All set for a ‘Marauding’ summer

  

Rugby League enters the local sporting arena this summer, with the formation of senior and U11 teams to play under the name Montgomeryshire Marauders.

 

Training is expected to start in early May with the goal of playing up to six friendly matches against the likes of Chester Gladiators and Telford Raiders until the season ends in August.

 

Chairman and Head Coach Barry Williams explained what it’s all about:

 

“It’s an exciting year to be getting involved in Rugby League. The Crusaders have just signed a deal to stay at the Racecourse for at least 25 years and will hopefully get their Super League licence renewed. Wales are also in the Four Nations tournament. There's a real path for players to progress up the ranks - we've already had one player attend professional trials with the South Wales Scorpions, and there are plenty of others who I feel could really go somewhere.

 

“The Crusaders have just started a junior academy in North Wales, and knowing the depth of talent in the area, I honestly feel we could see lads from Montgomeryshire playing in Super League sooner rather than later. The Crusaders are really beginning to make strides with their schools and community programmes, and are already going into schools in our area, which is fantastic for rugby as a whole, not just League.”

 

Sceptics and die-hard rugby union fans may scoff at the idea of league coming to a traditionally ‘union’ area but Williams believes it can benefit both codes.

 

He explained: “I'm hoping that the local Rugby Union clubs don't see us as a threat, because that's not our intention at all - we want to work with them to get more people playing rugby. The rules may be different, but the skills needed are the same, and the spirit that the two codes engender is no different - teamwork, personal courage and endeavour, sportsmanship.

 

The Marauders held initial training sessions last year for players to try and Williams is confident that the game can have a strong footing in Montgomeryshire.

 

“There's been a fair bit of interest from players and I'm hoping we can get a good side together. Whilst it obviously won't be something that every rugby player in the area will want to try, there are lads who played last year and want to play again, as well as some who weren't involved last year. I'm also hopeful we might be able to get a few novices to either code, something which I'm very keen to push.”

 

For more information, please visit the club’s web site: www.montgomeryshiremarauders.co.uk.