Latest news with #LondonBroncos
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wire half Leyland out for season with knee injury
Warrington Wolves half-back Oli Leyland will miss the remainder of the 2025 Super League season having suffered a serious knee 24-year-old joined the Wire ahead of this season from London Broncos after a breakthrough season for the Wimbledon-based club last has made five appearances this season and suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Friday's defeat by Hull KR."The club is right behind Oli and will support him with every step of his recovery," a club statement has found opportunities limited since Marc Sneyd's arrival at the club from Salford Red Devils this turned out for Widnes in a solitary appearance for the club in April and returned to the Wire to put in an impressive performance against Wigan Warriors at this month's Magic Weekend prior to his injury.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
A London club winning Super League? That's the vision for the new Broncos
When the most successful rugby league administrator in the country takes over one of its biggest underachievers and promptly gets the backing of major players in the Australian sports market, it's worth listening to his plans. Last week Gary Hetherington, who spent 29 years as chief executive of Leeds Rhinos, invited politicians, coaches, fans and players to the Australian High Commission to hear what he has in store for London Broncos. And he wants them all on board. Multi-club ownership has taken off in football and cricket, but the Dolphins or Canterbury Bulldogs are not about to buy London Broncos. Asked whether there are NRL clubs or directors in the new shareholder group, Hetherington said: 'No. But we've got extensive and good relationships with a number of NRL clubs so London could become a club that has an Australian flavour to it, as it has in the past. 'Hopefully the NRL, if they become involved in the administration of the game here, will see the value of London and the south. We've got to create a business that generates income, a marketing operation that sells itself. We need a shareholder group to invest in the club, new major sponsors and fans. It's going to take time.' With some NRL clubs having incomes over A$100m (£74m), they could come knocking. Australian management consultants Freshwater Strategy – who were behind the hugely successful NRL launch of Redcliffe Dolphins and are now working on the Perth Bears project - are driving the transformation from their new Mayfair base but admit they are learning about British sport on the hoof. Eyebrows were raised and brows furrowed when Hetheringron claimed the club could be in Super League next season. 'London has the potential to significantly increase its points by the end of the season with the investment in the organisation and staff. Other clubs don't as they are already at capacity.' However, the IMG grading points London gain for improving their finances will likely be wiped out by what they will lose in the fandom and performance categories, making it hard to leapfrog Toulouse or reach the magic 15 points needed for a guaranteed Super League place. 'Anything is possible,' said Rhodri Jones, the CEO of Rugby League Commercial. 'They're on 12.6 points at the moment and will need to get to nearly 14. If anybody could do that it's probably Gary.' Jones says the RFL has not yet held formal talks with prospective clubs who might replace Salford. 'The Salford thing needs to come to its natural point, which triggers those conversations, and that hasn't happened yet. I'd like to think a number of clubs will be saying: 'If we do A, B and C we'll be in a good position to be in Super League next season.'' Hetherington is also backing a plan to expand Super League to 14 clubs, which would see London pushing on an open door. It's an Australian-themed takeover, but London will not sign a phalanx of ageing NRL stars. 'There will be a strong Australian flavour, but predominantly through the fanbase,' said Mike Eccles, the club's director of rugby and current head coach. 'There may be a link with an Australian club on the horizon. We've spoken to a lot of clubs who are excited by where we are going, but you can only have seven quota spots. Bringing in seven 32-year-olds isn't the answer. They've had their careers. We need two or three motivated senior players who want to enjoy getting the best out of younger players, enthuse the group and fill them with confidence, and guys on their way up in their careers.' Once back in Super League, London could target NRL stars who have connections to the city, such as Gold Coast back AJ Brimson, whose mum is from Kingsbury, or South Sydney's rising star Jamie Humphreys, who played for Elmbridge Eagles and was part of Broncos academy as a teenager. 