Both Celtic grounds to host Summer
rugby league

Both of the former Celtic Warriors grounds will host Rugby League clubs in the new Total RL.com RLC Premier Wales competition this season writes Ian Golden. This is after Welsh Champions Bridgend Blue Bulls announced last week that they will play all bar one of their 2005 home matches at the new home of the Welsh Rugby League, Bridgend RFC's Brewery Field. One match, which has yet to be decided, will be played "on the road" at Maesteg RFC. Blue Bulls' chairman, Simon Green, comments, "It's great that Leighton Samuel has agreed to let us use the ground and its facilities. This is fantastic news for the club and Rugby League in general." Their first match will be an eagerly awaited home game against Welsh and National Conference Shield holders, Cardiff Demons on Sunday 1 May. The Demons, under new coach Anthony Loxton, will still be based at Taff's Well RFC. Their first home match is against Torfaen Tigers on Sunday 15 May and already their fans are looking forward to the big kick-off. Season ticket sales are already almost up to last year's figure and that's only after advertising them to the regular Demons mailing list. Season tickets are released to the general public this Monday priced at only ?10 for the six home games. To apply, please send a cheque or postal order to 25 Heol-y-Felin, Caerphilly, CF83 1AU or payment can be made via Paypal on the internet to cardiffrugbyleague@tiscali.co.uk. Valley Cougars will open their season with an away match at Newport Titans, their first home game at Sardis Road being against Swansea Valley Miners on Sunday 8 May. Although the Cougars have finished bottom of the Welsh Conference for the past two years, coach Mark Rowley has high hopes for the new campaign. Rowley said, "We're aiming high this year. We were a lot better side in 2004 than we were in our inaugural season and I know we're going to improve again in 2005. Pontypridd RFC have once again agreed to be our hosts, showing their support for both club and international Rugby League in the valleys. As well as hosting us for the season, Wales are playing England at under 16 level at the ground on Good Friday. "The response from the local players has also been tremendous but we're always looking to expand. Training starts soon so any players, at both senior and under 16 level, who wants to give Rugby League a try, can phone me on 07968 025916." Apart from the chance to win domestic and national RLC Premier trophies as well as Wales 'A' caps, the 160+ senior rugby league players in Wales have something else to aim for this season - a professional contract. Wales Rugby League development officer, Wayne Williams, who has already set up office at the Brewery Field in preparation for the potential National League Two side in 2006, comments, "We'll be looking at every player from every team this season in preparation for 2006. Professional contracts could be up for grabs for the best players. Whether they've played the game in the past or not, 2005 could be the chance for any player to shine and make a name for himself." The Welsh Grand Final will be at Leckwith Stadium on August 14 or 15 with the winners of this match qualifying for the RLC Premier National Semi-Finals against the winners of the South of England region. The Grand Final of the entire RLC Premier season is set for the Brewery Field in Bridgend on August 28, the day after the Powergen Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium - a fantastic closing weekend to what looks like will be another exciting Welsh Rugby League season. Regular RLC Welsh Premier Season Fixtures:

ROUND 1 - May 1st 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Bridgend Blue Bulls v Cardiff Demons 2 30pm

Newport Titans v Valley Cougars 2 30pm

Swansea Valley Miners v Aberavon Fighting Irish 2 30pm

Bye v Torfaen Tigers 2 30pm

ROUND 2 - May 8th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Aberavon Fighting Irish v Bridgend Blue Bulls 2 30pm

Torfaen Tigers v Newport Titans 2 30pm

Valley Cougars v Swansea Valley Miners 2 30pm

Cardiff Demons v Bye

ROUND 3 - May 15th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Bridgend Blue Bulls v Valley Cougars 2 30pm

Swansea Valley Miners v Newport Titans 2 30pm

Cardiff Demons v Torfaen Tigers 2 30pm

Bye v Aberavon Fighting Irish

ROUND 4 - May 22nd 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Aberavon Fighting Irish v Cardiff Demons 2 30pm

Valley Cougars v Bye 2 30pm

Newport Titans v Bridgend Blue Bulls 2 30pm

Torfaen Tigers v Swansea Valley Miners 2 30pm

ROUND 5 - May 28th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Aberavon Fighting Irish v Torfaen Tigers 2 30pm

Bridgend Blue Bulls v Swansea Valley Miners 2 30pm

Cardiff Demons v Valley Cougars 2 30pm

Bye v Newport Titans

ROUND 6 - June 4th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Bridgend Blue Bulls v Torfaen Tigers 2 30pm

Newport Titans v Cardiff Demons 2 30pm

Valley Cougars v Aberavon Fighting Irish 2 30pm

Swansea Valley Miners v Bye

ROUND 7 - June 11th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Aberavon Fighting Irish v Newport Titans 2 30pm

Cardiff Demons v Swansea Valley Miners 2 30pm

Torfaen Tigers v Valley Cougars 2 30pm

Bye v Bridgend Blue Bulls

ROUND 8 - June 18th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Cardiff Demons v Bridgend Blue Bulls 2 30pm

Aberavon Fighting Irish v Swansea Valley Miners 2 30pm

Valley Cougars v Newport Titans 2 30pm

Torfaen Tigers v Bye 2 30pm

ROUND 9 - June 25th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Bridgend Blue Bulls v Aberavon Fighting Irish 2 30pm

Newport Titans v Torfaen Tigers 2 30pm

Swansea Valley Miners v Valley Cougars 2 30pm

Bye v Cardiff Demons

ROUND 10 ? July 2nd 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Newport Titans v Swansea Valley Miners 2 30pm

Torfaen Tigers v Cardiff Demons 2 30pm

Valley Cougars v Bridgend Blue Bulls 2 30pm

Aberavon Fighting Irish v Bye 2 30pm

ROUND 11 ? July 9th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Bridgend Blue Bulls v Newport Titans 2 30pm

Cardiff Demons v Aberavon Fighting Irish 2 30pm

Swansea Valley Miners v Torfaen Tigers 2 30pm

Bye v Valley Cougars

ROUND 12 ? July 16th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Swansea Valley Miners v Bridgend Blue Bulls 2 30pm

Torfaen Tigers v Aberavon Fighting Irish 2 30pm

Valley Cougars v Cardiff Demons 2 30pm

Newport Titans Bye

ROUND 13 ? July 23rd 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Aberavon Fighting Irish v Valley Cougars 2 30pm

Cardiff Demons v Newport Titans 2 30pm

Torfaen Tigers v Bridgend Blue Bulls 2 30pm

Bye v Swansea Valley Miners

ROUND 14 ? July 30th 2005

HOME AWAY KICK OFF REFEREE Newport Titans v Aberavon Fighting Irish 2 30pm

Swansea Valley Miners v Cardiff Demons 2 30pm

Valley Cougars v Torfaen Tigers 2 30pm

Bridgend Blue Bulls v Bye