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THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE RFL | ISSUE 57

PART OF THECOMMUNITYPART OF THECOMMUNITYPART OF THECOMMUNITYPART OF THECOMMUNITYPART OF THECOMMUNITY

PART OF THECOMMUNITY

Published by the Rugby League Services Department of the RFL. The RFL, The Zone, St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, HD1 6PT. Tel - 01484 448000 | Fax - 01484 545582, Email - rugbyleagueservices@rfl.uk.com | Internet - www.rfl.uk.com

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the RFL Board of Directors.

Contributors - Tom Hoyle, Craig Spence, Andrew Whitelam, Dean Hardman, Neil Barraclough, swpix.com, Dave Williams, Phil Hodgson,

If you are interested in advertising in the Rugby League Bulletin, please contact - tom.hoyle@rfl.uk.com

Main Cover Photograph - Kevin Sinfield, (swpix.com)

© The Rugby Football League Ltd 2009

Designed by - Tom Hoyle

Printed by - Redwood Print Ltd Tel - 01484 711111

RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETINFebruary 2009

Masters Money 4

Growing The Game 6

Old Rivals 10

Sharing Best Practice 14

A Grand Prize 18

Safe & Sound 20

A New Era 22

Top Of The League 26

Tickets For A Tenner 27

The Final Straight 28

CONTENTS

One Hell Of AWeekendPg 16 & 17

Cubs To LionsPg 26 & 27

Part Of The CommunityPg 8 & 9

Back On The ProwlPg 12 & 13

Rhinos AimPg 16 & 17

You Can Bank On It!Pg 24 & 25

NewsRugby League

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Masters Money

Eight Fraser Eagle National Conference League clubs are celebrating a £1,000 wind fall.

The eight clubs – Bradford Dudley Hill, East Leeds, Eccles & Salford Juniors, Leigh EastLeigh Miners Rangers, Rochdale Mayfield, Saddleworth Rangers and Siddal – were all presented with a “four figure” cheque at this week’s league meeting after successfully hosting Masters Rugby League events over the last year.

After the huge success of the Masters concept within the eight clubs it is now envisaged that all other NCL clubs will embrace the concept this coming year.

Thanks to the support of the National Sports Foundation there are currently over 800 registered players in the UK at present, and last summer saw the first ever Australian Masters Tourists fly over to the UK. A return trip “down under” is played for autumn this year.

For more information on Masters Rugby League visit www.tryit.co.uk or www.nationalconferenceleague.co.uk for the latest news, fixtures and results on the Fraser Eagle National Conference League.

Fancy Taking Up The Whistle?

Due to the success of both Tag and Touch Rugby the search is now on for match officials to take charge of proceedings.

The coming year will see more and more people take to the field in these versions of the game and the RFL are looking to recruit match officials.

“There’s been a huge interest from people wanting to play both Tag and Touch Rugby,” said Tony Miller, RFL League For All Officer.

“This now means that we’re looking to recruit as many match officials as possible for the coming year. The short course lasts just two hours, is free of charge and would interest anyone, whether their a current player, ex-player, coach, parent, teacher or spectator.”

So far courses are planned for -

Wednesday 11th March, Eastmoor Dragons ARLFC, 18.00 – 20.00Wednesday 8th April, Hull University, 18.00 – 20.00Wednesday 15th April, Castleford Lock Lane, 18.00 – 20.00

For more information or to book your place on a course contact Tony on 0759 5520172 or via e-mail at tony.miller@rfl.uk.com

Join The Swarm!

International Rugby League is coming to Rochdale!

Saturday 30th May will see the Rochdale Swarm host an International Mixed Tag RL Festival, with teams coming from as far away as Ireland to take part.

The festival will also see the Celtic Barbarians – a team made up of Celtic Crusaders supporters – a Fijian side drawn from the local Fijian Association and hopefully a side from South Asia Bulls.

The international feel of the day is completed with home sides coming from the likes of Oldham, Coventry and the hosts themselves.

The rules for the seven a-side festival include each team having a mixed squad of no more than 12 players, whilst all participants must be aged 16 or over.

“The event is very much a social affair with the emphasis very much on fun and participation,” said Tom Allen, RFL League for All Officer

“As well as the action on the field they’ll be entertainment taking place throughout the day and afterwards a presentation, live band and disco.”

The festival feel is further emphasised by many of the teams camping over for the weekend and they’ll also be a “welcome party” for the teams arriving on the Friday night.

The cost for entering a team is £60, whilst individual players can pay £5 and be placed into a team on arrival. Places for the festival are limited and filling up fast so organisers are urging people to sign up as soon as possible.

For more information or to enter the festival contact Tom Allen on 07515 753928 or via e-mail at tom.allen@rfl.uk.com or Mark Wynn (Rochdale Swarm) at mark.wynn@talk21.com

Newcomers Flock To The Saints

Manchester St Peter’s RLFC are the latest Rugby League club to emerge from Manchester.

The new outfit, based in Belle Vue, follow fast on the heels of North West Counties team Manchester Storm. The club are targeting boys and girls aged 7-10 with a view to entering teams into the North West Counties League in September 2009.

The club has been working closely with St Peter’s RC High School and Salford City Reds to provide children from the local community with opportunities to take part in Rugby League.

Over 50 children attended the first training session, and this indicates the level of interest for the sport in Manchester. Seb Rowe, Manchester Rugby League Development Officer said, “The clubs first training session was a fantastic occasion.

The high number of participants goes to show that Rugby League is a sport that people will enjoy being involved in, given the opportunity. With such a good start, Manchester St Peter’s has every chance of being a success, years into the future.”

James Caldwell, Director of Rugby at Manchester St Peter’s added, “I’m very confident that the foundations of this team, with the support of the RFL and Salford Reds, will provide a real future for Rugby League in Manchester, whilst also giving Gorton and Longsight a great sports club for the community.”

