RYAN O’HARA reckons rugby league is still thriving in South Wales despite the club’s successful move up North.
South Wales Scorpions, managed by former Crusaders’ conditioning coach Anthony Seibold are making great strides in Championship One, fielding a team made up predominantely of Welsh players.
There is also a thriving amateur game and O’Hara insists it’s important that Rugby League continues to develop in South Wales.
Crusaders enjoyed a return South as they beat Castleford 30-24 on Sunday, Rhys Hanbury, Jordan James, Jarrod Sammut, Weller Hauraki and Tony Martin crossing.
“It’s very important that Rugby League has a presence down there because it is very much an untapped resource,” he said.
“There are a lot of kids that play rugby league down there and a lot of that is down to the good work done by John Dixon and Anthony Seibold when they first started. The amateur game is thriving down in South Wales and I know that a lot of these young players are going to be coming though the ranks and become Super League players one day.
“The Scorpions are doing well. The whole team is full of Welsh guys and that is great for the development of rugby league in Wales.
“I guess I have good and bad memories from playing down in Bridgend last year.”
Seibold is also pretty happy with is lot and said: “It was great to see the Crusaders under 18s Academy team compete and perform well, going down in a very close game in Perpignan against the Catalans Dragons under 18s.
“The French are traditionally very strong at junior level as can be seen by their series win this year at under 16s against the England Academy.
“The Wales Rugby League have been engaged to run the Crusaders Scholarship and Academy programmes and many may be interested to note that these are still hosted and implemented here in South Wales.”
There were mixed results for Crusaders youngsters at the weekend with the under 18s losing 21-14 to Huddersfield Giants and the under 16s beating Cavendish High School 37-6.
Meanwhile, both Crusaders and South Wales Scorpions will host internationals this autumn as Wales look to qualify for the 2011 Four Nations.
Wales will take on Ireland, Scotland and France in the European Cup but will also play two friendly matches against Italy to warm-up for arguably their most important autumn of international competition in 10 years.
Crusaders' Racecourse Ground in Wrexham is up first as Wales take on Italy on Sunday October 3, the day after the Super League Grand Final.
Wales will then take on Italy again three days later at Colwyn Bay RFC before they defend the European Cup against Scotland in Glasgow on Saturday October 9. They then host Ireland in Neath on Sunday October 17.
The winners of the European Cup will play against England, Australia and New Zealand in the Four Nations.
n South Wales Scorpions have signed Welsh international Gareth Dean.