Thirty-four 15- and 16-year old schoolboy rugby players attended a trial at Aston Old Edwardians RFC in Perry Common yesterday [Monday 1 March] in a bid to be selected for the first ever Birmingham City Schools Rugby League representative side.

A total of twelve secondary schools across the city nominated the players who displayed a considerable, and commendable, level of ability and commitment on a very chilly night.

Twenty of the trialists will be selected for the final squad who will then undergo further training before taking on a side from Hull in April.

Bulldogs Limber Up

Birmingham Bulldogs 34 Pts, University of Birmingham 16

Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC started their preparation for the 2010 summer season with a run-out against a relatively small - but mobile - University of Birmingham XIII. In the end, experience and size carried the day, but Bulldogs didn’t have it all their own way.
In fact, it was the students who posted the first points as they took advantage of a Bulldogs knock-on, the break being rounded off by scrum half Scott Bennet.

Good right-to-left handling brought a try for Fabian Edwards - making his senior debut - with the conversion from right winger Danny Bancroft edging Bulldogs ahead.
Two more home scores followed quickly: left centre Drew Harper ran strongly through the visiting defence to touch down, then Abel’s downfield kick after just two tackles was gathered by scrum half Rich Rainger who ran to the posts for a try which Bancroft goaled.
Back came University, an alert interception by second row Tom Goodrich taking him over the line; Bennet converted. A second try for Harper, from a cross kick by Bancroft who also added the conversion gave the hosts a 12-point lead at the half way mark.

The second half of the match went generally Bulldogs’ way: tries from second row Mike Loughrey, following a tap penalty move, and centre Chris McGregor, making a sound impression on his debut, were both improved by Bancroft to put the result beyond any doubt.
Last word, though went deservedly enough to University as right centre Rhys Llewellyn side-stepped adroitly through the Bulldogs defence to touch down, Bennet converting.
It was a useful first get-together for the Bulldogs, but they know there is plenty of work to be done over the next two months to prepare for the season proper which starts in May.

Birmingham Bulldogs have teamed up with Badger Rugby ahead of the 2010 season and have produced a fantastic design and is now being manufactured as we speak.

Shirts will go on sale to all supporters for £35.  These shirts can be ordered with a personalized name on the back should you wish to change it from ‘BULLDOGS’.

We also have t-shirts, hooded jumpers, and polo shirts for sale too and more information will be published online in due course.

We would also like to make a special mention of thanks to our new Sponsors for 2010.  Reggae Records, Northern Star, Futura Design, Master Mover, and Artichoke Design are contributing immensley towards what will be a strong season for the Bulldogs.  Links to their website can be found on the right hand column of the website.

Anybody wishing to make an order for any merchandise should please contact Mark Abel on 07545184541

For directions to the training ground please visit the following link:  http://birminghambulldogs.co.uk/info/how-to-find-us/

We look forward to seeing everybody ahead of what will be a great season for the Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League Club.

Brum School Sides Battle Hard in Defeat

Two sides from Kingsbury School, Year 7 (11/12 Years Old) and Year 9 (13/14 YO) gave their all in the Midlands Finals at Bromsgrove, but lost out to some formidable opposition.

Kingsbury Year 7, missing some key players through unexpected absence, faced Burton Borough from Newport, Shropshire. Burton took a ten points lead with two tries and a conversion before Kingsbury’s Jonah Falconer’s great run took him over. Two more tries for Burton gave the Shropshire side an 18-4 half time lead.

A converted try after the restart took Burton out to 26-4, but Kingsbury stormed back with two more tries from Falconer, for a hat-trick, one from hard-tackling Alan Kayongo plus a conversion from Joe Griffiths to cut the gap to eight points. Last word went to Burton, though, with a late converted try (Res: Burton Borough 32 Kingsbury 18)

Kingsbury Year 9 took on the well-drilled Bishop Ullathorne from Coventry.
An early try for Bishop’s was cancelled out by a score in the corner from the powerful Simba Rwambiwa, but, aided by come careless penalty concessions by Kingsbury, three more tries and a conversion saw Ullathorne 18-4 up at half time.

