WELCOME to the 13th Edition of ‘League Leader’, the newsletter of the Student Rugby League Alumni. There is no mistaking the excitement in the student game as the fifth World Cup tournament kicks off on October 3rd. Accordingly, this will be a slightly different ‘League Leader’ as the edition will focus extensively on this highlight in the student international calendar, informing you of where to go to experience the very best of international Student Rugby League. Whilst I have had to remove a number of regular features from ‘League Leader’ this time (rest assured, they will be back in ‘League Leader’ 14!!), there is still sufficient information, news and comment from the game to keep you all happy! I hope so, anyway! Happy reading!!

EDITORIAL

Whilst in Student Rugby League in the past months, our minds have been pre-occupied with World Cup matters, there is so much going on in the game that cannot be ignored, particularly as some recent developments will impinge extensively - and critically - on the future path of the game of rugby league at all levels. ‘League Leader’ 13 will again attempt to touch on the reality of the global game whilst recognising the increasing impact being made by our principal concern, Student Rugby League.

Rugby League in Great Britain and Ireland - the future Rugby league has for a long time had a reputation for being innovative and adventurous. Whilst this may sometimes conflict with those that are more resistant to change and an image of the sport as being ‘traditional’ in orientation, it is nevertheless a reflection of our seemingly continuous desire to metamorphose! Whether all changes are desirable or not is, of course, very much open to debate, but recent moves to change Super League have led to many comments on whether changes need to be made again so soon.

Let us note some of the recent developments.

• Firstly, the future of our game and that of rugby union has - and continues to be - the subject of a major investigation launched by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the House of Commons. Whilst the relationship between the two rugby sports has long been a source of debate and controversy, the investigation also has the remit to look at more modern issues, such as the relationship between Super League (Europe) Limited (SLE) and the Rugby Football League (RFL), and the current state of youth and stadia development and the financial situation affecting both rugby league and rugby union. Such an investigation should make fascinating reading!
• · In accordance with this official parliamentary look at the organisational structure of rugby league, it is pertinent to examine how major organisations within the game function and how they relate to one another. This has always been a major issue within rugby league, and the changing power balances and levels of co-operation and conflict have not only provided a rich source of study for rugby league historians and sociologists, but also, on a more practical level, have effected how people working within the game - both professionally and on an amateur basis - have managed to operate. To give just one example here, those of us who have been involved in the game in development regions have in the past had to face the issue of who exactly to turn to for guidance and assistance. Recent changes resulting in a more harmonious relationship between the RFL and BARLA, for example, have been more than welcome. A definite division of labour between SLE and the RFL and a framework through which they operate individually and collectively has also been demonstrated, even though questions had been asked by the All-Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group. BARLA have recently incorporated the Irish game into their title (in line with a general trend of incorporation in other rugby league organisations, including the SRL), and as readers of Gus Dinn’s piece in the last ‘League Leader’ will have noted, have a new focus for their future functioning.
• · Arguably, there is no more controversial topic in rugby league than that of ‘mergers’, and yet they are again very much to the fore of future strategic thinking within Super League. In Australia we have already witnessed the merger of St George and Illawarra, and two of the most traditional clubs, Balmain and Western Suburbs will soon also be coming together. Interestingly enough, this move proved to be tremendously popular within the two clubs themselves. In this country, the need to apply for Super League franchises in the future may lead some clubs to look more closely at this option, but this is not likely to be a trouble-free process. The thought of the two Hull clubs coming together may appear logical to many, but certainly not to many die-hard Sharks and Rovers fans on Humberside! We must also consider the possibility of future franchise bids coming from outside the traditional rugby league heartlands, and after the success of the two recent ‘On the Road’ fixtures, what price future Leicester and Scottish Super League clubs? And what about Wales? I, for one, would certainly welcome franchise applications from areas such as these to further a rugby league nationalisation process, but, of course, every application must be examined critically and carefully not only for their possible immediate impact, but, more importantly, their long term potential.
• · The Northern Ford Premiership (NFP) has opted to move to a partial return to winter, with the season now running from December to July - the rationale being that summer rugby has not entirely been advantageous at this level and that such a move will open up new possibilities and increase the chance of attracting more spectators. The possibility of a future relationship with the Rugby League Conference has been put forward in some quarters, and some may see such a season shift as being detrimental to this possibility. I would argue that whereas the Rugby League Conference obviously needs to address the future development of their clubs, such talk of a Third Division and a more formal link up with the NFP at this stage is surely too soon. Don’t forget that RLC clubs are still in their infancy, still finding their feet in a development league and still addressing the teething problems of all new clubs. To talk of them and the NFP coming together in the short term is, in my view, sending out too optimistic and adventurous messages. The long term, yes, we need to look at ways of incorporation and of channels through which ambitious amateur clubs from all areas can progress into the professional game, but this process must be carefully looked at and nurtured. In the meantime, the link between the NFP and Super League is also on the agenda for both organisations. Clubs such as Widnes, Hull KR, Leigh, Dewsbury and my beloved Hunslet are all battling to come out on top on the pitch this year. However, perhaps the more important battles affecting their future will take place off it?

