Season Preview: 2011 Co-operative Welsh Conference Premier

Bulls vs Cougars 2010
© PaulHartPhotography.co.uk

Five-time winners The Bridgend Blue Bulls will once again start the season as the recognised favourites. They go into the season on the back of a very narrow loss to the Valley Cougars in last year's Grand Final. The Cougars and Bulls dominated the league last season, and with the Cougars First team now moving up to the Conference National it is hoped that a new challenger will “front up” to the expected Blue Bulls dominance.

Blue Bulls Chairman Simon Green says “We were disappointed that we were missing several key players for last years' final and narrowly missed out on the title. We have retained the services of almost all the players who played last summer and have recruited a number of new guys during the closed season. We again have a great mix of youth and experience, with a 25 year age span from Huw Rosser, who starred for us as a 17 year old last season to evergreen legend Tevita Manaseitava who refuses to retire until we are crowned Welsh Champions for a sixth time.”

There will be questions over the strength in depth of the Valley Cougars this season, and whether their new second-string “A” side will be competitive in the Welsh Conference when the majority of the club's better players will be turning out in the Conference National instead. New Valley Cougars Media Officer Karl Jones remarks “We hope that the “A” team can be competitive as it will benefit on two fronts; the team aiming for a place in the Grand Final and the opportunity to retain the title, whilst players in that team will hopefully push our first 13 for places.”

The two teams most likely to challenge the Bulls/Cougars dominance are the Gwent based Tigers and Titans. Torfaen Tigers Coach Rob Davies had said “There is a real Buzz around Torfaen about the Tigers Club in 2011. Our young squad (average age 23) gained valuable experience last year in the Championship and showed glimpses of what it was capable off, and we have now recruited heavily in the off season from both codes”. Meanwhile Earl Palmer Coach at the Titans has said “With the Titans finding a new permanent home at Machen RFC, the future is looking very bright for the team, I have high hopes this season and expect us to be a lot stronger than in years past.”

Elsewhere the CPC Bears have lead the way in their Youth development structure, but the senior team failed to impress last season, and will need to improve this summer. Chairman Geraint Jones said “The CPC Bears are looking forward to the start of their second season, with a number of new players and others returning to the sport we will be looking to make steady progress over the summer, and will give a warm welcome to all teams when visiting West Wales.”

Finally, the “Dark Horses” could be the Cardiff Demons. They have always been competitive since the start of the league, but are playing down their chances this season. According to Coach Idris Evans “2011 looks set to be one of the most challenging ever for the Demons in what looks to be a rebuilding year. Several key experienced players retiring last year has left huge holes that will be filled by young blood.”

The 2011 season starts on May 14^th and looks set to be a great competition. Fixture information and match reports are available from http://www.walesrugbyleague.co.uk/

99 DAYS TO GO - Why I love Summer Rugby League in the Welsh Conference.

It takes a special type of player who, after Eight months of punishing his body and mind with the rigours of playing Rugby Union, decides to spend his summer playing Rugby League!

But that's exactly what over 100 players throughout South Wales intend to do this summer! When the Union season is over, and their teammates are looking for the nearest bar or cheap holiday, this "band of brothers" is looking to "Switch Codes" in order to keep playing the sport they love.

In many cases these are not Union players looking for something to do to keep fit over the summer, but rather born and bred Welshmen who love Rugby League and are desperate for Summer to arrive so they can play the game they love.

The atmosphere in the Welsh Summer Conference is very special indeed, and it's the players that make it that way. There is such a rich mix of all different types of players, who despite their varying standings in the Union game share a deep mutual respect for each other when it comes to Rugby League. Former professional Rugby Union players will think nothing of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with players from the local Youth side, and every "lad" will be given a fair go.



Local Legend Tevita Manaseitava (43) looks on as Huw Rosser (17) makes his League debut.

 There is a real "barbarians" feel to the teams as players from different local Union sides put aside their differences, and spend the summer in the sun playing the game they love.

And for some this becomes an "endless summer" as success in the Summer Conference is already leading to greater things for some players as they progress on through the WRL development pathway to the Valley Cougars, South Wales Scorpions, and ultimately the Crusaders in the Super League.

Jamie Murphy who has risen from the Welsh Conference to the Superleague in just two seasons

There are currently Summer Rugby League sides all over South Wales, from the CPC Bears based in Carmarthen in the West to the Titans based in Newport in the East. Visit http://www.walesrugbyleague.co.uk/ for details of how you can get involved.