'A vision needs to be ambitious but realistic,' said Hetherington. 'We need a team that is successful, that can probably win Super League and compete in the World Club Challenge. We need to be ambassadors for the sport, attract major companies and a diverse population to sell out crowds.' The Broncos have not finished in the top half of Super League for 20 years, have lost 150 of their last 200 games in the top flight, and averaged 5,000 crowds just once in their 45-year history. Success used to be finishing mid-table, drawing 4,000 fans to Brentford or The Stoop and then going bust every five years. Not any more. 'That's not enough,' said Hetherington. 'Team success is important but we need a connection with the community, a coordinated strategic plan between the club, the RFL, RL Commercial and the London RL Foundation.' Londoners can watch world-class sport every weekend, so mediocrity doesn't sell. Attracting loyal crowds to anything that hasn't got deep multi-generational community roots is impossible. Only Harlequins and Saracens have cracked professional rugby in the capital, leaving behind half a dozen casualties. To succeed where others have failed – including Fulham FC, Brisbane Broncos, Richard Branson, future Wigan owner Ian Lenagan and oil magnate David Hughes – Hetherington has to unite league's fractured south-east community. 'My job is to make everyone feel part of a movement.' Under Hetherington's prudent leadership, Leeds Rhinos operated on a wage bill of £5.5m last year, the going rate for a major Super League club. To field a competitive team in Super League, London will need to spend £2m on players and the same on infrastructure. With top Championship teams spending up to £1m on players, Hetherington needs to find that first. Around £5m has been promised by investors in Australia but Hetherington himself does not have millions to spend. 'Everything is a funding issue,' said Eccles. 'If you pay money, you'll get people. Gary kept the club going in the last few months and I speak to him about what we need, but there's no shame in saying there's always been trepidation for people coming to London. When there's no certainty over the future, no one wants to go. This should help.' Given the club's problems have remained the same under four different names, do they even matter? 'That's a very good question,' said Hetherington. 'It's being researched at present and I think a new name, brand, image is probably important but that's a work in progress.' The Hundred took off despite most adults thinking its franchise names sounded abysmal. It's marketing, presentation and the fan experience that drives engagement. London have some advantages – hundreds of thousands of potential fans have been to games and know who the Broncos are – but few could tell you where they play or in what division. Playing in 10 different stadiums in 40 years hasn't helped, nor has playing home games at five different venues in the past year. Staying put and aiming to fill AFC Wimbledon's highly suitable Cherry Red Records Stadium seems sensible. A name change is probably worth the collateral damage. Follow No Helmets Required on Facebook
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Veteran Pitts signs new Wakefield contract
Veteran forward Jay Pitts has signed a new two-year contract to stay at Wakefield Trinity. The 35-year-old, who can play as either a second row or loose forward, will remain with Trinity until the end of the 2027 season. Pitts has been with the club since joining from London Broncos ahead of the 2020 season and has now played 150 games for them. "Both on and off the field, Jay's leadership is outstanding; he sets high standards for others to follow, and this consistency has been superb," head coach Daryl Powell told the club's website. Wakefield are sixth in Super League with seven wins from their 12 games.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Veteran Pitts signs new Wakefield contract
Veteran forward Jay Pitts has signed a new two-year contract to stay at Wakefield 35-year-old, who can play as either a second row or loose forward, will remain with Trinity until the end of the 2027 has been with the club since joining from London Broncos ahead of the 2020 season and has now played 150 games for them."Both on and off the field, Jay's leadership is outstanding; he sets high standards for others to follow, and this consistency has been superb," head coach Daryl Powell told the club's are sixth in Super League with seven wins from their 12 games.
