Junior Rugby League returns to Bristol this weekend, with the first of a series of regular training sessions for U14 and U16 players at Dings Crusaders RFC.
The popular Bristol Sonics Academy, run by the city’s Rugby League club, will offer training sessions and matches for junior players throughout May, June and July.
Training sessions take place at Landseer Avenue, home of Dings Crusaders RFC and Bristol Sonics RLFC, on Sunday mornings (10:30) and Wednesday nights (18:30), starting on Sunday 11th May and Wednesday 14 May respectively. Matches will take place on Sunday mornings, with the fixture list for the season due to be published on the Bristol Sonics website within the next couple of weeks.
Players between 12 and 16 years of age are welcome, regardless of previous Rugby League experience. Coaching will come from qualified, accredited, CRB-checked coaches, including a number of Bristol Sonics first team players.
Enrolling in Bristol Sonics Academy costs £20 for the season. All players get an exclusive Sonics Academy t-shirt when they pay their membership.
Bristol Sonics have seen an upsurge in interest in their Academy programme following October’s Rugby League World Cup 2013 match at the Memorial Stadium. It’s hoped that this year’s Junior Rugby League program will be the best yet.
A number of last year’s under-16 players have already made their open-age debuts for the Sonics, with Jack Farler appearing for the first team in their season-opener against Sheffield-Hallam Eagles a fortnight ago. Another Sonics Academy graduate, Morgan Rees, is in line to make his debut against Nottingham Outlaws this Saturday (Dings Crusaders RFC, kick-off 2.30pm).
Bristol Sonics Junior Chairman, Ian ‘Muddy’ Waters, said: “We’re really excited about this year’s Bristol Sonics Academy. Offering opportunities for youngsters to get a taste of Rugby League is of huge importance to the club. Rugby League is an exciting, all-action game where you’re involved in the action almost non-stop. It’s a great game to play, and any interested juniors are encouraged to come down on Sunday or Wednesday and give it a go.”
Bristol Sonics’ Club Captain Dom Swann said: “The Bristol Sonics Academy is the future of the club. We’ve already seen a number of players come through our junior ranks and play for the first team. In future, we’d love to be able to field an adult team entirely of former Academy players. The earlier you start playing the game, the more you can get out of it. I didn’t have a chance to play League as a junior where I lived, so it’s great that youngsters in Bristol are getting a chance to give it a go.”
For more information about Bristol Sonics Academy, prospective players and parents should check out www.bristolsonics.com or contact Ian ‘Muddy’ Waters on 07787 436158.
