Wales Euro Champs : Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:16 pm  

Very happy welsh rugby League fan here.I know its nothing to right home about but its a step in the right directon with so many of the crusaders youngsters on show

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:27 pm  

Congratulations to Wales! Glad to see them winning some silverware. It's a beginning and from small beginnings mighty big things grow!

Pity about the lack of people there, though. What happened to the crowd?

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:28 pm  

No idea, the crowd was dire

Great performance though, very proud

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 11:08 pm  

Couldn't get any pre-match publicity.

Cardiff City v Swansea City in the round ball game.
Wlaes v New Zealand (lost as usual) in the other code.
30 years of anti-league bias from the Taffia media darlings.

We coulda played in the nude and wouldn't have got any press.

I texted into a local radio sports show (a station that actually SPONSORS Wales RL - and the Cru in 2010). They read the text, but not even one single comment on it. There, then gone.

If even our own SPONSORS ignore us, no wonder we couldn't get a crowd.

Oh we often get 15 seconds AFTER the match on local TV, but then that helps us not one jot with ticket sales.

Still, now we've got some silverware we might get 30 seconds after the 10 minute Wales v NZ feature tomorrow.

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 11:23 pm  

Grendel wrote:

Couldn't get any pre-match publicity.

Cardiff City v Swansea City in the round ball game.
Wlaes v New Zealand (lost as usual) in the other code.
30 years of anti-league bias from the Taffia media darlings.

We coulda played in the nude and wouldn't have got any press.

I texted into a local radio sports show (a station that actually SPONSORS Wales RL - and the Cru in 2010). They read the text, but not even one single comment on it. There, then gone.

If even our own SPONSORS ignore us, no wonder we couldn't get a crowd.

Oh we often get 15 seconds AFTER the match on local TV, but then that helps us not one jot with ticket sales.

Still, now we've got some silverware we might get 30 seconds after the 10 minute Wales v NZ feature tomorrow.

Welcome to the ' world of RL '

: Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:59 am  

Over the past few weeks I have been very impressed with the way that the Welsh side have performed.

Iestyn Harris must take great credit for getting a fairly inexperienced side to play in such a manner in a very short space of time.

As being part Welsh myself I am delighted to see so many young players coming through and this all bodes well for the future of the national side as well as the Crusaders.

I have been very impressed with our own (Warrington) Rhys Williams and he once again took his try well yesterday afternoon.

Well done Wales on winning the European Cup and let's hope they can keep on improving over the next few years.

: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:09 pm  

Just over 1600 were there yesterday, we had over 2,000 for Ireland and 3,000 for England, higher than all the other nations taking part. I think it would have helped if the comunication on the tournament itself and where and when all the teams were playing might have got more people going.

There was little to no coverage on Welsh TV and in the papers, reading the local paper today there were more pages on the aftermatch comments of the Wales RU manager and the local amateur Union clubs than there was on Wales RL Winning an important European trophy. Says it all really!

This is only the first year though. A tournament like this is long overdue on the international scene and it still meant alot to the fans and the players to win it. It should be the start of something good for Wales Rugby League , nationally and domestically.

: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:58 pm  

Grendel wrote:

Couldn't get any pre-match publicity.
Cardiff City v Swansea City in the round ball game.
Wlaes v New Zealand (lost as usual) in the other code.
30 years of anti-league bias from the Taffia media darlings.

Yes, I thought at the time the other code was playing, which certainly had an effect (I don't follow soccer so I had no idea about the other match). It was a real shame to see so few on the terraces. The previous game had at least attracted a decent crowd. That's not a criticism btw. It was just a shame. It was a good match, too, and I'm very glad the Welsh won. I would love to see RL really establish itself in Wales, with the punters as well as the players.

: Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:32 pm  

Saints, Bridgend is mid-way between Cardiff and Swansea (20 miles from each) and many of our supporters also support one of them. If a match clashes with that derby (they hate each other) we will always suffer.

However, the international didn't clash with either of the "big" matches.

Just the press ignored us.

They did however give us about a minute on the morning news on Monday.

Rest assured though that the incompetent useless cack that passes for a Welsh media will soon jump on board when Wales & the Cru get a bit more success.

: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:19 pm  

Gotta say, the young kids who played for wales, elliott kear, reece williams, lloyd white, ben flower, ash bateman etc look very good prospects for the future and if that future is with the crusaders then it augurs well for the south wales outfit.

well done