MAY 2011 ISSUE 70 THE RUGBY LEAGUE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE RFL JUST SUPER! WIDNES RETURN TO SUPER LEAGUE on the inside… Pole position for success Historic switch Life’s a beach 111108 CCC A4 26/01/2011 17:32 Page 1 3 Pole position for success Everyone wants it. Only one can have it. CONTENTS 5 Media Matters 8 Rewarding volunteers 9 A view from Westminster 11 Rock on! 12 Getting touchy! 13 Another level 14 Whistle happy Historic 10 16 Just 19 Going global switch Super! 20 Preparing for a new challenge 22 Up for the cups 26 Learning fast 27 Finding the funds 28 Fighting back 30 Sullivan appointed MAY 2011 ISSUE 70 THE RUGBY LEAGUE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE RFL Carnegie Challenge Cup Final SATURDAY 27TH AUGUST, KO 2.30PM. WEMBLEY STADIUM Tickets: £21 - £76 Special Family Ticket Offer* £55 or £79 JUST SUPER! *2 adults & 2 children on £21 and £31 tickets WIDNES RETURN TO SUPER LEAGUE on the inside… Pole position for success Historic switch Life’s a beach BOOK TICKETS NOW: 0844 856 1113 24 Life’s a orvisit www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk beach For hospitality call 0844 856 1114 or e-mail [email protected] INSIDE THIS ISSUE MEDIA MATTERS .... with Neil Barraclough Welcome to the latest issue of the Rugby League Bulletin .... RL Three cheers for IN NUMBERS ingenuity .... he May edition of the RFL’s official magazine contains a whole host of news, Tinterviews and information from all across the game, meaning there will be something for everyone in issue 70. t’s certainly not traditional, and it’s For the main story we look at the big news which saw the Widnes Vikings Icertainly not a coach’s normal modus successfully bid for an Engage Super League licence for 2012-2014. Neil operandi. Barraclough caught up with many of the people involved with the Vikings bid to But the decision to allow rugby league get back in the big time and found out what it meant to all concerned. fans to select 13 of Brian McClennan’s 22- Neil’s second article sees him find out what’s happening on the south coast man ‘Exiles’ squad is a masterstroke in terms as the recently formed Sussex Merlins continue to make rapid progress since of raising that particular game’s profile. their formation in 2009. Chairman and founder Nick Weston tells Neil all about Terrace arguments, online banter and a the stunning success the club has had so far and what their plans are for the 632,863 Spectators attending £5 incentive to pick your own team means future. there’ll be thousands of fans having a go at One of the other recent big news stories was the Hattons Solicitors National Engage Super League games up to round nine naming their Exiles line up. Conference Leagues decision to switch to a summer season from next year and Rugby League needs talking points. on page 10 Chairman Trevor Hunt gives us his thoughts on the historic move, As June approaches, and even after whilst the Co-operative Rugby League Conference – a league that has flourished McClennan’s squad has been finalised, in the warmer months of the year – also recently held its launch at Donnington there’s now guaranteed to be plenty. Park. See page six for photos of the day and also Phil Caplan’s preview to the These days news agendas are set by the coming season. broad brushes of soap opera, conflict and Elsewhere, other highlights see Phil Hodgson look ahead to an exciting personality. climax to the amateur domestic season, Nathan Clarke meet up with England Sir Alex Ferguson arguing with just about head coach Steve McNamara and look at the elite squads progress and Nick everybody over Wayne Rooney’s antics? Boothroyd catches up with the inspirational Pete Stephenson. Conflict. How about Tottenham’s run in the Champions League as an unfolding soap TOM HOYLE opera that went on for months? Editor For personality-led stories, look at Chris [email protected] 1,501 Registered Masters players Ashton upsetting Twickenham’s old guard in the UK with his “flamboyant” try celebrations and Willie Mason’s arrival in Hull being complemented by his confident, talkative nature. Suddenly the Exiles concept has all three of those features as selection arguments rage, club team-mates face the prospect of playing each other and McClennan is left to track online the make-up of more than half his squad on a day-by-day basis. It’s a great step in the right direction twitter.com/CommunityRL facebook.com/rugbyfootballleague – but another much bigger step is also being taken right now. The amateur game’s switch to summer, Published by the Community Game Services Department of the RFL. assuming it now happens en masse, will The RFL, The Zone, St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, HD1 6PT. 190 Teams to play in this years suddenly