Scorpions sign two
The South Wales Scorpions have strengthened their squad after completing the signings of two Welsh players.
The League 1 club have signed Tom Ansen from the Brigend Blue Bulls and Loren Quick.
Ansen is the first player to join the Scorpions since the two clubs officially linked up earlier this year.
The 24-year old, who can play at centre, second-row or prop, scored two tries in Bridgend’s 34-30 Welsh grand final win over Aber Valley Wolves last year and was then selected in the Wales Dragonhearts initial training squad.
Last year was his first in Rugby League. He had previously played rugby union for Pyle RFC where he was a proven try-scorer.
“I’m over the moon to have been taken on by South Wales Scorpions,” Ansen said.
“When I started Rugby League a year ago I wanted to go as far as I can, so I’m already pleased to have scored in a Grand Final and now been taken on by our professional side here in South Wales.”
<aking a return to Rugby League is Quick, who was in the original South Wales Scorpions squad as an 19-year old in 2010, but only made friendly match appearances.
The 25-year old second-row forward was originally discovered by Celtic Crusaders when playing for local rugby union side Rumney and was drafted into their Under-18s side following an open trial, ending up as top scorer in their 2008-09 National Youth League championship winning season.
While stlll only 18, he went on to be a regular for the Crusaders in Super League reserves in 2009 and won caps for Wales and Great Britain at Under-18 level.
Following his initial spell at the Scorpions he spent a year with Warrington Wolves‘ Under-20s, playing against the Scorpions in a pre-season friendly, before returning to rugby union, playing for Glamorgan Wanderers then Rumney once again.
“I’ve been playing union since finishing at Warrington and doing my electrical apprenticeship,” Quick said.
“I’ve been looking to get back to League for a few years but the time wasn’t right. Now is perfect with work commitments so I wanted to give it another go.
“I feel I have a lot to give the club from what I’ve learned in the past. I’m really keen to get going.”
South Wales Scorpions director Marc Lovering is delighted to see two more local players join the squad.
“We believe that both have the ability to make the grade at League 1 level,” he said.
“We’re pleased that Loren has returned to Rugby League and we’re exceptionally delighted that Tom has signed as he’s the first player we’ve brought in from Bridgend Blue Bulls since our official partnership was launched.
“Tom is a player that we’ve been aware of for some time. We are in regular contact with Pat and Steve and the other guys down at Bridgend and they felt that he was more than ready.
“That was good enough for us to invite him up to training. The rest was down to him and he has done enough to impress coach Phil Carleton and earn himself a contract.
“If it doesn’t work out (and there’s no reason to think it won’t) then hopefully he’ll have enjoyed his time with us and return to the Bulls a better player. At least he will have given it a go and won’t have any regrets.
“That’s the type of relationship we are starting to build with our community clubs. They know their players better than anyone. If they think they have players ready for a crack at League 1 then we want them to be pushing them forward.
“It is a huge step up from Conference League South or the Welsh Conference but there are players in the Welsh community game capable of bridging that gap.
“With the obvious exception of our friends up in North Wales, the Scorpions are the only pathway into professional Rugby League in Wales and that’s not going to change anytime soon.
“We need to do our bit to promote the game as a whole in the region and help grow the community game, and we are working hard at that.
“We hope that more community sides start to take pleasure and satisfaction from seeing lads they have helped develop turn out for South Wales Scorpions and in some cases Wales. That’s our hope and the signs are encouraging.”