Wales Dragonhearts - A young man's game?

Wales Rugby League Media Officer Paul Hart looks at the future of the Wales Amateur side.

I have photographed for the Wales Dragonhearts side over several seasons, and am a passionate supporter of both this side and all grassroots Rugby League in South Wales.

In recent years I've been saddened by the number of quality players who have left both the Celtic Crusaders and South Wales Scorpions Academies never to play the game again.

Each year a few make it through to the first team and a few others make it even further to the Superleague, but what happens to all the others?

Some will persevere due to their love of the game, they will choose to shun the well trodden path back to Union and instead concentrate on playing in the poorly funded South Wales Conference. Here they are joined by talented young Union players, older Union players and a few ex-pros.

How do these Academy graduates and talented young Union players then go on to play at a higher level? I've not seen a Wales Rugby League or South Wales Scorpions Scout watching a Conference match and am unaware if such a person exists, the Wales Dragonhearts team seems to be the best way for these young Conference-based players to get their chance to shine.

The Dragonhearts are a side made up of the best players from the amateur Welsh Conference. I feel that making this team an Under-26 side would give a boost to the player pathway in South Wales and ensure that these younger players get a chance to progress.

I take nothing away from the veteran players who have served the game well, but with this change the Dragonhearts could become a team that looks at the next 10 years of a player's career rather than one that pats a player on the back for the last 10 years.

One possible solution is splitting the Dragonhearts. There could be an Under-26 side looking to impress and progress in their careers and also an older side which would be free to enter into the more "social" post-match side of rugby which is of high importance to many of the more senior players. However at current funding levels it's fair to say that running two amateur sides is unlikely.

How strong could Rugby League in Wales be if every player leaving an Academy and every talented Union youngster had a place to play and we weren't just creaming off the top and forgetting the rest.

A stronger Conference and younger Dragonhearts could lead the way.


NOTE: These are the personal views of Paul Hart and do not necessarily reflect those of any Club or Individuals he is associated with.