This final thought is perhaps the most pertinent one of all when all things are said and done. The importance of the boardroom and negotiating table has arguably increased, and maybe this is one of the most significant examples of ‘change’ in modern rugby league.

Of course, to be successful in the long term at all levels of international rugby league, we need to ensure that there is a continual production line of young talent progressing through the ranks to the ultimate stage, the open age team, be it at amateur level or professionally. This inevitably means that we have to nurture successful schoolboys and girls. The August edition of ‘Rugby League World’ highlighted the current situation at both Salford and London and it was thought-provoking reading. Despite the differences in rugby league history and tradition between the two, both areas were basically confronted by the same issue - developing a rugby league culture in difficult circumstances. Development Officers and teams in both areas are obviously working tremendously hard to develop the game and there are signs of a positive future. However, consider that this basic problem of ‘culture’ is one that is also being addressed by the Rugby League Conference, for example, and no doubt by other development leagues, and you are confronted with an issue that is very wide in nature, and obviously of great significance. Super League clubs at the elite end of our game, and those clubs working in development regions might differ enormously with respect to the resources at their disposal, but both are endeavouring to make the same breakthrough - immersing young players in schools with rugby league, offering them opportunities to play the game in the hope that they will make the sport their priority in terms of their sporting development. It is vital that we all work together on this. The future of our sport, and the future success of our international teams will depend on it.

Referees
If there is one subject that I am almost certain that most people in rugby league will have an opinion on, it is referees! The old adage that the best referees are always in the stand or on the sidelines is one of those most frequent ones in our game, and, I presume, in others. However, recently, it appears that debates concerning referees are becoming more frequent, or am I too, becoming preoccupied with the actions of those in the middle? The debate probably came to the fore after the sending off of Adrian Morley of Leeds within the first two minutes of the game against St Helens, and the non-sending off of Stuart Spruce 48 hours later after an alleged ‘tripping’ incident involving Danny Orr of Castleford. Of course, everyone has an opinion at the time when you see incidents such as these, and quite often, I’m sure, when we all sit down and look at them more dispassionately and objectively, we modify our opinion accordingly!

It often amazes me how much referees get right, rather than how much they get wrong. Consider the speed of modern rugby league and the sheer number of decisions that have to be made during the course of 80 minutes. At every single play-the-ball, the referee has got to make a decision on the basis of a number of possible infringements. Referees at Super League level do get the assistance of technology and at elite levels also of qualified touch judges and in-goal assistants, but at the very top of the game, they have to cope with a lot of pressure brought on by the high expectancy and stakes. It often bemuses me why a decision to go for the video screen option is received by boos. The video option brings with it the higher likelihood of the correct decision being made, and surely it is right that we use technology in order to get the right outcome? I also think that it is testament to the quality of referees that we have in rugby league that more often than not the opinion of the referee in the middle as to what has happened at the time is verified by the video referee. This is borne out, of course, by the technology that ensures that we can hear referees comments watching the game on television.

Referees in rugby league do get a lot of stick, but they also get a lot of respect from the players, and that is something very valuable that we should treasure. In our game, of course, we do have recourse to taking action when a player exceeds what is acceptable verbally, and again that is something to be valued. At a time when the game is reaching out to new audiences and more and more new players are being attracted to playing rugby league, it is my considered opinion that rugby league referees are one of our game’s assets. And I’m not just saying that because I referee the odd student match!! To anyone that wants to knock referees incessantly, I say, get yourself on a referees coaching course and get out on the pitch yourself! It’s not an easy job, but it is one that can bring a lot of pleasure, pride and satisfaction. If you have ever thought about refereeing, now is the time to do something about it!

