Post by England 3 Lions on Dec 21, 2008 1:28:31 GMT 10
'League's crusade doesn't worry us'
Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 08:00
Source: ThisIsSouthWales.co.uk
ANDREW Hore acknowledges the Ospreys are facing a potential battle for hearts and minds with the Celtic Crusaders — but is adamant they can win it.
Rugby league's latest incursion into Wales's union heartlands stepped up last week when a planning application was launched for a state-of-the-art stadium at Island Farm, Bridgend. It will house the Crusaders and include bars, suites for corporate hospitality and conferences; educational, recreational and community facilities; media suites; offices; a large indoor training facility and extensive car parking.
The 13-man code has tried to achieve lift-off before in Wales, only to eventually fall back to earth amid broken dreams.
But the situation is different this time because the Crusaders have been admitted to Super League, the pinnacle of the sport in Europe.
It means clubs of the calibre of Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors — rugby league's equivalent of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal — will be visiting Bridgend every other weekend, an area that hasn't staged any top-class professional sport since the demise of the Celtic Warriors.
Ah, the Warriors, still a sore point for many off junctions 35 and 36 of the M4.
They were the only team to defeat Wasps in the 2003-04 Heineken Cup. The London club bettered Perpignan, Gloucester, Munster and Toulouse, but fell at home to the Warriors.
The setback was avenged a week later, in front of a crowd of 10,000 at the Brewery Field, but the Warriors appeared to have put down a marker.
They finished fourth in that season's Celtic League, above the Ospreys and the Blues, but it proved to be their one and only campaign, a cull doing away with them and leaving more money and playing talent concentrated in the other four regions.
To their credit, the Ospreys have tried to fill the gap with a number of district and community initiatives.
And their efforts haven't been in vain.
Take a walk through Maesteg or Bridgend at any time and count the number of Ospreys jerseys. The numbers always exceed the shirts of the local semi-pro teams on display.
But the Crusaders will be an elite sporting team playing IN Bridgend. Supporters there will be expected to develop a sense of ownership, to see the rugby league outfit as their side.
That should be a concern not just for the Ospreys but for Welsh rugby generally because a rich vein of union talent has always been mined in Bridgend and Maesteg. Think JPR Williams, John Devereux, Mike Hall, Scott Gibbs, Gavin Henson, Lee Byrne, Gwyn Evans and Allan Bateman.
So how do the Ospreys view the situation? ''It's another sport offering opportunities to young people,'' said elite performance director Hore.
''There are plenty of options available to them today, lots of sports and leisure pursuits for them to consider taking up or supporting.
''At least rugby league is a sport and it is one that is played with an oval ball in hand.
''Clearly they will look to develop a following in Bridgend and they will want to show to people that their product is as strong as possible.
''For us, it is another challenge, another reason why we hope the Magners League will become more attractive in the seasons ahead with things like play-off finals and the top eight qualifying for Europe regardless of country.''
Hore continued: ''The Bridgend area is vital to the Ospreys.
''We have players from the area, like Gavin Henson and Lee Byrne, in our squad and our first ever captain, Scott Gibbs, was from Pencoed.
''We are also in the process of setting in place strategies for developing the game right across the region.
''At the Ospreys we are not sitting back and hoping things will happen. We are actively trying to grow the game in our area — and Bridgend and Maesteg are key parts of that.
''Rugby league versus rugby union isn't new. In New Zealand, certain Australian clubs are flying over not just young players but their families as well, with jobs and everything thrown in.
''You just have to make sure you have a top-quality product yourselves and keep working to develop and nurture your own sport.
''I think the Ospreys brand is quite strong. And we are going to back it up with a lot of hard work. Whatever challenges are ahead, we will be ready for them.''
Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 08:00
Source: ThisIsSouthWales.co.uk
ANDREW Hore acknowledges the Ospreys are facing a potential battle for hearts and minds with the Celtic Crusaders — but is adamant they can win it.
Rugby league's latest incursion into Wales's union heartlands stepped up last week when a planning application was launched for a state-of-the-art stadium at Island Farm, Bridgend. It will house the Crusaders and include bars, suites for corporate hospitality and conferences; educational, recreational and community facilities; media suites; offices; a large indoor training facility and extensive car parking.
The 13-man code has tried to achieve lift-off before in Wales, only to eventually fall back to earth amid broken dreams.
But the situation is different this time because the Crusaders have been admitted to Super League, the pinnacle of the sport in Europe.
It means clubs of the calibre of Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors — rugby league's equivalent of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal — will be visiting Bridgend every other weekend, an area that hasn't staged any top-class professional sport since the demise of the Celtic Warriors.
Ah, the Warriors, still a sore point for many off junctions 35 and 36 of the M4.
They were the only team to defeat Wasps in the 2003-04 Heineken Cup. The London club bettered Perpignan, Gloucester, Munster and Toulouse, but fell at home to the Warriors.
The setback was avenged a week later, in front of a crowd of 10,000 at the Brewery Field, but the Warriors appeared to have put down a marker.
They finished fourth in that season's Celtic League, above the Ospreys and the Blues, but it proved to be their one and only campaign, a cull doing away with them and leaving more money and playing talent concentrated in the other four regions.
To their credit, the Ospreys have tried to fill the gap with a number of district and community initiatives.
And their efforts haven't been in vain.
Take a walk through Maesteg or Bridgend at any time and count the number of Ospreys jerseys. The numbers always exceed the shirts of the local semi-pro teams on display.
But the Crusaders will be an elite sporting team playing IN Bridgend. Supporters there will be expected to develop a sense of ownership, to see the rugby league outfit as their side.
That should be a concern not just for the Ospreys but for Welsh rugby generally because a rich vein of union talent has always been mined in Bridgend and Maesteg. Think JPR Williams, John Devereux, Mike Hall, Scott Gibbs, Gavin Henson, Lee Byrne, Gwyn Evans and Allan Bateman.
So how do the Ospreys view the situation? ''It's another sport offering opportunities to young people,'' said elite performance director Hore.
''There are plenty of options available to them today, lots of sports and leisure pursuits for them to consider taking up or supporting.
''At least rugby league is a sport and it is one that is played with an oval ball in hand.
''Clearly they will look to develop a following in Bridgend and they will want to show to people that their product is as strong as possible.
''For us, it is another challenge, another reason why we hope the Magners League will become more attractive in the seasons ahead with things like play-off finals and the top eight qualifying for Europe regardless of country.''
Hore continued: ''The Bridgend area is vital to the Ospreys.
''We have players from the area, like Gavin Henson and Lee Byrne, in our squad and our first ever captain, Scott Gibbs, was from Pencoed.
''We are also in the process of setting in place strategies for developing the game right across the region.
''At the Ospreys we are not sitting back and hoping things will happen. We are actively trying to grow the game in our area — and Bridgend and Maesteg are key parts of that.
''Rugby league versus rugby union isn't new. In New Zealand, certain Australian clubs are flying over not just young players but their families as well, with jobs and everything thrown in.
''You just have to make sure you have a top-quality product yourselves and keep working to develop and nurture your own sport.
''I think the Ospreys brand is quite strong. And we are going to back it up with a lot of hard work. Whatever challenges are ahead, we will be ready for them.''