Continuing to do the basics well, the Coventry side added a converted try after the beak before Rwambiwa went over from a 70-metre charge for his second. Bishop’s continued to dominate, scoring three more tries, but not before Rwambiwa had completed a hat trick. (Res: Bishop Ullathorne 36 Kingsbury 12)
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Other matches

The Year 8 final looked like being a comfortable win for Bishop Ullathorne against Walkwood from Redditch as they pulled away to a 22-6 lead. However, before half time Walkwood scored a converted try, though Bishop’s nipped on with one of their own before the break.

A terrific second half from the Redditch side saw them level matters and, as full time approached, extra time beckoned. But, at the very last gasp, a try from Nigel Mkhwananzi, who together with Ethan Lilley had led the way for Ullathorne, saw the Coventry side squeeze home. (Res: Bishop Ullathorne 32, Walkwood 26)

The Year 10 Final brought together St. Augustine’s of Redditch and Coventry’s Stoke Park. The 14/15 year olds produced a match of high quality, flowing rugby which was nevertheless dominated by some terrific defence.

The sides scored just one try apiece in the first half, with Stoke converting theirs for a 6-4 lead at the break. The second half was every bit as tight, and produced just one try, for St.Augustine’s that was converted to give victory to the Worcestershire school. It was tough on Stoke Park; a draw would have been eminently fair for two fine teams. (Res: St. Augustine’s 10, Stoke Park 6)
For more information on schools rugby league in Birmingham, please contact

Russell Parker
Birmingham Rugby League Community Sports Coach
Birmingham Bulldogs Director of Junior Rugby
Mobile: 07854 637505
Email: russell.parker@bcu.ac.uk
_________________________________________________________________
[Note to Midlands press recipients; please include the tag line below if possible]

<*> For more information on Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC, please call 07854 637505 or 0121 707 8773

Please keep reading the site for future news on fixtures.

Supported by Sport England and delivered by the RFL, the Birmingham Bulldogs will be holding a series of workshops, free of charge, to any coaches or teachers interested in coaching Rugby League in Birmingham. The workshops will concentrate on key areas of the game that are central to the performance level of your Rugby League team. The 1 hour workshop will give the coach or teacher a better understanding of how to successfully deliver coaching on a specific area or subject.

The course is designed for everyone regardless of experience and openly encourages people new to the sport of Rugby League

DATE WORKSHOP                                        TIME
Thurs 11/02/10    Core Skills & RL Awareness                           7.30pm – 8.30pm
Thurs 18/03/10    Game Sense                                                   7.30pm – 8.30pm
Thurs 15/04/10    Winning the Ruck                                          7.30pm – 8.30pm
Thurs 13/05/10    Attacking Lines & Defensive Structure          7.30pm – 8.30pm

Venue: Aston Old Edwardians RFC, Sunnybank Avenue, Perry Common, Birmingham, B44 0HP

Appropriate clothing will be required as parts of the session will be held on the rugby field and may involve some gentle activities.

If you are interested in attending any of the workshops then please contact:

Russell Parker, Birmingham Rugby League Community Sports Coach.
Email: russell.parker@bcu.ac.uk  Mobile: 07854637505

The Birmingham Bulldogs would like to invite your Secondary School to attend the 1st ever “Bulldogs Cup”. For Year 7 Boy’s, the 9 aside tournament will be played in a round robin format encouraging lots of fixtures on the day.

Included, for all players, on arrival, will be an 1 hour Rugby League “taster” workshop delivered by RFL Coaching Officers. There is also the opportunity for schools to sign up to 4 weeks of free Year 7 after schools coaching from a Level 2 qualified Rugby League coach.

If you are interested in entering the “Bulldogs Cup” or require further information, please contact:

Russell Parker, Birmingham Rugby League Community Sports Coach.
Email: russell.parker@bcu.ac.uk  Mobile: 07854637505

Birmingham Bulldogs are “CLUBMARK” Accredited. All Club Coaches are police checked.