A glimpse at the past
As a reader of ‘Rugby Leaguer’, I’d like to offer my congratulations and best wishes to the publication on it’s fiftieth birthday, and to thank them for their excellent coverage of Student Rugby League. The birthday edition included a copy of the very first ‘Rugby Leaguer’, dated Thursday 11th August 1949, and it made very interesting reading. There have been so many developments in rugby league and changes to the game over the last fifty years, and the edition gave us some vivid - and in some cases, emotional - reminders of this fact. A glance at the league table from the previous season, for example, showed Barrow, Batley, Workington and Swinton in the top half, and also included Belle Vue and Liverpool Stanley. Indeed, a report on the Liverpool club highlighted the battle against adversity experienced by the club and its supporters at the time, a battle that had already seen the club move from Wigan Highfield to London Highfield to Merseyside. For me, personally, it was very interesting to note that Parkside, spiritual home of Hunslet, was to experience ground development that would lead to a capacity of between 30,000 and 40,000 fans. The Parkside ground, is, sadly, no more.

However, equally revealing, were indications that perhaps other things haven’t changed so much at all. Wigan were a dominant force in the game at the time, alongside Huddersfield and Warrington. A report on Humberside’s big two revealed question marks over the future of Hull and Hull KR following the recent success of Hull City FC, and mentioned again the issue of merger! Interesting, eh? The report did give an optimistic view of the two rugby league clubs future fortunes, but the possibility of one professional rugby league club in the city is obviously not solely a modern bone of contention. There were also reports on attempts to develop the game in Wales, mentioning the staging of “touring games”, obviously an attempt at the time to further enthusiasm for the game in Welsh rugby union supporters, akin to modern day World Cup fixtures at Ninian Park and Vetch Field, and Super League ‘On the Road’. It was also interesting to note the comparisons that were being made then with the game in the past, something of an inevitability at whatever stage of history one is currently experiencing.

My particular favourite was the report on refereeing signals, bearing in mind my earlier editorial piece. Officials at a conference in Huddersfield had approved the adoption of a whole series of new signals (e.g. for ‘“knock on” and “stiff arm tackle” ), aimed at providing a guide to the paying spectator. The concern with clarity and the need to avoid confusion and, probably, consequent barracking of the referee, was truly evident. And now we have the video screen and walkie-talkies! That’s development, rugby league style!!

Hunslet Corner
I have a feeling that nerves are going to play a big part in my rugby league end of season as far as Hunslet are concerned. A narrow victory over York Wasps that included a hattrick of drop goals by Latham Tawhai, was followed by a narrow defeat against Dewsbury Rams, but such is the nature of the Northern Ford Premiership (NFP) at the moment that defeats such as this could prove costly. There are a number of teams competing for the top spot that are all capable of taking points off each other and that makes compelling viewing, but it’s not good for the nerves!! It’s all set for a big end to the season, and victory in the NFP Grand Final would be so sweet, especially as the Final will be played at Headingley!

Congratulations
I’d like to offer my congratulations to a number of individuals at the Luton University club. Firstly, to Alex Knight and Nikki Hudson on their inclusion in the full Great Britain and Ireland Women’s Training Squad, and secondly, to Matt Thomas on joining the London Broncos Academy. These are fantastic achievements and are testament to the tremendous advancements made at Luton. It is also worth mentioning that all three are from non-traditional rugby league areas. Alex is from Nottingham, Nikki from Brighton and Matt from Devon. It just shows what can be done, and what a rugby league education you can receive in Student Rugby League.