Manchester St Peter’s training sessions run in conjunction with the Salford City Reds Streetlights Urban Rugby Project. Sessions take place on Tuesdays, 5-7pm and Belle Vue Leisure Centre.

For more information contact Seb 07921 078 103 or seb.rowe@reds.co.ukHard Work Pays OffFor The Raiders

Oulton Raiders ARLFC is celebrating after scooping £600,000 worth of funding.

The huge financial boost has come via Leeds City Council, the RFL (via Sport England) and The Football Foundation and is set to pay for the refurbishment and expansion of the clubs facilities.

The clubs Woodlesford Sports Club base is used by five different sports including cricket and football teams and the work will see the addition of four new changing rooms, referee rooms, first aid rooms and the construction of new toilets and kitchen. Additional car parking and storage are also set to be included.

“It’s been very hard work but we’ve got there!” said Raiders Chairman Stephen Stableford.

David Gent, regional director of Sport England Yorkshire said, “Sport England is delighted to have supported the work at Oulton with Woodlesford Sports Club, working in partnership with the Rugby Football League.”

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The aim is to use the money to help Sport England deliver its objectives of more grassroots sporting opportunities and a lasting Olympic legacy of one million people playing more sport by 2013.

In total 46 sports submitted plans mid way through last year, and in December Sport England made awards on the basis of a sport’s ability to increase the number of people playing and enjoying sport, and to create development pathways for those with talent.

Nearly half a billion pounds was available from Sport England and thanks to its comprehensive and robust plan, the RFL was awarded the third biggest grant of any sport - £29.4 million - a significant interest on previous awards.

Some of the ways the RFL aims to use the funding over the next four years (April 2009-March 2013) to increase participation in Rugby League is by developing alternative forms of the game to ensure lifelong participation in the sport. This includes investment in League for All, which encompasses different derivatives of the sport such as touch and tag rugby, as well as Masters rugby for over 35’s.

The governing body also aims to increase female participation at a faster rate then male participation by implementing a strategy which concentrates on long-term participation, strong club infrastructures and the development of a performance pathway.

Other key elements include sustaining and developing the RFL Facilities Strategy, increasing the number of community sports coaches who deliver important school-to-club link programmes and enhance coaching development programmes.

Nigel Wood, the RFL’s chief executive said, “With this level of this funding award, the RFL’s Whole Sport Plan has been recognised by Sport England for its robust and detailed nature and its high quality.

“The level of funding also reflects the confidence Sport England has in the RFL to deliver its objectives. This reputation has been earned by our collective efforts and achievements in recent years.”

Sport England’s Jennie Price said, “Sport England has worked hard to ensure that our half a billion pound investment in grassroots sport delivers value for money and, most importantly, results.

More participants then ever before and over a wider

geographical area are just two of the benefits people can expect to see over the next four years in Rugby League after the RFL was awarded nearly £30 million by Sport England following the submission of its Whole Sport Plan ....

“We believe that our partnership approach with national governing bodies, and other parts of the sporting landscape, will capitalise on London 2012 and leave the first ever grassroots sporting legacy from an Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Together, we are building the firm foundations of a world-leading community sport system.”

Also commenting the RFL’s national community development manager, Julia Lee, added, “The RFL is looking forward with great enthusiasm to working with all sections of the game to sustain and increase the growth in participation that we’ve already seen and to continue to move rugby league forward on all fronts.

“We will also continue to work hard to ensure that the sport is accessible to everybody and that the environment the sport is played in continues to be safe, enjoyable and effective for all.”

“The level of funding also reflects the confidence Sport England has in the RFL to deliver its objectives. This reputation has been earned by our collective efforts and achievements in recent years.”

“Together, we are building the firm foundations of a world-leading community sport system.”

“The RFL is looking forward with great enthusiasm to working with all sections of the game to sustain and increase the growth in participation”

GROWINGTHE GAME

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The RFL’s Community Board is delighted to announce that the

first leagues and clubs have signed up to its new affiliation agreement ....

PART OF THE COMMUNITY

East Leeds ARLFC, Nottingham Outlaws ARLFC and Saddleworth Rangers ARLFC have become the first clubs to sign up, whilst the National Conference League, North West Counties Youth League, Rugby League Conference and National Youth League are the initial leagues to put pen to paper and become officially affiliated to the RFL.

“Both myself and the club are excited by this new concept,” said Terry Flanagan, Saddleworth Rangers ARLFC Chairman.

“I think the affiliation agreement is a great step forward for the game and our club is looking forward to taking advantage of the numerous benefits that are now available to us.”

By signing up to the agreements both clubs and leagues will be eligible to take advantage of a host of benefits. These include clubs receiving priority access to discounted coaching courses, tickets and travel, whilst leagues can enjoy support in finding and attracting sponsors and commercial partners, help in recruiting volunteers and complimentary access to a league management system.

In return the club or league agrees to work towards the clubmark/leaguemark accreditation scheme, fully comply with official RFL policies and rules, and at the same time support and contribute to the RESPECT programme.

“The Fraser Eagle National Conference League is delighted to be the first to sign up to the League Agreement,” said Chairman Trevor Hunt.

“We believe in delivering the very best for our club members not only on the field, but off it too and we feel this initiative is yet another way of keeping our clubs, our league and our sport ahead of the field and attuned to their needs and expectations for the 21st century.”

“It’s great to welcome the first clubs and leagues onboard to the Community Boards affiliation agreement. This is the result of extensive work which was discussed several times and supported by everyone at Community Board meetings. Council also gave its unanimous approval in December.” said RFL Executive Chairman Richard Lewis.

“The Community Game is a vital part of our sport and the RFL are determined to provide the very best help and support to the hundreds of clubs and leagues throughout the UK. The affiliation agreement is a key step forward and will prove to be a real benefit to all concerned.”

