College links up with new rugby league side

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A NEW rugby league side, the Bristol All Golds, is set to be formed, with their sights firmly set on bringing professional rugby league to Bristol.

The team will be based at the SGS Wise Stoke Gifford stadium and the club has also created the Golden Ferns, a female side 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 academy opportunities and a progression pathway to professional rugby.

Joe David, CEO of Bristol All Golds said: “We are delighted to enter into partnership with one of the most successful educational sporting organisations in the land.

“All our sides will have access to quite outstanding training, match day and office facilities.”

With a new rugby league academy launching at SGS College in September, Kevin Hamblin, CEO of SGS College Group added: “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 that 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.”

All Golds will retain their teams in Gloucester and grow their schools and community clubs development work

David said: “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 and the Cook Islands.

“A target is to now see the hosting of the Magic Weekend in the city. “

The concept has been supported by the Rugby Football League, whose chief executive Ralph Rimmer said: “There have always been the Rugby League embers of something potentially very special in the Bristol and Gloucester area.

“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 represent all of the pyramid that lies beneath.

SGS College is taking enrolments for the Higher Education Rugby League Academy - SGS Bristol Academy All Golds - which will start in September 2021 and compete initially in the Western 1A division of the Universities’ League.