LONDON BRONCOS are back in the RFL’s Reserves competition in another sign of their ambition under Australian owners Darren Lockyer (pictured) and Grant Wechsel.
Rugby League icon Lockyer and mining magnate Wechsel, whose investment in the capital club was brokered by renowned Rugby League administrator and former Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington and confirmed in September, soon brought in Jason Demetriou as coach.
And they funded the recruitment of a new-look, mainly full-time squad including a string of Australian and Papua New Guinean arrivals (former South Sydney Rabbitohs boss Demetriou is in charge of the Kumuls at international level).
The club have also acquired Hazelwood, the impressive former London Irish rugby union training complex in Surrey, while launching a campaign to significantly raise their profile – not just in London – and drive up attendances as they target a Super League return.
There is also a plan to relaunch the Academy, which had been highly productive but was scaled back after the 2023 season, with the club considering how to most effectively use their then-budget in the knowledge that development systems have no value in terms of club-grading points.
The Reserves were dropped at the end of the 2024 season as then-owner David Hughes withdrew his financial backing in the wake of the loss of top-flight status under the grading system.
Now the second string are back and will be coached by Tony Musgrave, assisted by Dan Roberts and Mark Roughsedge, with their first match away to Hull FC on Saturday, February 14.
The bulk of games will take place at Hazelwood, while the home clash with Warrington Wolves on Saturday, April 18 will be at Richmond Athletic Ground, used by the Broncos for their all-London Challenge Cup second-round tie against Wests Warriors.
Demetriou’s side won 86-0 to clinch a meeting with Super League new boys Bradford Bulls, back at the club’s usual Cherry Red Records Stadium base at Wimbledon on Sunday, February 8.
Before that comes an eagerly-awaited home Championship clash with Oldham on Sunday.