Our new North Wales correspondent, Barry Andrews, takes a look ahead at what to expect in the region in an exciting first three weekends of May.
North Wales Rugby League in May is set to be big, starting on the May 1 with a double header at Stadiwm Zip World in Colwyn Bay.
The action starts when North Wales Origin face an Irish Clubs XIII as a curtain raiser for the Welsh Derby in Betfred League One.
Playing their third game in as many weeks, North Wales Origin will look to put on a show in front of a home crowd for the first time this year. Kick off for the game is at 11am.
🏴 We’re delighted to be hosting @NWOriginRL v Irish Clubs XIII on Sunday as a curtain raiser to the Welsh derby between #NWCrusaders and @WWRaidersRL!
🎟️ Turnstiles will open at 10.30am and tickets will allow entry to both matches!
🏉 It should be a great day of #rugbyleague! pic.twitter.com/V3b2U7XxHH
— North Wales Crusaders (@NWCrusaders) April 26, 2022
After the curtain raiser, the fans will see unbeaten League 1 leaders North Wales Crusaders who will look to extend the winning streak to six as they take on winless West Wales Raiders, with the Celtic Shield up for grabs.
The last meeting between these two teams saw Crusaders victorious with a 72-4 win. Kick-off for the main event is 2:30pm.
♿WHEELCHAIR / CADAIR OLWYN@WalesWhRL announce an 11-person squad for the @WheelchairRL #CelticCup at @PlasMadocLC on May 7.
🏴Mae Cymru yn cyhoeddi eu sgwad ar gyfer y Cwpan Celtaidd ym Mhlas Madoc ar Fai 7.
👉MORE/MWY: https://t.co/nbHYUB6CwG#InLeagueTogether #rugbyleague pic.twitter.com/OHrkMXlMiH
— Wales Rugby League (@WalesRugbyL) April 20, 2022
Saturday May 7 will see the Wheelchair national team return, looking to retain the Celtic Cup at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.
Five times winners of the one-day competition, Wales will look to extend that streak to six when they host the tournament for the second time.
The Celtic Cup will see the Wheelchair Teams of Wales, Ireland and Scotland battle it out for the trophy, with Scotland the only side to have never won it so far. The first game will kick off at 11:15 with the final game being at 3:15
🏉MASTERS/MEISTRI
📣@Walesrlmasters squad named for @MastersRugbyL #rugbyleague festival @CRBethesda Saturday May 14.
🏴Mae sgwad Meistri Rygbi’r Gynghrair Cymru wedi cael ei henwi ar gyfer gŵyl yn Clwb Rygbi Undeb Bethesda Dydd Sadwrn Mai 14
👉MORE/MWY:https://t.co/68j3tREYGS pic.twitter.com/e56IDoZCUv
— Wales Rugby League (@WalesRugbyL) April 27, 2022
On Saturday May 14, another one-day tournament will see Bethesda RUFC host a Masters Rugby League Tri-Nations festival.
This will see Wales face off against England and Ireland in three 20-minute matches. This will be the inaugural Masters Tri-Nations after the original planned event in 2020 was postponed. The event will kick off at 2pm and admission is free to all.
So if you’re a rugby league fan in North Wales this May, there’s plenty to do in the first half of the month.