Building on the rapid growth in playing numbers seen in the Midlands region over the last few years, UK-based Engage Super League clubs will be paired with a specific club to help grow their junior teams in time for the Midlands summer season.

RFL Community Partnership Manager, Chris Thair said:  “Unlike their counterparts in the Rugby League heartland, few community clubs in the Midlands benefit from the profile and community work from a local professional club.

“We are grateful to the Engage Super League Clubs and their partner Foundations, who run the community work on the clubs’ behalf, for agreeing to assist the clubs in the Midlands who don’t have a professional club on their doorstep.

“Many Engage Super League clubs have already formed rewarding partnerships with clubs many miles from where they are located and we hope to replicate this as a collective body.”

RFL Midlands Regional Manager David Butler added: “This will provide a huge boost to clubs in the region by helping them recruit and retain players in readiness for the new season and supporting the invaluable work of the Midland based coaches and volunteers.

“Engage Super League has huge nationwide appeal and we will work together in harnessing that power for the benefit of all.”

The partnerships will see Super League community staff and possibly players spend time with their partner club in places such as Nottingham, Coventry, Birmingham, Telford and Northampton. This will build upon the already strong number of full-time staff in the Midlands, brought about by the RFL’s Whole Sport Plan.
All Engage Super League clubs now deliver community programmes through their partner charitable foundations such as the Wolves Foundation at Warrington.

Many have won numerous awards for their pioneering efforts and work closely with the club in deploying players into schools and community events. The Heads of the Foundations agreed to deliver the programme in 2010 and Super League chief executives recently ratified the decision.

In addition to widening the pool of Rugby League talent across the region, the plans will also give Engage Super League clubs the opportunity to run their eye over some potential elite players.

“The signing of former Leicester Phoenix and Bristol Sonics player Michael Coady by Leeds Rhinos shows that there are talented players out there who can play our game at the top level” said Butler.

“This programme will give all those players without a professional Rugby League Club on their doorstep an opportunity to get to the top of our game.”

Bulldogs are now waiting to see which famous name is to be their partner

For further information, please contact
Russell Parker
Birmingham Rugby League Community Sports Coach

Mobile: 07854 637505
Email: russell.parker@bcu.ac.uk

Venue: Aston Old Edwardians RUFC, Perry Common, Birmingham B44 0HP

Competition: Rugby League Champion Schools – Birmingham Finals

Carnegie Champion Schools Rugby League West Midlands Semi-Finals

Kingsbury School made their way into the Year 9 (13/14 Years Old) West Midlands Final with An emphatic 42 points to 14 victory over Wrockwardine Wood from Telford.

Leading the scorers was Simbre who crossed for no fewer than six tries; behind him with a hat-trick was Nashwan whose scoring efforts were complemented by a tackling stint that his coach, Russell Parker described as “awesome”.

Kingsbury’s opponents in the final have yet to be determined, but will be from Redditch or Coventry.

No similar success, alas, for the Birmingham Year 10 Champs Bishop Challoner, from King’s Heath, who came up against a powerful and well-drilled side in Coventry’s Stoke Park.

The Birmingham side gave their all in a highly competitive and entertaining match, with two tries for Ryan Slevin and one for Niall O’Reilly in a 14 points to 24 defeat.

For more information on schools rugby league in Birmingham, please contact

Russell Parker

Birmingham Rugby League Community Sports Coach

Birmingham Bulldogs Director of Junior Rugby

Mobile: 07854 637505

Email: russell.parker@bcu.ac.uk

West Midlands Champion Schools Semi Finals Results

Year 9 *

Kingsbury (Birmingham) 42 - 14 Wrockwardine Wood (Telford)

6T Simbre                                    2T Jason Farmer

3T Nashwan                                 1T Tom Edwards

1T Dwayne Anderson                    1G

1G

Year 10

Bishop Challoner (Birmingham) 14 - 24 Stoke Park (Coventry)

2T Ryan Slevin                                         2T Connor Slater

1T Niall O’Reilly                                         1T Joe Foreman

1G                                                          1T Steve Allen

1T Andy Bolton

2G

*Photo: The victorious Kingsbury side applaud their opponents at the end of the match