Quartet handed Scorpions trial
South Wales Scorpions will be giving training opportunities to four players, who have turned out for Wales at various levels, following the club’s open trials on Sunday.
Tylan Mafi, Dan Crimmins, Christopher Strick and Izaac Duffy, who are all forwards, all impressed and will be joining the Scorpions from January, initially in a training capacity but they could be offered contracts if all goes well.
Mafi, aged 28, had a trial for Celtic Crusaders in 2006 and played in the club’s very first game, a friendly against Harlequins. However injury prevented his progress at the time and he has played well with Bridgend Blue Bulls since then. An international player for Tonga under 24 in rugby union and Wales Dragonhearts in Rugby League, he is the nephew of the former Warrington star Mateaki Mafi who was in the Tongan 1995 Rugby League World Cup squad.
Crimmins learned his Rugby League at Welsh Conference Premier side Newport Titans playing in their under 18 side and this year played for both Wales and Great Britain Community Lions at under 18 level taking on Australia under 18s on both occasions.
Duffy is a Wales Student international and starred for them this year when they won the Student Regional Championships. He plays for the famous UWIC university who have produced many top rugby League players in the past. He played rugby union for Christ College in Brecon where he was a prolific try scorer.
Strick is the second oldest out of the four, turning 26 in January. His most recent club is WRU Division One outfit Felinfoel but has played Rugby League in the past for the Royal Navy. He is a rugby union international at Wales under 16 and college level.
“We are really pleased to give these four players a chance,” said Scorpions coach Aled James. “We are looking forward to them joining the club when we return to extensive training in January and we hope that they’ll be good enough to earn a contract. They know that Championship 1 is a tough league and all know that they need to work hard for the new season.”