For more information on the Community Board affiliation agreement contact Rugby League Services on 01484 448000, via e-mail on rugbyleagueservices@rfl.uk.com

“The Community Game is a vital part of our sport and the RFL are determined to provide the very best help and support to the hundreds of clubs and leagues throughout the UK.”

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Now the world famous universities from Oxford and Cambridge get the chance to put the rivalry to the ultimate test when they clash for the 29th Pcubed Rugby League Varsity Match on Thursday 5 March.

Student rugby league bosses have again arranged for the fixture to be televised live on Sky Sports and staged at The Twickenham Stoop, home of Harlequins RL.

John Evans, head coach at Cambridge University, said, “Our preparations have gone very well this year.

“We’ve completed our BUSA obligations now and emerged as winners of the Midlands division of the Student Rugby League. This season was the first time in 10 years that we’ve won the division we’ve been competing in.

“We can now turn our attentions fully to the Varsity match and the challenges ahead.

“We’ve already put the boys through a very intensive week’s camp in Carcassone and we’re due to play Harlequins’ junior academy side on Saturday 21 February.

“On top of that we’ve got our BUSA Cup games, so we’ll be ready by the time the Varsity game comes around.”

Oxford emerged 38-10 winners in 2008 as they got the better of an inexperienced Cambridge outfit, but Evans insists the Light Blues will learn from last year’s display.

“It was a convincing score line for Oxford and they thoroughly deserved it,” said Evans. “However, we’ve held on to the vast core of our players so they are now more experienced and they are training harder than they ever have done.

“We’ve linked up with a local company and we now have the lads in the gym doing weights sessions at 6.30am on Friday mornings.”

Evans also believes that the television cameras will not distract his side, with most of Cambridge’s squad familiar with the extra attention after last season.

“You hope it will stand them in good stead,” he said. “Playing at The Twickenham Stoop in floodlights can be a bit like a rabbit in the headlights and that might have happened last year.

“It’s probably going to help any players that were caught out last year by having that experience if they get selected again this time around.”

Oxford’s preparations have included a year competing in the BUSA National South Division. They won just two of their 10 games but regularly facing teams of the standard of UWIC and Loughborough will have done their chances no harm.

Dan Garbutt, Oxford’s head coach, said, “We’ve been a little bit disrupted by the weather recently but that’s probably a blessing in disguise because we’ve been able to get over some little niggles.

“The lads are going well and we’re injury free at the moment. Playing in the National South division has been tough, but for most of the games we’ve been competitive and it’s good that we’ve been exposed to higher quality opposition.”

John Hobart, a veteran of 13 rugby league varsity matches and Oxford’s assistant coach, said, “It’s like a Wigan-Saints Challenge Cup Final, or a Leeds-Bradford Grand Final. Everybody around you wants to win and there is only one satisfactory result - winning. There is no second place and the winner takes all.”

“You can lose every game of the season, but if you win the Varsity game, then the season is judged a success.”

For the first time ever there will also be a seconds Varsity game in 2009, with Oxford Maroons facing the Cambridge Cobras at Richmond College on 5 March, kick off 12.30pm.

“You can lose every game of the season, but if you win the Varsity game, then the season is judged a success.”

Old Rivals They have been rivals for centuries,

challenging each other to push harder and reach further in the pursuit of excellence ....

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The Co-operative Championship One club based in West Yorkshire’s Aire Valley have re-invented themselves and are now building for the future both on and off the field.

Not since the heady days of ‘Cougar-Mania’ in the 1990s has there been such optimism at Cougar Park. Although it’s still early days, the club has used last season’s success in reaching the National League Two play-offs as a springboard for a new and sustained period of development.

On the field Head Coach Barry Eaton is in his third season in charge. He has now built up a proven and talented back room staff with assistant coaches Glen Barraclough the former Bradford Northern (Bulls) hooker and legendary prop Brendan Hill.

The young Cougar squad that emerged as a force to be reckoned with last year has been adjusted during the winter break.

Eaton has brought in loose forward Carl Hughes from Featherstone Rovers, prop Craig Brown from Sheffield Eagles and re-engaged winger Daley Williams from Salford City Reds – Daley was a Keighley player before he moved to the Willows.

But the Cougars have not enjoyed the best of luck with their signings because Hughes suffered knee ligament injuries in the annual cross code game against neighbours Bradford and Bingley rugby union club and Williams broke his thumb in a car accident.

Hooker James Feather is the club captain and “Buster”, as he’s known by the Cougar Clan, leads from the front. His work rate is prodigious and he’s not missed a game for almost three seasons! Other key players are Australian prop Brendon Rawlins now in his third season with Keighley and former Featherstone and Sheffield stand off Jon Presley.

Behind the scenes the club’s development programme is being delivered by Scholarship Manager Jeremy Crowther and Development Officer Tom Hall.

All that is underpinned by a burgeoning programme of community-related activities that are being developed by Foundation Manager Dean Muir. Dean was appointed in 2007 and succeeded one of the largest personalities in the Cougars’ recent history, Matt Foster.

The Foundation is the arm of the club that generates its community programme and it is supported by Park Lane College.

Last July the Cougars became the first club in Rugby League to develop a new fund-raising system that saw them donate their main jersey front sponsorship to Sue Ryder Care’s Manorlands Hospice that is based in the adjacent Worth Valley area, just above the tourist village of Haworth.

The new scheme is called the “KC Club”. Besides bringing in much needed funds for the Rugby League club, it also gives members a host of benefits through discounts with many of the Keighley-area businesses.

Helen Carter, the Cougars’ General Manager

– a former rugby union player – said, “Since we launched the KC Club the economic tide has been running against not only the KC Club but the whole world.

“Our Sales Manager Elkie Fisher has done a great job to keep membership hovering around the 200 mark as well as developing new income streams for the club.”

