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SONICS LAUNCH FIRST EVER BRISTOL JUNIOR RUGBY LEAGUE COMPETITION

Rugby League in Bristol is set to take a huge step forward this summer with the launch of six new junior teams across the city, and the region’s first U14 league.

Coaches and volunteers from Bristol Sonics, the city’s long-standing community club, will partner with contacts at key rugby union clubs, schools and colleges to run the new teams.

From the beginning of May, youngsters between the ages of 12 and 14 (school years 8 and 9) from all parts of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset will be able to try their hand at Rugby League by joining their nearest club. With clubs in the north, north east, north west, south and east of the city, as well as a centrally located side, teenagers will have easier access to Rugby League in Bristol than ever before.

From early May, the six new teams – many of which are being run with the cooperation of local rugby union clubs – will compete alongside junior clubs from Gloucester and Cheltenham in the first ever Bristol Junior Rugby League competition. The league – which will be split into two pools of four – will run for two months, culminating in the city’s first junior finals day on July 10.

To tie-in with the name of their parent club, Bristol Sonics, each of the new teams has been given an identity based on the names of famous aircraft. The names of the new teams, and their locations, are as follows:

North East Thunder (Aretians RFC)

North West Eagles (Bristol Saracens RFC)

Northern Hawks (South Gloucestershire – exact location TBC)

Central Harriers (Whitehall RFC)

Southern Raptors (Bristol Enterprise College)

East Bristol Storm (Keynsham RFC)

The launch of the Bristol Junior Rugby League has been made possible thanks to a grant from Access Sport of £2000 – a reflection of the exciting and forward-thinking nature of Bristol Sonics’ plans.

Phil Cole, Bristol Sonics Chairman said: “Bristol Sonics have for a long time been committed to offering opportunities for youngsters to play Rugby League. With the launch of the city’s first junior competition, we can now offer more teenagers the chance to try The Greatest Game of all, in convenient locations throughout Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.”

John Jacques from Aretians RFC, one of the host rugby union clubs, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this excellent initiative from Bristol Sonics. We see this as a great opportunity to offer our players, and youngsters who may not have played rugby of either code, a chance to try a great sport and improve their rugby skills.”

Bristol Sonics Director of Coaching Karl Fearnley said: "This initiative has been ongoing for some time now and proves what hard work and a passion for the game can achieve. The Sonics coaching team has been delivering a fixed programme to schools across the city since early March, which will culminate in a schools tournament on May 3rd. The guys are all volunteers and deserve a great deal of credit for devoting their own time to this programme.

"After kicking off the Junior programme last year Stafford Lloyd, Sam Barker and Johan Scholeman they knew we might have to come up with something different to get things moving due to our location. We must thank everyone involved for getting behind this and getting it off the ground."

Contact details for the managers and coaches of each of the six new junior Rugby League teams are available on the Bristol Sonics website – www.bristolsonics.com.

Alternatively, parents can call Stafford Lloyd, Bristol Junior Rugby League Chairman, on 07714264300.