Community Rugby League players from Wales and England will reignite their cross-Severn rivalry this weekend for the first time in six years, writes Matt Annis. Picture: Captured by Kate.
The freshly formed Combined Southern Regions Men’s Team, the representative side for community players based in England’s Midlands, London and the East, will travel to face Wales Dragonhearts at The Gnoll, Neath, on Saturday 18th October (kick-off 2pm).
It will be the first fixture between the sides, and the first time the Dragonhearts have faced a South of England XIII since they beat the South of England Lionhearts, the Combined Southern Regions’ predecessor, in 2019.
The Combined Southern Regions men’s team was formed earlier this year as part of a renewed performance pathway in the Midlands and South of England. Featuring a squad of players who performed well at the annual Southern Regional Carnival, the team offers representative Rugby League to players at all levels of the community game outside the North of England.
The Combined Southern Regions will be looking to build on the experience gained in their debut fixture last weekend, a late 24-16 loss to a talent-packed Australia & New Zealand Exiles side at Wasps FC, Acton. The team overcame a slow start to lead 16-12 midway through the second half thanks to tries from Tyler Johnson-Thomas, Andy Prosser and Dom Aston, only to succumb to late scores from the battle-hardened Exiles side, whose numbers included a wealth of players from 2025 Southern Conference League champions Hammersmith Hill Hoists.
Wales Dragonhearts will also be looking for their first win of the autumn, following a loss to an Ireland A side sprinkled with full senior international players, and a gritty 10-all draw with Scotland A at Leigh East RLFC last Saturday. The Dragonhearts are looking to put on a show for their home fans and notch up a morale-boosting victory over the Combined Southern Regions side on Saturday, before they travel to face Ireland Wolfhounds A in Castleford a fortnight later.
Dragonhearts head coach, Simon Reynolds will name his side on the morning of the game, meaning all 28 players selected for their autumn fixtures are available for selection. The Dragonhearts squad features a mixture of players from within the Welsh community leagues, the English Southern Conference League, and the National Conference League – the elite and historic community competition based in the North of England.
Reynolds said: “We’re all really looking forward to this game. The squad is working hard off the field, just as much as on it, with recovery and review, so that we’re ready for this week’s challenge.
“We expect a really tough encounter from the Combined Southern Regions, just like we had from Scotland last week and Ireland in game one, and we’d love to see a big crowd there to cheer us on, as they have done in the first couple of matches.”
Jamie Jones, Head Coach of the Combined Southern Regions, is also keeping tight-lipped about his starting line-up. While he may choose to make a small number of changes, he’s expected to largely stick with the players who performed admirably in last weekend’s entertaining loss to the Exiles.
Jones said: “It was disappointing to lose last week, but there was a lot to be pleased and proud about in our performance. We’re now 80 minutes better off than we were last week and it is something to build on in what will no doubt be another tough and intense game.
“It is an huge privilege to bring what we consider a very talented squad to Wales and really challenge ourselves. We’re expecting a challenging game in front of a very passionate Welsh crowd at The Gnoll, but we want to really push ourselves and finish off this year’s representative programme with a performance we can be proud of.”
Wales Dragonhearts face the Combined Southern Regions at The Gnoll, Neath, on Saturday 18th October, kick-off 2.00pm. Tickets are available now priced £10 for adults, £7 for concessions and £5 for under-17s, Free entry for children under 11 years. To secure your tickets, head to www.wrl.wales/tickets
Squads
Dragonhearts (from): Ieuan Allen (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Lloyd Allen (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Rob Davies (Bristol All Golds), Liam Evans (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Owen Evans (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Rhys Evans (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Lewis Francis (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Chad George (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Lewis Harris (Rhondda Outlaws), Kurtis Haile (Bristol All Golds), Llewellyn Hawkes (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Jack Hodder (South Wales Jets), Ben Jackson (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Sion Jones (Chester Gladiators), Calum Jones (Rhondda Outlaws), Brandon Lamb (Bristol All Golds), Raymond Lear (Chester Gladiators),Brad Llewellyn (Thornhill Trojans), Ellis O’Grady (Cardiff Blue Dragons), Alan Pope (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Ryan Price-Jones (Clock Face Miners), Jonathan Reid (South Wales Jets), Rhodri Roberts (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Tom Spedding (Ulverston), Owen Thomas (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Sean Waldeck (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Dan Wilds (Aberavon Fighting Irish).
Combined Southern Regions: Dom Aston (Elmbridge Eagles), David Bofenda (Eastern Rhinos), Louis Baker (Medway Dragons), Doug Chirnside (vice-captain, London Chargers), Jake Cummins (Elmbridge Eagles), Luke Drummond (Elmbridge Eagles), Liam Fussell (Telford Raiders), George Jackson (Wests Warriors), Tyler Johnson-Thomas (Wests Warriors), Jack Jonson (Nottingham Outlaws), Tyler Long (Hemel Stags), George Moore (Medway Dragons), Andy Prosser (Oxford Cavaliers), Will Randall (Eastern Rhinos), Dan Robinson (Telford Raiders), Euan Tiernan (Brentwood Eels), Matt Tootill (Brentwood Eels), Georgie Treffers (Brentwood Eels), Coryn Ward (captain, Nottingham Outlaws), Callum Whitcombe (vice-captain, Brentwood Eels). Travelling reserves: Ed Brown (Bedford Tigers), Callum Dockerill (North Herts Crusaders).
