Rugby league comes to Merthyr Tydfil this Thursday (24th April) with the official launch of the Tydfil Wildcats junior rugby league team. After discussions between local volunteers and Wales Rugby League, the great news has been announced that the Wildcats will run teams at U13 and U15 age groups.

The launch night will take place on Thursday 24th April at the Grove Fields in Aberfan at 6:30pm, and will be attended by Celtic Crusaders staff.

The news of a junior team starting in the Merthyr area was warmly received by Wales Rugby League as this has traditionally been a strong area for the junior game in Wales.

Development officer Dan Clements said “Merthyr Tydfil has always been a strong

area for us in terms of development, numerous schools take part in the champion schools programme and on theback of this several players have been identified and made the next step to representative rugby. With the formation of the Wildcats we will definitely see more and more players make that step up to representative rugby as they will be playing the sport more regularly”.

The junior season in Wales is now starting to take shape with several new age groups being run at sides throughout the conference. The Tydfil Wildcats will no doubt add to this, Ian Gwynne the driving force behind the Wildcats added “as a new club we are really looking forward to the start of the new season. We are encouraging everyone in the area to get on board with us, this includes players and volunteers, as this is an exciting time for the sport in Wales”.

The Wildcats will compete with Cardiff, Newport, Blackwood, Torfaen, Valley Cougars, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and West Wales Sharks for the chance to play in the inaugural U13 and U15 grand finals.

article by Mark Harris
21 April 2008