WALES RUGBY LEAGUE ANNUAL REPORT 2012 WRL Vision “To be a world top four Rugby League nation in performance and governance” WRL Mission “To increase the awareness of Rugby League in Wales through a lifelong participation in the sport” WRL Values PASSION: To never give up; believe in feedback and not failure; strive to make our people happier and above all to have a compel- ling emotion for our Vision INTEGRITY: To have unity; transparency and to work effectively towards our Mission Statement RESPECT: To work with a demonstrative admiration and consider- ation alongside our colleagues to enhance our International esteem INNOVATION: Develop and improve everything we do as we grow and sustain participation numbers through creative and progressive concepts PRESIDENT’S REPORT MIKE NICHOLAS It was an interesting and Pugsley, who was signed by eventful 2012 for all of us at Wigan Warriors last season, Wales Rugby League, I think we have some outstanding we all agree. players to develop. On the playing field, we had There was a truly historic a lot to be happy about with moment for Wales RL too our age group and Academy back in August when Ysta- developments coming along lyfera’s Ysgol Gyfun Gym- leaps and bounds. raeg became the first Welsh Additionally, the senior in- language school to reach the ternational side under head National Finals where they coach Iestyn Harris, while put up a brave performance not winning a Test match, before losing. saw a number of new, young It was pleasing to see the faces who will drive our North Wales Conference team on in the future, given developing through Matt a chance to join the squad for Pritchard, Mark Jones and all the games against France and the teams and coaches. We England. have work to do in the South Given a fair wind, we hope but that can be achieved as that these young players will we all know it can be. graduate through to the pro- I would also like to say fessional ranks and form the what an ambassador for our basis of our future World Cup game Brian Juliff has been. and Test squads. It is good to see that under Our Under-18 national his stewardship we have be- side really came of age with come more professional as MIKE (RIGHT) RECEIVES HIS WRL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT victories over Scotland and an organisation and we are AWARD FROM LEGEND BILLY BOSTON LAST YEAR England before losing to a now heading in the right di- full-strength Australia Insti- rection. tute of Sport XIII. In play- We know we can go for- ers like Courtney Davies, ward through 2013 and be- MIKE (LEFT AND captain of the side, and Rhys yond - so let’s do it! BELOW) IN HIS PLAYING DAYS ... ON A PERSONAL NOTE FOR WARRINGTON It was quite a year for England game in Wrex- me on a personal level. ham. In January, I had the I would, therefore, honour of being in- like to thank the Wales ducted into the Rugby Rugby League for be- League Hall of Fame stowing this honour and then the WRL Hall on me and I hope I can of Fame where I was continue to be of serv- presented with my tro- ice for years to come in phy by the legendary my role of President. Welsh star Billy Bos- ton before the Wales v CHAIRMAN’S REPORT BRIAN JULIFF It has been an interesting and gressive clubs in the year offered to me in May and I phy of blooding our young challenging year for Wales of the Rugby League World accepted the role with great future stars to prepare for Rugby League both within Cup and I anticipate promo- pride. RLWC2013 and beyond. our ‘Core Product’ and our tion very likely. We scored two tries against professional pathway clubs. The performance of the England which was more It was very encouraging to Matt Pritchard, our devel- national side in the Autumn than the French could de- see the Crusaders finish the opment Officer in North Series was mixed but was liver but the physicality and year with a run of victories Wales, was rewarded for his a great credit to our young level of intensity of their top and setting themselves up as hard work in the community players who stepped up to players proved too much for play-off challengers for the by having the privileige of face Super League opposi- us. Nevertheless we learnt coming 2013 season. carrying the Olympic Torch tion against France and far more than either England This really shows that in the build up to the 2012 England. or France from both those hard work and clear focus summer Games. Contrary to expectations games as we look forward alongside the passion of the This really was a well we faced a very strong to our RLWC launch against supporters, directors, man- agement team and players as well as the massive amount of community work being carried out in North Wales has started to pay dividends. Clive Griffiths, as expected, has used his vast experience and contacts within rugby to build a sustainable and entertaining Championship One outfit. Similarly, the efforts of Dave Clarke have not been without success as he ap- proached the Scorpions season with a focus on home grown Welsh talent to estab- lish a solid platform for the deserved accolade and I French team in Lens but Italy at the Millenium Sta- growth of Rugby League in can’t speak highly enough we stuck with our plan and dium on October 26. Wales. of Matt’s commitment to played a youthful Wales I want to thank all the play- As anticipated the journey Wales Rugby League and his team with an average age of ers who committed so much was tough and challenging success in developing Street 22 years four months. to our development plan in but the derby games attract- Rugby League has been We took the game to the 2012 and also to our excel- ed good viewing numbers nothing short of sensational. home side and lead until ten lent young coaches, Iestyn and were very competitive minutes before the end of the Harris, Lee Briers, Damien matches paving the way for In the Boardroom, there half when France scored the Gibson and Dave Clarke a very exciting challenge in have been changes with Jan- points required to eventually for an outstanding effort in 2013. et Ryder and Bethan Jenkins win the match. preparing such a young team The South Wales Scorpions leaving their roles on the Our lads played magnifi- for battle. and North Wales Crusaders board but still offering active cently in the second pe- I would also like to thank games are surely going to support when required as riod with some outstanding everyone on the Wales attract ever growing crowds volunteers. personal performances and Rugby League staff on and as Rugby League establishes Bethan has been replaced great team spirit and com- off the field who helped a strong foothold in Wales. by Martin Roddy MBE, a mitment. to support and prepare all It is firmly expected that former police officer and The game against England our international teams and we will get success from current coach at Oxford was a huge challenge but the South Wales Academy one or both of these pro- Janet’s position of Chair was we stuck with our philoso- throughout 2012. 2012 beating Scotland with Conference in 2013. The teams in action this year The Dragonhearts had a strong second-half per- 2012 champions Conway and wish everyone the very a disjointed season culmi- formance at Queensway in Celts await renewed ri- best of luck, nating in a loss to Scotland Wrexham and then England valries with Prestatyn and As ever, we are always when we were forced to se- Community Lions at Leigh Rhyl Panthers; Flintshire looking for more volun- lect a very young team due Sporting Village. Falcons; Dee Valley Drag- teers to support and encour- to players deciding not to Their season ended with ons and Wrexham Bradley age the growth of Rugby travel. a defeat by the Australian Raiders. League in Wales. It is im- This was very upsetting Institute of Sport but not portant that we establish for everyone but we were without some outstanding The South Wales Confer- sustainable junior teams determined not to lose individual performances ence was not supported as attached to our Conference face despite the fact that and also plaudits from the effectively as we would clubs as this, alongside our we would relinquish our Australian management. have required in 2012 and, schools programme, will Championship title. The only downside was a from that, our development build the strength of our I am grateful to those Un- very bad injury sustained team have learned some future league’s and uncover der 18 players who earned by Jason Blackmore, an harsh lessons, most note- our international stars of the their caps at senior level outsanding young talent ably was the failure to com- future. and it was encouraging in the final minutes of the pete in the Challenge Cup to see selections from our game. first road and, of course, our With this in mind, I North Wales Conference. I wish Jason the very best failure to retain our Dran- would like to thank you Their courage and fortitude of luck with his recovery gonhearts champions tag. for your involvement in our showed why we are known and hope we have the privi- It is encouraging, though, game whatever the role you as the Dragonhearts and we lege of watching him pull a to see a resurgence in the have taken within the best will bounce back stronger senior Wales shirt over his south with eight teams com- family sport in the world.