give Rugby League a nationwide Tel - 01484 448000 | Fax - 01484 545582, Co-operative Rugby League calendar and base from which juniors Email - [email protected] | Internet - www.rfl.uk.com Conference through to open age clubs can develop and flourish. Take a look at the feature on Sussex The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the RFL Board of Merlins elsewhere in these pages to see just Big news - Willie Mason Directors. how attractive summer rugby league can be across the country. If the various amateur leagues adopt the Contributors - Tom Hoyle, Neil Barraclough, swpix.com, Dave Williams, Nick Boothroyd, Phil move nationwide, we suddenly have a clear more than a hundred clubs spread far and experienced the thrills of the 13-a-side Hodgson, Nathan Clarke, Phil Caplan, Richard Beattie, Ashlet Lambell, Ian Mitchelmore, Joe direction as an action-packed summer sport. wide. code. Whiteley, David Lawrenson Rugby league will become rooted in When Rugby league is heading into new In time those ‘development’ clubs will people’s minds as a summer sport. territory, being a clearly defined summer become major players in Rugby League In recent years, we’ve had the bizarre sport has enormous advantages. The game circles. Some of these “newer” clubs are If you are interested in advertising in the Rugby League Bulletin, please contact - situation of our junior leagues not running doesn’t have to rely on people already already leaving some ‘traditional’ clubs in [email protected] parallel with our elite competition. committed to other sports leaving those the shade when it comes to junior players Main Cover Photograph - Widnes Vikings (rlphotos.com) 34 Players named in the initial But it would appear that’s about to stop behind in favour of Rugby League. and teams. © The Rugby Football League Ltd 2011 Exiles squad for the International – and in 10 years’ time, rugby league will Instead, Rugby League can be their And with a new, nationwide breed of Origin Match reap the rewards. summer activity. And we all know how youngsters being brought up on the game, Designed by - Tom Hoyle Have a quick glance at some of the teams quickly the Rugby League bug bites – and how can we not look forward to a bright Printed by - Redwood Print Ltd Tel - 01484 711111 in the Rugby League Conference. There are other sports get left behind – once you’ve future? - 4 - RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN www.tryit.co.uk www.tryit.co.uk RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN - 5 - www.rugbyleagueconference.co.uk The 14th Co-operative Rugby League Conference season was launched at Donington Park earlier this month and will get into gear at the end of the month when 190 teams will set out on the fast track to glory. PHIL CAPLAN looks ahead to the forthcoming season .... ormed in 1998 with 14 clubs, the RLC Fis the largest and fastest growing in Rugby League competition in the world, encompassing England, Scotland and Wales, three tiers, both sexes and merit leagues for aspiring clubs. Last year a total of 168 clubs were on the starting grid. For 2011, 115 teams from 110 clubs will contest the RLC, with 10 teams in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference POLE POSITION FOR SUCCESS National, 50 in RLC Premier across eight divisions and 55 in RLC Regional which will have nine divisions. The Co-operative Rugby League their excellent applications accepted. their finest hour, taking the title in 2004. everyone involved in the club.” registration rule, we feel that a pathway Conference National, the elite division of “Last season was rated by many as the “Last season was rated They are hoping to emulate that success Nelson-based Valley Cougars will for Rugby League players in the Principality the summer community game and the level best ever on the field and we are confident by renewing their association with Coventry celebrate their tenth season in existence is looking more and more complete by the below the Co-operative Championships, will that the inclusion of Coventry Bears and by many as the best RFC which will see the Bears returning to with promotion to the national tier and will year. have two new sides in 2011 which will see Valley Cougars will maintain that. These play their home fixtures at Butts Park Arena, be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the “At the other end of the spectrum, if the competition truly live up to its name. continue to be exciting times for the Co- ever on the field and we the site of the original Coventry Northern then Celtic Crusaders Colts, who in their sole players at Welsh Conference Premier clubs Current champions Warrington Wizards operative Rugby League Conference.” Union side that played prior to the First campaign won the title in 2008.