South Wales Ironmen
| File:South wales scorpions logo 2010.png | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | South Wales Scorpions Rugby League Football Club |
| Colours | Black Pink |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Website | scorpionsrl.com |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
|
| Coach | Phil Carleton |
| Captain | Chris Vitalini (club capt.) |
| Competition | Kingstone Press League 1 |
| 2015 League1 | 9th |
 Current season | |
South Wales Scorpions RLFC (Welsh: Sgorpionau De Cymru) are a semi-professional rugby league club formed in 2009, based from 2016 in Caerphilly's Virginia Park ground. In season 2015 the club played at Mountain Ash having spent 2014 at Maesteg, previously been based at the Gnoll in Neath.[1][2] The club played the majority of their home games at the Old Parish in Maesteg, with two fixtures taking place at Blackwood RFC, a match was played at Cardiff Arms Park in July 2014 - a victory over London Skolars. The club played at four different "home" venues in 2014, with their final home game being played at Mountain Ash - which became their new home for 2015. From 2016, the club will play at Caerphilly RFC's ground (Virginia Park), with Cardiff Arms Park hosting the Welsh derby when the North Wales Crusaders are the visitors.[3]
In the 2016 season they will play in the Kingstone Press League 1.[4]
The club play in a home strip of black jerseys with pink trim, whilst the away kit is white and pale blue. Both strips include the club logo.[5]
History
Many professional and semi-professional Welsh teams played rugby league in the otherwise English competitions since the formation of the Northern Union in 1895. The latest attempt to expand the game to South Wales began when Crusaders joined National League Two in 2006. The club were initially based in Bridgend.
The idea of a second professional side in Wales was discussed before Celtic Crusaders had even played a game. Crusaders' plan was to help a Rugby League Conference Welsh Premier club join the National Leagues to act as a feeder club if Crusaders reached Super League.[6] The idea was also talked about in mid-2009 when Rugby Football League decided that Super League Reserves would be turned into an under-20 competition, a move that could have halted the development of rugby league players in the area after they turned 21 years old.
The formation of the Scorpions was accelerated after the Crusaders left South Wales and moved to Wrexham F.C.'s Racecourse Ground.[4] South Wales RLFC were formed by a consortium of businessmen led by Phil Davies in late 2009. They were accepted into Championship One the third tier of British rugby league for the 2010 season.
Several suggestions for a team moniker were made by various people. The club had a poll among fans online to choose between the various options. Scorpions proved to be the most popular choice with Crusaders just beaten into second place. On 22 December 2009, the club formally adopted the name South Wales Scorpions RLFC. An updated version of the logo was released in February 2010 following feedback.[7]
The initial batch of players were selected from an open trial plus a few signings from other clubs. Some players were dual-registered with Crusaders RL and had played for the Crusaders reserves. Before a ball had been kicked, the club celebrated its first international players, Loren Quick and Lewis Reece, who played for Wales and Great Britain at under-18 level. Anthony Seibold, who had been an Assistant Coach at Crusaders, was the first head coach.
The Scorpions' first ever competitive game was against Workington Town on 28 February 2010, who also provided the competition for Celtic Crusaders' first match in the 2006 National League 2 competition. The Scorpions won this encounter 22–20, in front of a crowd of over 500 at the Gnoll; with stand-off Lloyd White, on a months loan at South Wales from Crusaders, landing the crucial penalty goal to secure victory. The team went on to finish sixth in the table and made the play-offs. Seibold returned to Australia at the end of the season.
Wales Rugby League, agreed to take over the running of South Wales Scorpions for the 2014 season after Phil Davies decided to step down. Professional rugby league returned to the Bridgend county borough as Scorpions moved to Maesteg RFC.[8] This move however would only last a single season as at the end of the season the club announced it would be moving to ground share with Mountain Ash RFC at Parc Dyffryn Pennar.[9]
Kit sponsors and manufacturers
| Years | Kit Manufacturer | Main Shirt Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-2011 | Kukri | none |
| 2012-2014 | Kooga | April |
| 2015- | ISC | United Konsultants |
2016 squad
* Announced on 15 January 2016:
2016 transfers
Gains
| Player | Club | Contract length | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 Izaak Duffy |
Gloucestershire All Golds | 1 Year | September 2015 |
 Chris Vitalini |
Gloucestershire All Golds | 1 Year | September 2015 |
 Tom Morgan |
Bristol Rugby | 1 Year | September 2015 |
| Kristian Hawkes |
Swindon RUFC | 1 Year | September 2015 |
| Chris Leyshon |
Aberavon Wizards | 1 Year | October 2015 |
| Dai Evans |
Bridgend Ravens | 1 Year | November 2015 |
| Kristian Baller |
Pontypool RFC | 1 Year | November 2015 |
| Danyl Davies |
Valley Cougars | 1 Year | November 2015 |
| Yannic Parker |
Gloucestershire All Golds | 1 Year | November 2015 |
| Matty Wilcox |
Cardiff City | 1 Year | December 2015 |
| Chris Davies |
Merthyr RFC | 1 Year | December 2015 |
| Scott Gregory |
Valley Cougars | 1 Year | December 2015 |
| Sion Jones |
Widnes Vikings | 1 Year Loan | December 2015 |
| Greg Wilde |
Swinton Lions | 1 Month Loan | March 2016 |
| Christian Roets |
North Wales Crusaders | 1 Year | March 2016 |
| Loren Quick |
Rumney RFC | 1 Year | March 2016 |
| Tom Ansen |
Bridgend Blue Bulls | 1 Year | March 2016 |
Losses
| Player | Club | Contract length | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Davies |
Leeds Metropolitan University | 3 Years | September 2015 |
| Curtis Davies |
Leeds Metropolitan University | 3 Years | September 2015 |
| Marcus Webb |
Leeds Metropolitan University | 3 Years | September 2015 |
| Neil Dallimore |
Retirement | N/A | October 2015 |
| Jonny Leather |
Gloucestershire All Golds | 1 Year | October 2015 |
| Scott Gilles |
Valley Cougars | 1 Year | November 2015 |
 Tala Petelo |
Rogerstone RUFC | 2 ½ Years | November 2015 |
| Chris Speck |
Valley Cougars | 1 Year | November 2015 |
| Barrie Phillips |
Retirement | N/A | December 2015 |
| Ryan Millington |
Newcastle Thunder | 2 Years | January 2016 |
| Gethin King |
Valley Cougars | 2 Years | January 2016 |
| Danyl Davies |
Left | 1 Year | March 2016 |
References
- ^ "South Wales club to join Championship One". Rugby Football League. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Green light for new Welsh club". Press Association. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
- ^ Wales online
- ^ a b "New rugby league club South Wales gets the green light". BBC. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
- ^ "South Wales Scorpions are named". LastTackle.com. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ "Crusaders & Salford win licences". BBC. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
- ^ "3D images of the kit". South Wales Scorpions. 5 February 2010. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ^ "South Wales Scorpions Relocate to Maesteg". Wales Online.
- ^ "Scorpions move to Mountain Ash". South Wales Scorpions. 01/10/2014.
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