Spotland Stadium will have an international feel to it tomorrow as ‘The UK Fijians RL’ have their first ever run out against the established and now ever impressive Rochdale Town Team (kick off 1pm).
The game will be seen as a warm up to the 2013 RL world cup in which Rochdale Council along with Link4Life, The Spotland Stadium Company and Rochdale Hornets successfully brought to the borough.
Rochdale has a long history with Fiji, with a number of natives signing for Rochdale Hornets in the 1960s and settling down in the town. Now Rochdale boasts the highest Fijian population in the UK outside of London, with players turning out for community teams Rochdale Mayfield and Rochdale Cobras.
The Town Team will see this as their chance to showcase themselves on the big stage after a close run game against Hornets in the Christmas period, which saw the amateurs lose out by just one score.
Aidan Gleeson (Rochdale Mayfield) captains the Town team with Tabua Cakacaka(Gateshead Thunder) taking the helm for the Fijians in a game everyone will expect to be a cracker.
Leon Ashworth, Town Team coach, commented ‘The Fijians will no doubt be a massive test for us. They will be strong, quick and big from 1 to 13 and will test us physically. We have had a good group of players who have been attending the prep sessions at Heywood over the last 10 days and we are in good shape to compete with them’
The coaching team of Ashworth (Mayfield) alongside Dave Ramsbottom (Cobras/Hornets) and Adam Browne (Littleborough) will have a difficult decision to make come selection, as over 20 players have made themselves available for the fixture from the boroughs 4 clubs. Duffy, West and Moores are available for selection again following recent performances for Hornets u23s.
Seven local players who normally play for local clubs and the Town Team are set to feature for the Fijians, testing club loyalties and friendships to the core. Fijian captain, Tabua Cakacaka, is hopeful of some high profile players to take there place alongside the Rochdale based Fijians. Interest has come from League and Union players in the professional and community ranks from Stoke, Catterick and Edinburgh amongst other places.
The main match sponsor is Jeff Stott and the official grog ritual and Fijian party will be at associate sponsor Flying Horse Hotel from 4pm. All monies raised from the game will go back into Rugby League Development within the borough, with a donation made to a cause of chosen by Fiji UK.
Rochdale Town Team Vs Fiji UK Spotland Stadium Sunday 22nd January 13:00 Kick Off Adults £3 Concessions £1
Joined: Jan 30 2005 Posts: 7152 Location: one day closer to death
BooBoo8 wrote:TOWN TEAM VS FIJI UK MATCH PREVIEW
Gutted I can't watch, it's sure to be an absolute belter - I'm darn sarf for an extended family birthday.
minato wrote:booboo your no way near that top division your get hammered every week, theres some real good sides there you should be division one you dont have the stardard of players for the top
I believe Cobras may have been put in the top division. Personally, I've no doubts they can compete at a high level even if they may not challenge for honours. BooBoo will correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I know their main issue isn't talent, it's consistency, and keeping the same lads turning out week in, week out.
Fortunately their Fijians like summer rugby.
Last edited by Cronus on Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Joined: Jan 30 2005 Posts: 7152 Location: one day closer to death
Very snazzy website. Take a look at who's playing Summer or Winter - I believe the NW Men's League hasn't been updated with the latest to switch though. Apparently 84% of teams (at all ages) have switched to summer.
Very snazzy website. Take a look at who's playing Summer or Winter - I believe the NW Men's League hasn't been updated with the latest to switch though. Apparently 84% of teams (at all ages) have switched to summer.
We only wanted to go in the premiership after winning last seasons regional GF we watched the premiership GF which looked a very doable level and going off the summer 2011 season we would automatically go up the top with promotion.
What we never (and no-one) knew was the high level of teams coming over from NWCs!!, believe me i Love or young little club but also know our limits (at this time).
The question do we stubbornly stick to the prem? we never said the prem we said put us with Hindley because although better than us we have competed with em in most games (im sure they will back this) and we thought they would would be top dog (going off last summer summer league) so we would be mid table. I now know the prem.....and were not ready for that.....YET!!!!
Thanks for the comments Cronus but even with our Fijian army thats a step too far!!!
Joined: Oct 20 2004 Posts: 5766 Location: Coventry
How come they put Cobras in premier even though it meant leaving out some NWCL Premier sides? Cobras are better than their old league of division 4 but not to the extent Hindley are. Probably would have been suited to a premier of the clubs from the interim league though I agree.
Joined: Oct 20 2004 Posts: 5766 Location: Coventry
The remaining winter sides:
Dalton Walney Central Wigan Bulldogs Shevington Sharks Bold Miners Albert Park Widnes Tigers West Bank Swans Rylands Westhoughton Irlam Hornets Langworthy Hollinwood Higginshaw.
Last edited by bowes on Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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