good to see a 300% increase in the number of non-binary players. Expect this to be a big growth area in the coming years

The increase is only 200%, so maybe not as exciting as you think.

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"We'll sell you a seat .... but you'll only need the edge of it!"

Posted
4 hours ago, DoubleD said:

It depends on their status. If they’re gender fluid then potentially they could play for men’s or women’s. However if they identify as a unicorn then that could create a whole new exciting rugby league variant 

The could also be Wheelchair RL players and just play rugby league...

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Posted
On 20/12/2024 at 20:15, Impartial Observer said:

I am not sure if they have borrowed the union calculator for some of these numbers. Nearly 800 men registered. As far as I can see there were 7 teams playing in the conference. That means an average of over 100 players per team. 3000 juniors, let us say each team has 30 players. Are there 100 junior teams in Wales?

Do the figures include Wheelchair RL, juniors, minis and Masters RL? There are mens teams playing in North Wales too.

Posted
2 minutes ago, gogledd said:

Do the figures include Wheelchair RL, juniors, minis and Masters RL? There are mens teams playing in North Wales too.

"The introduction of the Invitational League in the last two seasons has helped to boost participation in Wheelchair rugby league, with almost 100 people now registered."

They're mentioned in the statement so assume so.

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Posted (edited)

Some really encouraging numbers in there, particularly the growth in junior players.

While some of my favourite Rugby League players came from Welsh Union converts, having a thriving community game is only the real sustainable growth strategy.

Edited by Dunbar
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"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

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Posted
On 20/12/2024 at 20:23, Jack Russell said:

Hardly a precise calculation but worth sharing.

I recently visited south Wales and whilst there I got talking to my taxi driver about 'rugby'. To his dismay, he was disappointed to tell me of how many lads down south wales were turning to league. I had to come across sympathetic but inside I was jumping for joy.

Nope - never show them any sympathy. The response could have been 'come join us - we (RL) are your natural fellow rugby bed fellows, not rah rah

Posted

Is there any amateur participation in North Wales? There was a junior team in the NWC few years back - is there any positives in terms of teams off the back of NWC ?

Posted
3 minutes ago, Pie tries said:

Is there any amateur participation in North Wales? There was a junior team in the NWC few years back - is there any positives in terms of teams off the back of NWC ?

Salford have a link with junior teams in North Wales, don’t they?

Posted
Just now, Leyther_Matt said:

Salford have a link with junior teams in North Wales, don’t they?

South Wales - I think. They do have several promising youngsters in their ranks, which is great to see.

We need a very strong amateur presence in Cardiff.....

Posted
3 minutes ago, Pie tries said:

South Wales - I think. They do have several promising youngsters in their ranks, which is great to see.

We need a very strong amateur presence in Cardiff.....

Wasn’t aware it extended that far (presumably it’s for the whole of Wales and not just the south, then)

Was only because I noticed a young lad wearing a Salford academy top at a game at Colwyn Bay last season which I’m sure had a north Wales team on it but could be wrong 

Posted
31 minutes ago, Pie tries said:

Is there any amateur participation in North Wales? There was a junior team in the NWC few years back - is there any positives in terms of teams off the back of NWC ?

Conwy Celts:  https://www.facebook.com/conwycelts

There were Wrexham Crusaders but their last post on social media was over a year ago, so I am not sure if they still exist.

Bangor University has a team: https://www.instagram.com/bangor_rl/?hl=en - https://www.facebook.com/groups/347093551474054/?mibextid=K35XfP

And Crusaders it seems run quite a bit of activity across the region:  https://www.northwalescrusadersrlfc.co.uk/meet-the-team

 

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Posted (edited)

There were teams at Bangor Buffaloes, Clwyd Cobras, Conwy Celts, Mon Knights, Flintshire Falcons, Rhyl and Prestatyn (Panthers?) and Wrexham Crusaders who all fed into the North Wales Origin regional side but I'm not sure how many are still active. North Wales Buccaneers have increased player numbers at Masters RL level and North Wales Crusaders still have two squads playing Wheelchair RL and the womens team completed their second season in 2024.

 

https://www.northwalesrl.com/

Edited by gogledd
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Posted

I know we have no spare £££s, but we need a team in Cardiff.

Regional RU is on its knees in Wales, there is a massive market for entertaining rugby down there, there is a huge opportunity for RL to fill this void - a real alternative to the regional mess that is pro RU in S.Wales

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Posted
6 hours ago, Pie tries said:

I know we have no spare £££s, but we need a team in Cardiff.

Regional RU is on its knees in Wales, there is a massive market for entertaining rugby down there, there is a huge opportunity for RL to fill this void - a real alternative to the regional mess that is pro RU in S.Wales

Even if there were wealthy people in S Wales prepared to give that another go, most of the 11 M62 SL clubs wouldn’t want them in anyway, or they’d make them pay everyone’s travel costs and to enter the challenge cup. 

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Posted

There is a wealth of talent in Wales and I have known many Welsh lads that love RL. It always seems a real pity to me the game has never really had the money, or will, to establish strong professional clubs there.

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