Rugby League putting down roots in North Wales (by Nick Boothroyd and Sian Couch)

Rugby League is making huge strides at grassroots level in North Wales with the arrival of Crusaders providing a catalyst for local Rugby players to start playing the 13-a-side code.

Four new teams have sprung up in the region and plans are in place for a North Wales conference comprising of the Montgomeryshire Marauders, Conwy Celts, Prestatyn Panthers and the Dee Valley Dragons.

Wales Rugby League President, Mike Nicholas said: “Crusaders moving to Wrexham has had a massive impact.

“From our viewpoint it was a major event and a great opportunity to put down roots. It’s now a case of cultivating this interest

“We’re looking at a mini conference in North Wales in the future which will be all about flexibility and providing a taste for people to experience Rugby League and get into it.

“Many of the local players are mainly Welsh speaking lads who were already big Rugby League fans and the introduction of Crusaders provided the spark which encouraged them to become active players.

“Rugby League has found its way to various remote parts of Wales due in part to interest in the Crusaders and interest in the sport is spreading southwards with one of the new teams based in Mid Wales.

“With all the development in North Wales Rugby League will be the winner, it’s a quality product and we just want to keep developing the game and get more people playing and we’re getting there with good numbers playing.”

The Dee Valley Dragons are a new Rugby League club that has been launched in Corwen, North Wales, they will be playing friendly matches this year with the hope of joining a Conference competition in 2012.

And on an historic day in Colwyn Bay on Saturday 20th June, the Dragons played their first ever game of Rugby League after switching from union, losing out 52-30 to Conwy Celts. Their first ever try was scored by man of the match Elgan Evans.

Dee Valley Dragons Chairman Mike Parry said: “Most of our players come from Bala, Corwen and Llangollen which is also the flow of the river Dee. The pitch was already called ‘Parc Dyfrdwy’ which translates to Dee Park so it was a natural sounding name for the team.

“We are a new club based in Corwen, North Wales approximately 25 miles from the border. We currently have a player base of around 25 at open age, and are looking forward to adding to this with a junior section starting with an Under 11s age group.

“Our training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm for open age and for the under 11s will be on Saturday’s at 9.30am from June 25th.

“We are always looking for new players, sponsors and volunteers to help out at the club.

“We are hoping to run two free taster training sessions with help from Chester Gladiators for the junior section on June 5th and June 12th for anyone aged 8 to 11.

“I am still amazed by the amount of assistance we have been given, I have been contacted by individuals and clubs alike offering anything from assistance in the running of the club to fixtures and even coaching.

“We still have a lot of hard work ahead but are looking forward to the challenge.”

The Development work which Crusaders are putting into the region is paying off as Wales Rugby League Development Manager Mark Jones explains.

He said: “The interest in Rugby League in North Wales has been phenomenal since the relocation of the Crusaders to Wrexham, and Wales Rugby League have been working closely with the Crusaders in developing the Community game.

“Our aims are to build from a grassroots level by offering free training sessions to both primary and secondary schools and introducing all the programmes that are currently run in South Wales, these include Carnegie Champion Schools, Champion Colleges, Primary Cup and Schools to Club Cup.

“This would then make all our competitions truly National! We are also looking to establish well structured North Wales Senior and Junior conference clubs, which will form a pathway for all individuals who are introduced to Rugby League a chance to be involved with the sport for life.”

If you would like to find out more about the Dee Valley Dragons contact Mike Parry on 07974199943 or deevalleydragons@btinternet.com or via Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Dee-Valley-Dragons/162028693860502

 

Rygbi XIII yn gosod gwreiddiau yng Ngogledd Cymru (gan Nick Boothroyd a Sian Couch)

Mae rygbi xiii yn gwneud camau enfawr ar lefel sylfaenol yng Ngogledd Cymru gyda chyrhaeddiad y Crusaders yn profi i fod yn gatalyst i chwaraewyr rygbi lleol i ddechrau chwarae’r gem.

Mae pedwar tim newydd wedi codi yn yr ardal ac mae cynlluniau ar y gorwel ar gyfer cynghrair gyda thimau Montgomeryshire Marauders, Conwy Celts, Prestatyn Panthers a Dee Valley Dragons.

Dywedodd Arlywydd Wales Rugby League, Mike Nicholas: “Mae’r ffaith y symudodd y Crusaders i Wrecsam wedi rhoi hwb aruthrol i’r ardal.

“O’n safbwynt ninnau roedd yn ddigwyddiad enfawr a chyfle gwych i osod gwreiddiau. Mae yn awr yn fater o gynnal y diddordeb.

“Rydym yn edrych ar gynghrair bychan yng Ngogledd Cymru yn y dyfodol sydd yn dangos hyblygrwydd a rhoi blas i bobl o brofiad rygbi xiii a datblygu diddordeb.