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
‘I had no doubt that Christian Wade would make it as a rugby player'
When Jon Scourfield surprises Christian Wade at Kingsholm, Gloucester Rugby's ground, the former England wing almost jumps out of his skin before an enormous smile creases his face. Scourfield had been a rugby league player with the London Broncos and, after retiring, found his way to the Royal Grammar School, RGS High Wycombe which is where he came across the diminutive 11 year old Wade who even then was brimming with talent. 'I first saw him in year 7. He didn't want to play rugby. He thought of himself as a footballer,' Scourfield explains. 'I was doing some little 25m sprints at a games session and wow! He was beating everybody by five or 10m. If it hadn't been rugby it would have been athletics. 'Christian quickly bought into rugby despite his lack of size. I had no doubt that he had the potential to be a professional rugby player. 'He's brave in many ways, physically and in his willingness to step outside of comfort zones. To try to become an American footballer, to return to rugby and play for Racing in the top 14, switch to Gloucester and then make another switch to rugby league – well It says a lot about him. 'He always stood out. He can strike you as a bit laid-back but he has the capacity to work incredibly hard. I couldn't be any prouder of him – he is very humble.' The feeling is clearly reciprocated. 'When I first went to RGS I still wanted to play football, but that soon changed,' Wade explains. 'Mr Scourfield played a huge part in my rugby development and also my development as a human being. He was always there to support us. He taught us discipline and was a great mentor, always pushing.' Wade appreciates how his schooldays have helped to shape him in adult life. 'A lot of it was about instilling the discipline you need to succeed. I had that at school and at home – it was part of my Caribbean background. My mother's family had come over from St Vincent to better themselves, and that could only be achieved by hard work and discipline. 'They were strict and instilled a work ethic. The good habits from school and home, from an early age, become part of you. If you don't do the right things and work hard, if you take shortcuts in training, there is always going to be that voice in the back of your mind. It's important to always have that voice.' As a passionate advocate of spreading the rugby gospel beyond its traditional public school heartlands, Wade fully supports the Gallagher Touchline Academy, a free and easy-to-follow rugby programme designed to provide teachers with the skills and confidence to teach rugby. The programme has been created in partnership with Gallagher Premiership Rugby Clubs and will be rolled out in schools across the UK over the next three years. The initiative will empower teachers, helping them to deliver rugby lessons in schools, inspiring the next generation of players and fans. 'I want to be part of that movement to get rugby back into state schools. 'That is going to be huge. I know the impact good coaching at school had on me. I was one of the lucky ones who didn't have to pay for my education via the 11+, but not everybody is lucky and gets the quality of training. 'Learn the basics at school, get that enthusiasm for the game and then join the local club – you create great networks, friendships and camaraderie. 'As a youngster, boredom is your enemy. There aren't the youth clubs we used to have when I was young. When you are idle this is when mischievous stuff happens and issues develop, and we need to give kids some stuff to do. We need to give kids more opportunities to play rugby and sport in general.' Scourfield's teaching philosophy embraces all of that. 'You have to make it enjoyable. The physical aspect of rugby can be quite challenging for young year 7 pupils who have never experienced the game before. Enjoyment is the main thing though, if they have that they will continue into adulthood, whatever sport they choose. 'Rugby teaches so many life skills: respect for themselves, team-mates and opposition. I see students now that, without the discipline aspect of rugby, would find life a little bit harder.' From his own personal experience, Scourfield appreciates the need for rugby to spread its wings if it is to thrive. 'I am aware of the challenges. My job before RGS was introducing rugby and cricket at a comprehensive secondary school. If we can't get more players coming from a more diverse background, then the sport that changed my life is going to change and possibly even wither a bit. All the players coming from independent school backgrounds is not sustainable long-term. 'The reason I got into rugby was that a teacher tapped me on the back at my comprehensive and said, 'Come and give this sport a go.' In the end, rugby has given me a life. 'My message [to teachers] is to get involved, you will almost certainly really enjoy it. Be the coach who brings through the next Christian Wade!' Watch the moments that Ellis Genge, Christian Wade and Marcus Smith were surprised by their teachers and mentors. Gallagher is Right Here for Rugby and Right Here for Business – go to to see what Gallagher can do for you.