“The Championship’s Coming South” The Story of St Mary’s RLFC
by Gavin Gordon
“ I doubt we’ll win tomorrow, but at least we’ll have a good night at the Student Union after the game” were the words made out only by a few of us (we’ll put it down to a little too much to drink), the night before a few of our boys made their debut for the University. The fact was that for the entire existence of our ‘humble’ club, we were a drinking team that took a very large back seat to our union boys. Despite the 1996/97 result against Crewe & Alsager, perhaps the club’s biggest scalp to that date, the real emergence of Simms RLFC was to begin the night before our away game against Oxford, around Christmas time two seasons ago. Sat at the back of the Red Lion pub in Teddington, Mark Barry and Mark Elwood were being persuaded by Rob Critchley (captain and coach at that stage) to play for the league boys instead of playing in the union game which kicked off at the same time the next day. A bunch of the new players to experience Student Rugby League for the first time the next day were unaware that from that game onwards, we were to gain in strength and depth and put in displays that we now look back on with distinct amazement. Messrs Barry and Elwood decided to play for us, and the team was to also have a London Broncos feel about it with George Danchie and Gavin Gordon deciding to give it a go. Having expected a closer game with the inclusion of these players, we were to sample the sweet, sweet taste of a 48-12 victory. From that day on it’s fair to say our ‘wee’ club has not looked back. By the end of the season, we finished in the top three and had somehow made it to the semi-final of the BUSA Cup. That particular game (against UWIC) was one of the most competitive and incident packed games any of the St Mary’s players had played in. Matt Salter (London Broncos), who studied for a brief spell at the University, played for us that day. He was the difference between the two sides, but had to leave the field when he sustained a broken nose. Level at full time, it took a last second drop goal at the end of extra time, from Great Britain Students loose forward James Lynch to seal a victory for UWIC, and end a game that those who played in it still talk about over a few pints. On the way to that semi-final was an away quarter-final against John Moores. To say the least, we honestly expected to get hammered 100-0 by them. In reality, one hour before the kick off, a rousing speech from both Critchley and Danchie sank deep into the ‘blue and white’ hearts, and a performance that is up there with the biggest of underdog upsets was produced, St Mary’s running out 28-15 winners after being 15-0 down at half-time.

And so with last season came excitement, anticipation and above all, expectancy to win the South 1 League. You wouldn’t have thought St Mary’s were only in South 1 (no disrespect to all the other sides in that league). Putting together a string of results ranging from 40-0 to 80-0, we now had a nucleus on which a devastatingly dynamic and resilient side was based. Up front for the majority of the season, we had former London Broncos Academy skipper, George Danchie, making the hard yards at crucial times to lift the team. Up and coming England Students hopefuls Joe Gomez and hooker Tim Lucas were always there when it mattered for the team, and near the end of the season, Andy Kennedy was plucked from obscurity to become one of the strongest and most committed players in the squad. In the backs, the squad was spoiled for riches, particularly in the half-backs where Great Britain South Students scrum-half, Stu Denyer, and Ireland full international, Gavin Gordon, bossed the show all season, accumulating an unprecedented 34 tries between them. Add to the playmakers the likes of Gerry Tyrrell (centre), Martin Lynskey (full-back) and captain Declan Nash (winger), and it is hard to believe that we were a University team rather than a representative side.

The hard work put in last year, both on and off the field, one should say, paid off when the Simms boys made it to the final play-off game against Leeds University, after close encounters with other National League hopefuls including a titanic game against a very strong and determined Cheltenham side. Yet, throughout the past season, although we had risen from humble beginnings, there was that feeling amongst us that, even if things got to the point whereby we would be sweating on getting certain results, we knew that if and when the chance would come to catapult ourselves into the National League (and playing in that league for the first time in our history), we would prevail no matter who or what was in our way. That chance came against Leeds University, and we didn’t half take it!! A 44-12 win over the previous season’s Champions set us up to realise our dream, and next season can’t come soon enough.

With all but two left from last year’s squad, things are looking good at St Mary’s RLFC. Finally stepping out of the shadow cast upon us from our University’s predominantly ‘union’ background, St Mary’s is a University that many of the young Broncos players are now seriously thinking of attending, post A-level, as a way of playing a high standard of ‘footy’. The future is looking very, very good.

All that is left to say is that St Mary’s RLFC hopes to have sent out the message to the rest of the country’s national sides. We are not here to go straight back down, not by a long way. Our aims this coming season are to reach top four in the league, to win the cup (sounds a little optimistic? WATCH US PLAY), and to create as much interest in this great game here in the South - there is a rumour that our predicted first home match attendance will be substantially more than the recent crowds at the Broncos home games!

Finally, as a squad, we would like to thank everyone that believed we could do the impossible last year. Our supporters, 90% of whom are female (I’m not arguing), our sponsors should we find one - hint, hint, Niel Wood for giving us a hard time when we needed it, and the ‘League Leader’ for showing an interest in a bunch of roughnecks that made it against the odds

EDITOR: Thanks very much, Gavin, for your extremely interesting piece, which should prove heartening for all clubs in similar positions to St Mary’s. It just shows what can be done! I’m keen to include features from all clubs playing in this season’s Student Rugby League so that we can publicise the great developments being made in clubs across the country. Just put pen to paper, and send it down to me.