The KC Club members are kept in touch with club affairs by a newsletter and members’ evenings which have so far included a wine evening and a beer festival – although to be fair each time the beer barrels have been rolled into the Cougar

Park bar it’s attracted the worst snow storms for a decade. The first festival in November had to be postponed because of the weather conditions and in the week in which the second festival was planned, there were major blizzards in the area.

In the boardroom Chairman Neil Spencer and Chief Executive Colin Farrar have guided the club after rescuing it from a financial crisis in 2001 and earlier this month they were joined on the board by a new Financial and Commercial Director Gary Fawcett.

Gary heads up one of the club’s major sponsors, Link Telecom, and he has been a long term supporter of the Cougars and Carter said, “We believe that Gary’s arrival at the club adds an extra dimension to the business experience already available to us in the board room”.

The club have also been building up the Cougars marketing and administration team. The club’s accounts are now overseen by Finance Manager

Steve Akeroyd while the marketing and media effort has been reinforced by the part-time appointment of former RFL Media manager John Huxley.

Carter added, “We’re operating on a more professional basis. It’s the only way we can move forward and we’re very optimistic about the club’s future”.

But while we’ve got more people on the ground at Cougar Park, we must acknowledge the huge contribution made by so many unpaid people like Ann Self who runs our club shop and Rachel Pressley, who is our webmaster”.

The club’s education effort is provided by Cougar Pride. The hi-tech classroom delivers a top-

quality, interactive programme for schools which is headed up by Liz Kidman and Rachel Pressley. Included in their activities is the innovative ‘Shakespeare in the Stand’ development which sees kids introduced to the Immortal Bard’s work and ensures that Cougars joins Premier League soccer and Premiership Rugby Union in operating the same package.

The Cougars are trying to exploit their ground facilities as another significant income stream.

Overseen by bar manager Mandy Ogden, the Diamond Suite which over looks the club’s pitch, and the ground-floor Hall of Fame bar are hired out to outside bodies and in recent months they have hosted an educational visit by two Russian cosmonauts and provided a new home for Keighley’s renowned Blues Club gigs respectively.

Added Helen Carter, “In the next few months we’ll be developing some exciting community programmes. In partnership with Bradford

Metropolitan District Council we’ll be staging ‘Street Academies’ for our Asian community and working with ‘In Communities’ the area’s largest community housing provider, to deliver a programme of Rugby League awareness days in areas suffering from deprivation which will culminate with a festival at Cougar Park.

“Just after Christmas we developed a six-week anti-obesity and healthy eating programme featuring our club’s furry mascot, Freddie Cougar, which we ran with our media partners the ‘Keighley News’ . It not only underlined the message we were trying to sell but raised the club’s profile within the town and surrounding areas.”

For more details about Keighley Cougars please contact either the club’s Media Manager John Huxley Tel 01535 606044/ 07889174280 or e-mail john.huxley@keighley-cougars.com or Helen Carter Tel 01535 606044/ 07719 909490 or e-mail helen.carter@keighley-cougars.com

“We’re operating on a more professional basis. It’s the only way we can move forward and we’re very optimistic about the club’s future”.

Keighley Cougars are on the prowl again ....

“In the next few months we’ll be developing some exciting community programmes.”

Back On The Prowl

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The RFL is to stage its first ever Sports Medicine, Sports Science and

Performance Conference ....

The event will take place at the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th March 2009.

The conference is to be jointly organised by the RFL’s Sports Medicine, Performance and Coaching Departments and will focus on medical, scientific and performance issues identified by doctors and physiotherapists currently working within Rugby League

The event will be both interactive and interdisciplinary and is certain to be of tremendous value and interest to both personnel working within Rugby League and also to practitioners involved within other sports.

The specific themes covered by the conference include the following -

- The future of medicine in team sports, collision sports injuries of the upper limb, hamstring rehabilitation, fluids in team sports, sports nutrition, supplement usage in team sports, recovery and performance and concussion in team sport.

In addition a number of practical sessions will be staged including the following -

- Ultrasound imaging in the field, kinesiotape demonstration, TUE’s in team sports, injections and their role in sport, an analysis of the heart rate responses to altering playing area size in rugby small-sided games.

Leading sports science experts will be among the guest speakers at the conference with the keynote address provided by Professor Ron Maughan.

Professor Maughan is Chair of the Sports Nutrition group established by the IOC Medical Commission. He has also acted as an advisor to UK Sport, UK Athletics, The FA, FIFA, the Irish Sports Council and to various other sports governing bodies. He has also acted as an advisor to the House of Commons Select Committee enquiry on Human Enhancement Technologies in Sport.

Former BOA Chief Medical Officer Dr Richard Budget will also speak on the first day of the conference. He was a gold medal winner with Sir Steve Redgrave and is currently lead officer in the medical team within the London Organizing committee for the 2012 Olympics Games

The conference will be chaired by former international player and Sky Sports Rugby League pundit Phil Clarke in cooperation with appropriate medical and science chairs.

Commenting on the launch of the conference, Dr Lisa Hodgson, the RFL’s Head of Sports Medicine said, “We believe this inaugural Sports Medicine, Sports Science and Performance Conference will be of great interest and value to those involved in the medical, coaching and performance sectors in Rugby League and other sports.

“We believe the conference can be a tremendous forum to share best practice in these key areas and therefore contribute to the ongoing development of the standards in sports medicine and preparation in Rugby League”.

Hodgson added, “We are also delighted to have secured such an impressive panel of speakers and would encourage as many people as possible to attend what will be an enjoyable and highly informative event which will also provide unrivalled opportunities to meet key expert practioners.”

“We believe the conference can be a tremendous forum to share best practice”

Places at the inaugural RFL Sports Medicine, Sports Science and Performance Conference are available at the following rates -

One Day £150 Two Day £300

There will also be a mid-conference dinner. Tickets for this are available at just £40.

