Latest news with #ColwynBay-based
Leader Live
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
North Wales Crusaders' coach is excited about the future
First team head coach Forster is to assume overall coaching responsibility for the player development pathways at the Colwyn Bay-based club, assisted by head of rugby Darren Morson. At the heart of the mission is the provision of a player pathway to the first-team alongside the establishment of a competitive women's team. Speaking about his additional responsibilities, Forster told CruCast: 'I'm just going to lead-up the programmes for the reserves, the under-18s trials, development squads and the women's team. 'So, obviously, there's a lot to do, but it's mainly me putting plans in place for them to succeed. 'So, the reserves need to be more stream-lined, it needs to be more in line with the first team. It needs to be more accessible for those players that are wanting to step up and, obviously, I've got to give them the platform to do that. 'So, we've got a good base right now, but there's a lot of work to do in terms of, obviously, pitches, participation numbers, fixtures. 'It just needs to be a bit more of a consistent programme. So, I'm going to get a reserves' head coach in. 'I'll ultimately get a women's head coach in eventually. That will be more looking towards, obviously, trying to get a women's team set up for next season and I think we've got about 40 applicants for an 18s' development squad, who will be trialling in the next month. 'So, probably bring a couple of additional development coaches in for that as well. So, it's more me overseeing things, putting structures and programmes in place for, obviously, then coaches to succeed and then once we're set up, that's the hard work done. 'But, obviously, just managing and overseeing things and making sure from the first team filtered right down to the 18s and the women's side, that we're all on the same programme. We're all doing the same thing as, obviously, North Wales Crusaders.' Following on from last week's 20-6 success over Dewsbury - when Pat Ah Van, Lloyd Roby, Olly Davies and Sam Wilde shared the tries - North Wales will sit out Sunday's action. Swinton will move to within two points of the front-runners if they triumph at Dewsbury. Goole and Whitehaven entertain Keighley and Workington respectively, while Rochdale visit Newcastle.
Leader Live
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Crusaders boost their 2026 ranks with signing of Hatton
The current League One front-runners have bolstered their ranks with the signing of experienced Championship centre Jayden Hatton and he will join the Colwyn Bay-based club for the 2026 season. Hatton has enjoyed a hugely successful career in the second tier and he has played for Widnes, Swinton and Featherstone Rovers. Hatton, who can play both at centre and on the wing, is now with League One rivals Swinton Lions, who are second in the table. He has penned a one-year-deal and Hatton told the club's website: 'I'm really looking forward to joining Crusaders next year. 'They are an ambitious club who play some good rugby and have a really good project going. 'They are building something special which I can't wait to be a part of.' Head coach Carl Forster added: 'It's great to bring Jayden to the club. He's someone who I've admired for a long time now and as soon as we knew there was a chance to bring him to the club we acted on it. 'He's a strong carrier of the ball and knows his way to the try-line. 'He will bring some real strike to our edges and I'm really looking forward to working with him next season.'
Leader Live
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Impressive Oakley pens new North Wales Crusaders' deal
Head coach Carl Forster has been busy securing key players on new deals and the latest one of these to pledge their future to the Colwyn Bay-based club is Cole Oakley. The 24-year-old has agreed to pen a deal that will see him remaining at the Crusaders until the end of the 2027 season. Oakley told the club's website: 'I'm really happy to be here for another two years. 'We have a special group here and we can really go on to do something special. 'This is the most I've enjoyed my rugby, that's a credit to Foz (Forster) and the lads. 'It shows the togetherness we have as a team. I'm excited to keep pushing forward with the boys, there's big things ahead and I'm proud to be part of it.' Oakley began his career in the Super League and he went on to make his debut for the Warrington Wolves in 2020. After this, spells at the likes of Newcastle, Halifax and Hunslet followed, in addition to a loan spell at Crusaders in 2023. He signed for North Wales on a permanent basis in 2024 and since then, Oakley has made an impressive impact during his time with the club, cementing a regular spot in a team which currently sits at the top of League One. Head coach Forster added: 'Cole's a great retention for our club. He's cemented his spot in the 17 this season and it's good to see him getting consistent minutes and showing what he's about. He's been outstanding to date and what excites me is he's still young and keen to improve. 'To keep Cole at the club after such strong interest from Championship clubs, it shows what we are building here at Crusaders.' Crusaders will return to action for a big top-of-the-table showdown on July 6. Colwyn Bay's Stadiwm CSM will be the setting for the meeting with second-placed Workington Town.
Leader Live
23-04-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Informative visit to Water Treatment Works, Wrexham
MS for North Wales I MET with representatives of both the All-Wales Deaf Mental Health and Well-Being Group, a group of Deaf and hearing professionals and charities, and DSN (Deaf & Sensory Network), who provide the adult social care contracts to those in the Deaf Community in Wrexham and Flintshire, to discuss DSN's support for my campaign for a Mental Health Service for Deaf people in Wales and provide an update on my British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill. As Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Disability, I also met 'STAND North Wales (NW)' (Stronger Together for Additional Needs and Disabilities) for an update on their Petition to the Welsh Parliament Petitions Committee, 'Make Blue badge Applications Lifelong for individuals who have a lifelong diagnosis'; and discussion of other issues also creating barriers for the families they work with. I visited independent mental health charity Conwy Mind at their offices in Abergele, to see their work first-hand and to discuss the launch of their new mental health initiative that aims to break down barriers and make mental health support accessible to all - including Deaf and hard of hearing people, with both their CEO and Team members, and the CEO of Colwyn Bay-based COS (Centre of Sign-Sight-Sound). During an informative visit to water company Hafren Dyfrdwy's Llwyn Onn Water Treatment Works, Wrexham, I was given an overview of the site and the work their teams do, before going on a tour of the works. As Wales Species Champion for the endangered Curlew, It was a pleasure to join RSPB Cymru on a site visit to the Mynydd Hiraethog (Denbigh Moors) 'Important Curlew Area' (ICA) site to mark World Curlew Day, which was on April 21st – and to see a Curlew flying there! As a member of the campaign for Removal of Barriers Along the Flintshire Coastal Path, I joined campaigners for an update now that Flintshire County Council have committed to the review and removal of the barriers. The current situation contravenes both the UK Equality Act (2010) and the legal and policy frameworks of the Welsh Government and Flintshire County Council itself, and I have been working with disabled people and others across Flintshire for a decade, seeking to work with Flintshire County Council to remove all barriers along the Wales Coastal Path that are managed by the Council, allowing access for all. Other engagements included the Women's Rights Network vigil for the women of Afghanistan which took place at Queens Square in Wrexham. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
