Young Scorpions join French club

Two of South Wales Scorpions’ young first team squad members have agreed to join French Elite 2 side La Reole XIII until the end of their season.

Full-back Ben Jones from Bridgend and hooker Zak Williams from Monmouth, both aged 18, have only just joined the Scorpions’ senior side following a successful rise through the South Wales junior ranks where they started at under 15 level.

They are both Wales under 16 and under 18 internationals, both represented Wales in the 2014 Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow helping the Dragons to bronze, and both graduated from the Wales Rugby League AASE Academy late last year.

La Réole is based near Bordeaux and they are just entering the second phase of their 2014-15 season where they are in a mini league alongside Carpentras, Lyon-Villeurbanne and Réalmont. This level of rugby is similar to League 1 in the UK and the two Welsh youngsters will be available for selection for the six games until the regular season ends on March 22nd, a fortnight before the Scorpions’ Kingstone Press League 1 season starts, and any end of season play-offs. 

The lads travel to France this Wednesday and will both be available for selection for La Réole’s away match at Lyon-Villeurbanne this Sunday. La Réole were promoted to Elite 2 as LN1 champions last year.

Scorpions’ coach Mike Grady said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Ben and Zak to play competitive first team Rugby League for the next couple of months. I’ve played in France and the Rugby League there is very competitive at every level. They’ll have a tough time and they’ll come back better players for it which can only help the Scorpions and Rugby League in Wales. I wish them the very best.”