For further information on this event please contact Dr Lisa Hodgson, lisa.hodgson@rfl.uk.com or Jane.Phillips@rfl.uk.com and to be added to the mailing list and to receive a booking form, please contact Barry Hill at barryghill@hotmail.com

SHARING BEST PRACTICE

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In what promises to be a classic match between the two best clubs sides in the world, the Rhinos will be keen to follow up last year’s victory over Melbourne Storm with a win over Manly - a side who beat the Storm 40-0 to claim the NRL title.

For Leeds Rhinos’ high profile signing Danny Buderus the game is likely to be one of the toughest he has ever encountered, and he expects Manly, a team who boast former Saints star Jamie Lyon in their line-up, to put up a real fight for the world crown.

The 31 year old hooker said, “The game I watched last year against Melbourne was right up there with an Origin match - it was brutal.

“Both teams ripped into each other and it was a real World Club Challenge. Leeds came out on top and that puts them right up there with the powers of World Rugby League.”

“Manly are a championship team though and it’s going to be a real tough game.”

“You always want to be involved in the big games as a player - this is going to be a big game and I’ll be doing everything I can to hopefully be out there on the park.”

So far the noises coming out of the Southern Hemisphere indicate that Manly are taking this fixture extremely seriously and are determined to become the first Australian side since Sydney Roosters in 2003 to claim the Carnegie World Club Challenge.

Coach Des Hasler, who played in Manly’s World Club Challenge defeat to Wigan in 1987, has already expressed his intentions for the Rhinos clash and has said that his side will not be looking for any excuses, not even Britain’s coldest winter in recent history.

The Sydney based club have organised a game against Harlequins RL the week before the Elland Road clash and are also planning on flying a full strength squad to the UK.

Hasler said, “We will bring all our World Cup stars, new buys and the players still with us who played in the Grand Final win against Melbourne Storm last October.

“We will be up against it weather wise but we

Rhinos Aim For First

World Double

On Sunday 1 March Leeds Rhinos will aim to become the first side ever to win two consecutive Carnegie World Club Challenges by

defeating Australian champions Manly Sea Eagles at Elland Road ....

are arriving early and the players will have two weeks to get used to the English winter.

“The history of this Carnegie World Club Challenge is riddled with tombstones from Australian teams but we will give it our best shot and have no complaints if it snows it snows - it is equal for both teams.”

One of the key battles that could determine the Carnegie World Club Challenge match is the clash between the two scrum-halves – Rob Burrow of Leeds Rhinos and Matt Orford of Manly Sea Eagles.

Orford won the Dally M Award in 2008, Australia’s equivalent of engage Super League’s Man of Steel, however didn’t make the Australian national side that were runners up in the World Cup.

Like Burrow, Orford is the smallest player in the Manly championship team and the inspirational Sea Eagles leader admits to studying a fair bit of Burrow on video tape in the past six weeks as Manly prepare for the World title match.

Orford said, “From what I have seen Burrow is the heart and soul of the side and a great favourite with the fans. He is a big match player and we will be looking to minimise his opportunities in the game.

“Coach Des Hasler has been constantly pointing out the little one per centers that Burrow does

in a game and we are well aware of his ability and influence on the Rhinos.”

Last year’s Carnegie World Club Challenge attracted a bumper crowd, and it is expected that this year will be no different.

To attract big numbers, the RFL is offering big groups special discounts for the Elland Road clash. Groups can purchase 10 £20 tickets for the price of eight, and families of two adults and two children can take advantage of a family ticket priced just £40.

To purchase tickets for the Carnegie World Club Challenge on 1 March, please call the RFL Box Office on 0871 226 13 13 or visit www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk. Prices start from £20.

“You always want to be involved in the big games as a player”

“The history of this Carnegie World Club Challenge is riddled with tombstones from Australian teams but we will give it our best shot and have no complaints if it snows it snows - it is equal for both teams.”

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Rugby League organisations from all over the country are set to

benefit from the second Community Game Raffle ....

A GRAND PRIZE

After the success of last years inaugural event when over 20,000 tickets were sold, clubs, schools, leagues, referee societies and service areas will once again be given the opportunity to sell tickets and in doing so raising funds for their organisation.

Just like last year the raffle is being organised by the RFL’s Rugby League Services Department and again tickets will cost £1, with sixty pence going to the grassroots organisation that made the sale and the remaining 40 pence going to the Rugby League Foundation.

As well as making a financial gain from selling tickets the various organisations could also be rewarded for selling the most tickets. The highest selling organisation will this year receive 10 tickets to the Four Nations Final in November, as well as four Gillette kit bags.

This year’s first prize has again been donated by Gillette and will surely be of huge interest to Rugby League fans!

The lucky winner will receive a 10 day trip for two to Australia, which includes tickets for the NRL Grand Final, whilst runner up prizes include tickets to the Carnegie Challenge Cup Final and the new England RL shirt which will be released later in the year.

“After the success of last years Community Game Raffle we felt it was right to run it again this year and hopefully raise even more money for the grass roots game” said Kelly Barrett, Rugby League Services Manger.

“The raffle has been proven to generate much needed funds for the various organisations in a way that is cost effective but also attractive to potential purchasers. The RFL pays for all the printing and promotion of the raffle whilst the prizes have been donated by Gillette who we must thank for their generous offer of support.”

The draw for the 2009 Community Game Raffle will take place over the weekend beginning Friday 12th June.

All organisations selling tickets are reminded that all tickets stubs, including the 40 pence from every ticket sold, should be returned to the RFL by Monday 1st June.

“The raffle has been proven to generate much needed funds”

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The coming year will see the 2009 Safeguarding Education Strategy rolled out and in doing so help work towards one of the RFL’s major objectives of ensuring that all relevant volunteers within the game have a basic awareness of safeguarding issues.

