By Twm Owen
Gridiron’s post-season may be getting underway in America but January is about preparing for the year ahead for teams in Wales.
Both the South Wales Warriors, the only Welsh team competing in the British senior league, and the Cardiff Valkyries, the only women’s American Football team in Wales, are aiming to recruit new players this month and are hosting training sessions especially tailored for beginners.
The Valkyries are wasting no time in attempting to recruit women looking for a new challenge in 2018 by holding a taster session on Sunday, January 7 at the Roath Recreation Ground in Cardiff.
The club, which competes in a reduced seven V seven format of tackle football during the autumn and winter, and in non-contact flag football over the summer, say the session is open to any woman over 18, of all fitness levels, and will be an opportunity to try different positions and meet members of the team. It runs from 10.30am to 1pm and equipment is provided.
The Warriors are holding four open training sessions from Sunday, January 14 at locations across south Wales with the aim of bringing potential players up to speed by working with the club’s experienced coaches and current players.
Head coach Geraint Roberts said the club, which normally trains in Pontyclun and plays home games at nearby Llanharan Rugby Club, hopes holding the sessions in Merthyr Tydfi, Swansea, Newport and Cardiff will attract new players.
“This is the first time that we’ve tried this type of recruitment approach. It’s also the first time that we’ve taken the Warriors to these great new venues,” said Roberts of the sessions which will all be held on 3G surfaces at Merthyr RFC (Jan 14), Swansea’s Morriston Leisure Centre (Jan 21), the Newport Velodrome (Jan 28) and Cardiff International Sports Campus on Sunday, February 4.
“We want to encourage trialists to come along to try the sport, where previously distance may have been a barrier. We’re hoping to attract new players to the sport that previously may not have given it a go but as football is a sport for people of all shapes and sizes, there’s a position for everyone.”
Potential players are encouraged to attend as many of the open training sessions as they can said Roberts.
“These sessions are not basic trial days, they are training sessions where trialists will get the opportunity to experience structured individual and group training drills alongside new and experienced players.
“As such it is important that new players try and attend as many of these sessions as possible to give themselves the best experience possible.”
Following the open training sessions the Warriors will train every Sunday at Y Pant Comprehensive School, Pontyclun ahead of their British American Football Association National League season which will kick off in the spring.
More information is available on the South Wales Warriors Facebook page or the Cardiff Valkyries Facebook page.