“Mae rhan fwyaf o’r chwaraewyr lleol yn Gymry Cymraeg a oedd eisioes yn gefnogwyr brwd o rygbi xiii ac mae cyflwyniad y Crusaders yn darparu’r cyfle a’i hanogwyd i ddod yn chwaraewyr brwd hefyd.

“Mae rygbi xiii wedi cyrraedd ardaloedd gwledig Cymru oherwydd y Crusaders i raddau ac mae diddordeb yn y gem yn gwasgaru i’r de gydag un o’r timau newydd yng nghanolbarth Cymru.

“Gyda holl ddatblygiad y gem yng ngogledd Cymru yr enillydd fyddai Wales Rugby League, mae’n gynnyrch da a rydym am barhau i ddatblygu’r gem a chael mwy o bobl i chwarae ac rydym yn obeithiol i gyrraedd y nod gyda rhifau da yn chwarae.”

Mae Dee Valley Dragons yn glwb rygbi xiii newydd a lawnsiwyd yng Nghorwen, Gogledd Cymru; fe fydden nhw’n chwarae gemau cyfeillgar eleni gyda’r nod o gyrraedd cystadleuaeth Conference yn 2012.

Creuwyd hanes ar dydd Sadwrn 20ed of Fehefin, i dim newydd yn Nghogledd Cymru, y Dee Valley Dragons. Cafodd y tim newydd ei gem gyntaf yn erbyn Conwy Celts. Yn andofudus aeth y canlyniad yn eu erbyn y sgor terfynol oedd 52-30 i’r Celts.

Dywedodd cadeirydd Dee Valley Dragons, Mike Parry: “Mae rhan fwyaf o’n chwaraewyr yn hannu o Bala, Corwen a Llangollen sydd hefyd yn dilyn llif yr afon Dyfrdwy. Roedd y cae eisioes wedi ei alw’n Barc Dyfrdwy felly roedd yn enw naturiol i’r tim.

“Rydym yn glwb newydd sydd wedi ei leoli yng Nghorwen, Gogledd Cymru tua 25 milltir o’r ffin. Mae gennym ni nifer o tua 25 o oedran agored ac rydym hefyd yn edrych i ychwanegu at y garfan gydag adran ieuenctid yn dechrau gyda o dan 11 oed.

“Cynhelir sesiynau hyfforddi ar ddyddiau Mawrth ac Iau o 7.00pm ar gyfer oedran agored a bydd sesiynau plant o dan 11 oed yn cael eu cynnal ar ddyddiau Sadwrn am 9.30am o Fehefin 25ain.

“Rydym bob amser yn edrych am chwaraewyr newydd, noddwyr a gwirfoddolwyr i helpu allan yn y clwb.

“Dwi dal yn cael fy synnu gyda’r holl gymorth sydd wedi cael ei gynnig i ni, mae nifer o unigolion a chlybiau wedi cynnig popeth o gynnig cymorth am redeg y clwb i gemau a hyd yn oed hyfforddiant.

“Mae dal gennym ni lawer o waith caled o’n blaenau ond rydym yn edrych ymlaen at y sialens.”

Mae’r gwaith datblygu y mae’r Crusaders yn ei wneud yn yr ardal yn talu ar ei ganfed fel yr eglurwyd gan Reolwr Datblygu Wales Rugby League, Mark Jones.

Dywedodd: “Mae’r diddordeb yn rygbi xiii yng ngogledd Cymru wedi bod yn anghredadwy ers i’r Crusaders symud i Wrecsam ac mae Wales Rugby League wedi bod yn gweithio’n agos gyda’r Crusaders yn datblygu’r gem gymunedol.

“Rydym yn anelu i adeiladu o lefel sylfaenol wrth gynnig sesiynau hyfforddi am ddim i ysgolion cynradd ac uwchradd ac yn cyflwyno’r holl raglenni sydd yn cael eu rhedeg yn gyfredol yn Ne Cymru; mae hyn yn cynnwys Pencampwriaeth Ysgolion Carnegie, Pencampwyr Colegau, Cwpan Cynradd a Chwpan Ysgol i Glwb.

“Byddai hyn yn achosi i’n holl gystadlaethau i fod yn wir genedlaethol! Rydym hefyd yn edrych i sefydlu clybiau sydd a strwythur da o ran chwaraewyr o fewn timau cyntaf a ieuenctid yng ngogledd Cymru.”

Os hoffech chi gael mwy o wybodaeth am Dee Valley Dragons cysylltwch a Mike Parry ar 07974 199943 neu deevalleydragons@btinternet.com neu drwy Facebook ar www.facebook.com/pages/Dee-Valley-Dragons/162028693860502