“It’s essential that all individuals within the game have confidence in their ability to protect and safeguard the welfare of every child within Rugby League,” said Dean Hardman, RFL Operations Manager.

“With this in mind we have put together a strategy that we think will provide the necessary educational courses for our volunteers.”

There are two courses available, the first of which is Sport Coach UK’s basic awareness course “Safeguarding and Protecting Children”. Previously titled “Good Practice in Child Practice” the course is highly recommended for any volunteers who are involved in supervising young people and on completion is valid for three years.

The second course is entitled “Time to Listen”. The RFL have worked with the Child Protection in Sport Unit of the NSPCC to produce this advanced course which is primarily aimed at Club Welfare Officers (CWOs) and provides a more in depth look at the RFL policies and procedures around Safeguarding.

The RFL Coaching Department includes both courses as recommended CPD courses and both are free for registered CWOs, whilst thanks to an

RFL subsidy all other volunteers can attend for a discounted rate of £15. Both courses are tutored by Rugby League specific tutors and last for approximately three hours.

“We are aiming to run at least four “Safeguarding & Protecting Children” courses per month throughout 2009 and “Time to Listen” courses on demand,” continued Hardman

“We will be running courses on a regional basis which will be advertised via the Safeguarding newsletter and also on the Safeguarding section of the RFL website.”

Clubs can also request a course to be set up specifically for their own club’s volunteers by contacting the Safeguarding Team via email at safeguarding@rfl.uk.com or by phone on 0844 477 7113 (Option 6).

The maximum number for the course is 20, however if you are struggling to find sufficient numbers to set up a course you may wish to consider linking up with a neighbouring club to set up a joint session.

“It’s essential that all individuals within the game have confidence in their ability to protect and safeguard the welfare of every child within Rugby League”

The RFL are set to increase the number of Safeguarding education opportunities available to clubs ....

Safe & Sound

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THE MAGIC WEEKEND2ND & 3RD MAY. MURRAYFIELD, EDINBURGH

THE ULTIMATE WEEKEND FOR RUGBY LEAGUE FANS.

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SALFORD CITY REDS V HARLEQUINS RL 3.00PM

WAKEFIELD WILDCATS V BRADFORD BULLS 5.00PM

WIGAN WARRIORS V ST HELENS 7.00PM

SUNDAY 3RD MAY KICK OFF

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS V CELTIC CRUSADERS 12.30PM

HULL FC V CASTLEFORD TIGERS 2.30PM

CATALANS DRAGONS V LEEDS RHINOS 4.30PM

WARRINGTON WOLVES V HULL KR 6.30PM

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OR ONLINE AT: WWW.RUGBYLEAGUETICKETS.CO.UK

- 22 - RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN - 22 - RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN - 22 - RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN - 23 -

What used to be known as the National Leagues are now The Co-operative Championship and Championship 1 and both will be boosted by the inclusion of leading French club Toulouse Olympique XIII whose membership will bring a whole series of benefits.

The competitions - which kick-off on Thursday 12th March - will also see all teams adopting a squad numbering system and player names on the back of shirts to make the whole thing more attractive.

The decision to rename the Leagues followed extensive consultation with all the clubs involved, supporters and key stakeholders and is designed to further invigorate what is already vibrant and thriving.

Nigel Wood, the RFL’s Chief Executive is excited by the move.

“These competitions have been growing in popularity each year and attendances in the top tier have recently reached an 11 year high”, he said.

“We believe the rebrand to The Co-operative Championships is the next step in increasing the profile of these competitions and gives them a fresh new look.

“The introduction of Toulouse into the competition next season means the term National League is no longer appropriate and this new brand is great vehicle to help us reach many more supporters”.

He added, “The Co-operative Championship was chosen after researching various options with supporters. It has historical relevance within the sport and until 1995 was the main competition to play for in this country.

“Next season supporters will know that their team is playing to win the Championship, a competition to win in its own right and one that comes with a strong financial reward”.

And as Nigel Wood emphasises, the changes to the way the competitions are presented has also been accompanied by a record prize fund being made available.

There is now a combined total of £200,000 in prize money for the Championship and Championship 1 teams to play for. That represents the largest ever prize fund at this level.

All these innovations will of course be reflected by Sky Sports’ superb live coverage of the Co-operative Championships, which will once again start as the campaign gets underway.

Newcomers Toulouse Olympique XIII make their debut in front of the cameras against Widnes Vikings and that is one of 18 fixtures to be screened live in the hugely popular Thursday evening slots.

2009 will be the third consecutive season that Sky Sports has provided coverage of the competitions, and this year the broadcaster is planning to

show every team in The Co-operative Championship at least once during the course of the season.

In addition, the broadcaster in conjunction with the RFL and the clubs has also picked four ties from The Co-operative Championship 1 to be screened live on TV.

As with last season Sky Sports will compliment their coverage of The Co-operative Championships by televising one game from each round of the knockout stages of the Northern Rail Cup, including the showpiece final at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road on Sunday 12 July.

And – as well as all this - supporters of Co-operative Championship clubs have even more to look forward to this year following the introduction of a new weekly match day magazine which covers not just news, issues and features about their own club but all sides in the competition.

The 48 page full-colour publication “Game On” will be available around all Northern Rail Cup and Co-operative Championship and Championship 1 rounds. The early issues have already hit the streets and proved tremendously popular.

Each week all fixtures will have a dedicated double page spread, one club will be profiled and a leading player from a Championship club will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on a key issue.

In addition, there will be review of the previous weekend’s fixtures, a look back at yesteryear with a bit of nostalgia as well as a weekly feature on the work clubs are undertaking in the community.

Published by NewsPost Ltd, Game On will cost £2 and clubs will be able to keep £1 for each copy sold. It will be available at every club home game including those broadcast by Sky Sports on a Thursday evening.

