Rhondda Outlaws to open new ground on Sunday


Rhondda Outlaws will officially open their new ground this Sunday as they prepare for their Coral Challenge Cup first round match in just over a week’s time.

The WRL Premier League champions have recently taken over the ground vacated by former rugby union club Glyncoch RFC (postcode CF37 3AU) and have been redecorating it in Outlaws colours.

They will play their first game there when the 2020 Premier League season kicks off, or if they make the second round of the Cup and get a home tie, but all rugby league supporters are invited there on Sunday from 1pm to watch training, then take part in a fundraising quiz at 3pm before enjoying some music and socialising an hour later. The WRL charity publication “100 Months of Rugby League in Wales” will also be on sale.

Outlaws’ head coach James Allen said: “It’s set to be an exciting afternoon for us as we formally launch our new ground to the public. We’ve our final training session before our Challenge Cup match, then an Outlaws history quiz, before music and a “meet the Outlaws staff and players” for anyone interested in joining or supporting for 2020.

“This is a great way for everyone to come to our new home and see our newly decorated ground and changing rooms. We’re hoping for parents of our 2020 U12 and U14 sides to also attend to meet the staff and register their children plus it’s an opportunity for our women’s and men’s sides to come see the new ground and facilities.

“We’ve had a good couple of years at Sardis Road but when prices went up there and this ground became available, we had to take the opportunity to have a place of our own. I know we won’t regret that decision.”

Rhondda Outlaws are one of two Welsh sides playing in the first round of the Coral Challenge Cup on the weekend of 11/12 January. The Outlaws are making a weekend of it as they travel to face Barrow Island on the Saturday. They’ll be staying in Cumbria on the Friday and Saturday nights with the intention to stop off at Rochdale Mayfield RLFC on the way back on the Sunday, where Torfaen Tigers will be taking on Great Britain Police.

The Tigers, who in similar fashion to the Outlaws, took over vacated facilities in New Inn last year, this after a local football club disbanded, are also preparing well for the Cup tie, training on Sunday morning before a final session on Wednesday evening, after which they’ll select their side.

Torfaen head coach Matt Cummins said: “We’re really looking forward to the first round this year. A few lads in camp have played against the Police previously, so we have a good idea of what they are going to be bringing in to the game.

“With a few players coming back, and training going well so far, hopefully we’ll give a good account of ourselves and give this game everything we’ve got.”