Wales will take on New Zealand in Masters Rugby League for the first time, with an international being planned for Saturday 31st October at a venue to be confirmed.
Masters Rugby League is a modified, non-competitive social version of rugby league designed for men aged 35 and over and women aged 30 and over. Created to keep older or retired players active and connected, it features no scores, no leagues, and no winners, with every match officially ending in a 0-0 draw. However, we do record try scorers for individual player records.
The Welsh have named their squad who will train for this match, and this includes three former Wales men’s side international players in Christiaan Roets, David Mills and Owain Brown.
The inclusion of this trio highlights how the Masters programme in Wales is retaining talent and reinforcing the culture of Wales Rugby League.
This latest selection also marks the first time that players from newly formed Masters sides, “Barry Bombers” and “Wrexham Legends”, have been chosen for club representation, a clear sign that Sport Wales’ “Life in Sport” initiative is successfully building pathways that keep players engaged and connected throughout their sporting lives, helping players’ mental health after they retire from the “regular” game.
This progress aligns strongly with several Welsh Rugby League initiatives designed to strengthen the longevity of the sport, including the WRL Community Pathway, which encourages lifelong participation; the Legacy Player Programme, supporting former internationals to stay involved in coaching, officiating, and Masters; and the Regional Growth Strategy, which has helped expand Masters Rugby League into new areas such as Barry and Wrexham. These initiatives work together to ensure rugby league in Wales remains accessible, sustainable, and rooted in community identity.
Masters Rugby League has grown year‑on‑year for the past decade in Wales, a testament to the commitment of volunteers, clubs, and former players who continue to give back to the sport. Even more impressively, Masters participation in Wales has increased by over 40% since 2020, making it one of the fastest‑growing formats of rugby league.
The six players receiving new caps are Huw Thomas (Barry Bombers), Dafydd Evans (Cardiff Blue Dragons), David Mills (Widnes Masters), Owain Brown (Widnes Masters), Jonathan Edwards (Barry Bombers) and Mathew Azzopardi (Cardiff Blue Dragons).
Roets has previously won two Masters caps, but when he was a North Wales Buccaneers player. Should he take to the field against New Zealand, it will be his 48th international capped appearance in a Wales shirt. His record includes 24 caps and 13 tries for the men’s side, five tries in 12 appearances for Wales Students, and nine caps, with four tries for Wales Dragonhearts.
If you’d like to join us, set up your own Masters team or find out more, get in touch with Chris Thomas at masters@walesrugbyleague.co.uk
New Zealand vs Wales
Saturday 31st October
Kick off TBC
Location needs to be Confirmed which will either be Warrington or Widnes
1 Christiaan Roets – Wrexham Legends
2 Stewart Leather – Chester Gladiators Masters
3 Christopher Hann – Cardiff Blue Dragons
4 Robert Martin – Army Masters
5 Darren Hughes – North Wales Buccaneers
6 Chris Thomas – Cardiff Blue Dragons
7 Nolan Evans-Nicklin – Cardiff Blue Dragons
8 Robert Humphreys – North Wales Buccaneers
9 Huw Thomas* – Barry Bombers
10 Dafydd Evans* – Cardiff Blue Dragons
11 David Mills* – Widnes Masters
12 Alan Wraight – North Wales Buccaneers
13 Garry Sides – Farnley Falcons
14 James Tyler – North Wales Buccaneers
15 Owain Brown* – Widnes Masters
16 Jonathan Edwards* – Barry Bombers
17 Ian Harvey – Bury Broncos
18 Gareth L Williams – North Wales Buccaneers
19 Andrew Mogford – Chester Gladiators Masters
20 Mathew Azzopardi* – Cardiff Blue Dragons
Congratulations to Huw, Dafydd, David, Owain, Jonathan and Mathew on earning their first Wales Masters caps.
