Rugby league New male and female teams launched in Bristol
RUGBY league is set to explode in the South West with the launch of a new team - Bristol All Golds.
The team will be based at the SGS Wise Stoke Gifford Stadium and have their sights firmly set on bringing professional rugby league to Bristol.
Alongside the male team, the club has also created The Golden Ferns, a new female side, which will be an integral part of the All Golds’ operation with equal billing to their male counterparts.
With a focus on youth development, Bristol All Golds have linked with South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) to provide exciting academy opportunities and a progression pathway to professional rugby. Joe David, CEO of Bristol All Golds and Kevin Hamblin, CEO of SGS College Group, made this agreement official last week with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
David said: “We are delighted to enter into partnership with one of the finest and most successful educational sporting organisations in the land. Discussions have been lengthy and detailed and conducted in a professional and cordial manner throughout. All our sides, both male and female, will now have access to quite outstanding training, matchday and office facilities.”
With a new rugby league academy launching at SGS College in September, Hamblin commented: “We are very excited to be linking with the Bristol All Golds. We pride ourselves on the quality and range of sport provision available to SGS learners and we are looking forward to developing our rugby league academy, raising the standard of rugby in the region and providing links into professional careers. We believe rugby league in the South West will tap into a significant talent pool. The college has successfully launched Bristol Flyers Basketball Club and Bristol Academy (now City) Women’s Football Club which are under the wing of Bristol Sport and are fully professional. We see rugby league having a similar opportunity, with the college providing the conveyor belt of talent for the club going forward.”
The All Golds will retain their well-established teams in Gloucester and grow their schools’ and community clubs’ rugby league development work
David added: “Bristolians have shown their appetite for rugby league when they attended in large numbers to watch the 2013 World Cup match between the United States of America and the Cook Islands, a superb encounter that was voted one of the games of the tournament.
“A major target is to now see the hosting of the Magic Weekend in the city and male and female international fixtures. Fans will enjoy the many delights of one of the country’s most historic and popular destinations.”
The whole concept has been strongly supported by the Rugby Football League who have advised throughout.
Chief executive officer, Ralph Rimmer said: “There have always been the rugby league embers of something potentially very special in the Bristol and Gloucester area and I am delighted to see that thanks to the energy and vision of chairman, Lionel Hurst, Kevin and now Joe, that the Bristol All Golds and The Golden Ferns will now emerge and proudly represent all of the pyramid that lies beneath. Those teams will also mark the historical importance to the sport of the area and we look forward to welcoming them both into the rugby league fold. “
We are delighted to enter into partnership with one of the finest and most successful educational sporting organisations in the land
SGS College is now taking enrolments for the higher education rugby league academy - to be known as SGS Bristol Academy All Golds - which will start in September 2021 and compete initially in the Western 1A division of the universities’ league. In addition, The Further Education Academy will aim to commence in September 2022.