Halifax Chief Executive Graham Clay has welcomed the move.

He said, “I expect Game On to be a great read as from a Halifax perspective it covers all the news you’d expect to see in one of our home programmes whilst at the same time carrying news from the 20 other Co-operative Championship clubs.

“Producing a programme each home game takes up valuable man hours that could be spent better elsewhere helping the club. It also means that a wider audience will read news about our club each week which is certainly attractive to sponsors.”

So with a new look, more to play for and more TV coverage, there can be no doubt that the Co-operative Championships are in great health.

Whether you are a die hard supporter of a club, or a casual follower of the game, there is no excuse for getting out and about this season and getting to game.

A NEW ERA

KEY DATES

Sunday 12th JulyNORTHERN RAIL CUP FINALBloomfield Road, Blackpool

Sunday 7th JuneNORTHERN RAIL CUP QUARTER FINALS

Sunday 21st JuneNORTHERN RAIL CUP SEMI FINALS

Sunday 12th SeptemberCO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFFS BEGIN

Sunday 4th OctoberCO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALS DAYHalliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington

(Please note some fixtures within the above will be broughtforward to Thursday night’s to be broadcast live by Sky Sports)

Professional clubs outside engage Super League are entering an exciting new era in 2009 following a comprehensive re-brand of their weekly competitions - which is part

of a wider move by the RFL to raise the profile of the sport at this level ....

“Next season supporters will know that their team is playing to win the Championship, a competition to win in its own right and one that comes with a strong financial reward”

“These competitions have been growing in popularity each year and attendances in the top tier have recently reached an 11 year high”

The RFL is delighted to announce that the Lancashire Youth and Junior Cup Finals will

be sponsored by Sponsorbank ....

Sponsorbank – a diverse company who can supply kit and equipment, as well as offer clubs help with funding and development – have backed the finals with a £7000 deal, much to the delight of the North West Counties Leagues.

“We’re delighted with the sponsorship package,” said Mick Doyle, NWC 12-8s ARL Chairman.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the North West to showcase the standard of Rugby League across the youth and junior age groups and I’m sure the day will be a great success.”

The finals have also received a further boost with the news that the Stobart Stadium, Widnes will play host to the big day.

“The NW Counties 13-15’s ARL are absolutely thrilled with the announcement that the Stobart Stadium is to be the venue for this year’s Lancashire Cup Finals. We’d like to thank Sponsorbank for their support and also Halton Borough Council for their help in staging this major event,” said NWC 13-15 Secretary Sam Armstrong.

Armstrong’s comments are echoed by his NWC Youth League counterpart Hilary Steel.

“The excellent facilities of the Stobart Stadium will be a fitting venue for the finals. For many players this will be their “Wembley” and the whole ethos of playing at a professional ground will give them a feeling of achievement.”

Sponsorbank are also pleased to be playing an important part in the youth and junior game.

‘We are delighted to show our support by sponsoring the Lancashire Youth and Junior Cup Finals this year.

“We have a valuable working relationship with a number of Rugby League clubs providing a wide range of products and services. This event is an excellent platform to show what a great standard of Rugby is being played at youth and junior level, we are looking forward to the event very much indeed,” said Allistair Carmichael, Sponsorbank Managing Director.

“The excellent facilities of the Stobart Stadium will be a fitting venue for the finals. “

- 24 - RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN

YOU CANBANKON IT!

BOOK NOW: Call 0871 226 1313or online at www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk

2009 CARNEGIE WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE

Sunday 1st March, 2009. Elland Road, Leeds. KO 6pmAdult tickets from £20, Concessions from £10, Family Tickets £40*

*2 x children and 2 x adult tickets. Advance purchase only. Subject to availability. Disabled tickets available by phone, fax 0871 221 1310 or email ticketing@rfl.uk.com Contact RFL ticketing for further details.

- 26 - RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN - 27 -

Just weeks after been confirmed as the “Best value for money sport in the UK” *, the RFL has followed up the launch of its £55 family tickets for October’s engage Super League Grand Final by giving supporters the opportunity to buy a discounted seat at Wembley to witness one of the biggest games of the season in one of the best stadiums in the world.

The seats, which will be sold via the RFL Box Office on “Wembley Wednesdays” are located all around the ground in the back three rows of Wembley’s upper tier and offer breathtaking panoramic views of the pitch and stadium.

Phil Williams, the RFL’s Marketing Manager, said, “We want to make the Carnegie Challenge Cup Final more accessible and affordable to everyone and that is why for a limited period only we will be selling a number of Wembley final tickets for just £10.

“A Wembley final is a truly memorable occasion for the whole family, and in the current climate some of our supporters may be experiencing challenging economic times.

“We hope this move not only attracts those who might be indecisive about the Wembley final but also opens the occasion up to a whole new audience who may never have previously considered buying a ticket for one of Britain’s biggest sporting events.”

The first two “Wembley Wednesdays” took place on 11 and 18 of February with a limited number of the £10 tickets sold each day.

The RFL Box Office will open from 9am and will close at 5pm, and the £10 tickets will be sold via phone on 0871 226 13 13 and the website www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk on a first come, first served basis.

In addition to “Wembley Wednesdays”, the RFL recently announced that it would be selling two different family tickets – for two adults and two children – priced £55 and £79 for this October’s engage Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

To make it even easier for supporters to pay for tickets for major Rugby League events, the RFL will also be launching a new payment plan later this month. This will allow those wishing to buy tickets to pay for them over four monthly repayments rather than in a traditional lump sum.

Phil Williams added, “We are proud to be the Best value for money sport in the UK and believe the initiatives we are putting in place ensure that this is not a title we will relinquish in the near future.”

The events covered by the “14th Man Payment Plan” are as follows -Northern Rail Cup Final – 12 July Carnegie Challenge Cup Final – 29 August Co-operative Championship Finals Day – 4 October engage Super League Grand Final – 10 October Four Nations – from 24 October to 14 November

* Source: The Co-operative study of Football, Rugby League and Rugby Union.

