Here we go!

By Chris O'Brien
February 27 2010

The waiting is finally over on Sunday as the South Wales Scorpions kick-off their inaugural season with a home fixture against Workington Town. A host of Welsh internationals will be in action for the new club as they aim to get their Championship One campaign off to the perfect start.

Workington make the long journey from Cumbria to South Wales as the Championship One season gets underway.

The fixture marks the opening game of the league campaign, with the day's four other fixtures all kicking-off at 3pm.

It'll be the first time professional rugby league has been played at the Gnoll and looks set to be a proud moment for fans and officials alike.

It was only in mid-December that the Rugby Football League approved an application for a new South Walian based team to join the league.

The club was formed quickly after news of the Crusaders' move to North Wales - but plenty of hard work and enthusiasm have ensured that a professional set-up already seems to be in place.  

There's an element of confusion over who will lead the Scorpions from the sidelines on Sunday.

Anthony Seibold is set to become the club's Head Coach, but no official announcement has yet been made - with legal reasons thought to be holding things up.

The South Wales Evening Post claim that assistant coaches Hywel Davies and Dan Clements will officially be at the helm this weekend.

Whoever's in charge - the Scorps face a baptism of fire in their opening fixture as they face a well-established Workington side that has already racked up impressive wins against Gateshead and Whitehaven in this season's Northern Rail Cup.

The Cumbrian club have also suffered defeats to Keighley and Swinton, so will already be well warmed up ahead of the league campaign. Ladbrokes price them up as sixth favourites for the league title.

By contrast, the Scorpions are yet to play a fixture after last Sunday's hotly-anticipated friendly match against a Wigan Warriors XIII was postponed at short notice.

However, fans will be boosted by the news that as many as ten Welsh internationals will be in action for the club on Sunday.

The Crusaders have loaned talented trio Ben Flower, Jordan James and Anthony Blackwood to the Scorpions , while fellow Crusaders Lloyd White, Lewis Mills, Gil Dudson and Lee Williams are also set to be involved.

Welsh duo Ashley Bateman and Aled James are fully fledged Scorpions - as is ex Bridgend Blue Bulls star Christiaan Roets who was on devastating form for his country in last year's European Cup competition.

The only non-Welsh registered player in the Scorpions' match-day squad is Loz Wildbore. He joined the club from York City Knights, having previously played for Featherstone and Widnes. The Hull-born full-back is arguably one of the club's most impressive coups and will be eager to get his career back on track at the Gnoll.

It's difficult to know what to expect from Sunday's team - but, on paper, the Scorpions certainly seem to have a squad which will be competitive.

Sunday's game comes after weeks of hard work and endeavour from a host of rugby league enthusiasts and, hopefully, the Scorpions can get their history underway with victory over one of the country's most established outfits.

If you're yet to do so - get involved in the prediction league by following the link on the menu. It's free to play and there are loads of great prizes - notably two season tickets for the 2011 season and a signed Scorpions jersey!! Dare you predict a winning start for Wales' newest professional sports club?

Bring on the Scorpions!

South Wales Scorpions v. Workington Town RLFC - preview

Discussion started by South Wales RL (IP Logged), 27/02/2010 15:05

South Wales RL
27/02/2010 15:05

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