This year’s Carnegie Challenge Cup Final will be even more affordable

for millions of people after the RFL announced that it is to sell more than 3,000 Wembley final tickets for £10 ....

Tickets For ATenner!

There are six categories of award and all winners (plus a guest) will be treated to corporate hospitality at the 2009 Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 29th August.

Each Service Area is responsible for promoting four awards within their area and will also select the winners, whilst the International Volunteer and In League Together awards will be selected separately. All winners will receive a trophy and the local Professional clubs will be encouraged to provide hospitality and promotion of the winners at a relevant match.

The winners from each Service Area will go forward to the National Awards in the relevant category.

To nominate someone who you feel deserves to be recognised in this way for their continued efforts, please complete the form below. You may select more than one category for one person and they will be considered for each category selected.

Unfortunately, you cannot nominate yourself!

The Service Area categories are -

YOUNG VOLUNTEER OF THE YEARsupported by V (under 25 as at 1st July 2009) they are reliable, trust-

worthy and have made a valuable contribution to your club

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEARwho makes an outstanding contribution to the running of the club,

League, Service Area, school or any other means

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR OF THE YEARperson who recruits and coordinates other volunteers within the club and

local community

COACH OF THE YEARa coach who shown commitment to coaching and player development

Additional Awards

INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEARA volunteer who has given a valuable contribution to the development of

International Rugby League. This will be selected by Kevin Rudd (Rugby

League European Federation Development Officer)

IN LEAGUE TOGETHER AWARDAn award to recognise the work of an individual who has demonstrated

an inclusive way of working and has engaged successfully with

underrepresented individuals or groups. Nominations will be judged by a

panel of Equality & Diversity experts

All entries must be completed and received by 27th March 2009. Winners will be notified by post.

For further information or if you wish to be part of the scheme and which to receive the application forms please contact Helen Davies on 01484 448006 or email volunteering@rfl.uk.com

In order to acknowledge the hard work and support that people give, unpaid, to the sport of Rugby League, the RFL will once again recognise and reward their

effort through it’s Volunteer Awards Scheme ....

TOP OF THE LEAGUE

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THE FINALSTRAIGHTThe various championship-chases

throughout BARLA’s five major Regional Leagues are hotting up with – with due apologies to other competing sides – the majority looking like two-horse races as the final straight appears ....

That’s certainly the case in the Mark Norris Construction Ltd North West Counties League and the John Smith’s Cumberland League, while a similar case can be made for the Pennine League’s title tilt.

It’s almost as clear-cut in the Hull & District League’s GMB Union Premier Division, while the reality in the CMS Yorkshire League is that champions Queens will take a lot of stopping in the bid to retain their crown.

The north Leeds outfit, if rumours are to be believed, are poised to switch to the Pennine League next season in search of more intense competition; although it remains the case that Queens would prefer a revival of the White Rose Premier Division of a decade ago, involving 20 leading sides from outside the Fraser Eagle National Conference League from all parts of Yorkshire, as their reason for quitting the Yorkshire League.

Queens went into February with a 100 per cent record in a now-truncated Unison Premier Division, the top flight having already lost Pontefract Social Club and Olde Church Tavern this season. Their only realistic challengers appear to be Hunslet Warriors, who nevertheless face a huge task in making up a five-point leeway, with only one match in hand.

Next season could see Queens renewing regular acquaintance with Drighlington and Sharlston Rovers, both of whom moved across several years ago. The pair are jostling for pole position in the Pennine League’s Premier Division, with neither side having lost a game as the campaign eased into February and with Drighlington four points clear but Rovers having a couple of games in hand.

Pennine Fixture Secretary Matthew Barraclough likes to arrange his programme in such a way as to create, effectively, “championship finals” at the close of the season and grassroots fans could be treated to a repeat of the epic clash at Sharlston of a couple of years ago, which Drighlington won narrowly.

It’s very close in the North West Counties League, where Halton Simms Cross and Pilkington Recs both boasted 100 per cent records as the Bulletin went to press. This is another instance in which a touch of imaginative fixture programming could produce a match to remember before a big crowd, while reigning champions Bank Quay Bulls – like Pennine counterparts Halifax Irish – must show a marked improvement throughout the rest of the season, and hope for slips by their rivals, if they are to have any chance of retaining their crown.

Ellenborough Rangers and Kells battled right to the wire last time in the John Smith’s Cumberland League, Elbra taking the title at the death, and there’s no reason to think it will be any different this time. Kells, in mid-February, headed the standings with 10 wins in as many outings while Rangers were six points adrift but with two games in hand.

The Hull League, meanwhile, appears to be in the grasp of either leaders Orchard Park & Greenwood, who have yet to drop a point at the time these notes were being penned, or 2007/8 top-dogs Skirlaugh Bulls, who had won one and lost one of 11 fixtures. Norland Sharks are waiting in the wings but the Bulls appear to be the only realistic aspirants should Orchard’s nerves fail them.

To Celebrate the launch of Steeden TeamwearRL Services are pleased to offer

FREEWhen your club purchases any team kit from the new Steeden Teamwear Range *Minimum Order £500

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STEEDEN are able to offer a range of clothing for both matchplay andtraining wear, which have been designed to meet the requirements of players,providing teamwear flexibility and high performance functionality.For details and to obtain a quote, please contact Jason Barrie on 08450 66 40 20

Sales & Accounts (UK & France) Grays International, Station Road, Robertsbridge,East Sussex. TN32 5DH Tel: 08450 66 40 20 Fax: 01580 88 11 56

Cambridge University team photo prior to their recent Varsity game Varsity game match action

When your club purchases any team kit from the new Steeden Teamwear Range *Minimum Order £500