West Wales Raiders

The West Wales Raiders are a semi-professional rugby league club based in Llanelli, Wales. They have competed in League 1, the third tier of the British rugby league system, since 2018.

West Wales Raiders
Club information
Full nameWest Wales Raiders Rugby League
Colours
Websiteraidersrugbyleague.co.uk
Current details
Ground(s)
CEOPeter Tiffin
ChairmanAndrew Thorne
CoachAshley Bateman
CaptainMorgan Evans
CompetitionLeague 1
2021 season10th
Uniforms
Home colours
Away colours
Records
Premierships0
Runners-up0
Minor premiership0
Wooden spoons3 (2018, 2019, 2021)

The club was founded in 2015 as an amateur club. In July 2017, owner Andrew Thorne bought League 1 club South Wales Ironmen, relocating them to Stebonheath Park in Llanelli. The Ironmen were renamed West Wales Raiders in 2018 and continue to play at Stebonheath Park.[1] They have been suggested as "the world’s worst rugby league team ever".[2]

History
West Wales Raiders Rugby League Football Club

In July 2017, West Wales Raiders owner Andrew Thorne bought League 1 club South Wales Ironmen. The Ironmen moved to Llanelli's Stebonheath Park effective immediately. The club was rebranded the West Wales Raiders in 2018 and remained in League 1.[1] The Raiders are considered a separate club by Wales Rugby League.

In April 2018, the club were on the receiving end of a record score and losing margin when they lost 0–144 to York, the previous highest scoring game was in November 1994 when Huddersfield beat Blackpool by 142–4, the losing margin was also equalled the next day in 1994 by Barrow who beat Nottingham City 138–0.

The West Wales Raiders Rugby League Club previously known as Raiders RL is the rugby league club[3] in West Wales formed in January 2015. They are based at Stebonheath Park in Llanelli.[4]

The West Wales Raiders finished the 2018 Betfred League 1 season winless and on negative points. The Rugby Football League imposed a four-point, retrospective deduction after the club pleaded guilty to breaching a number of Operational Rules regarding the fielding of ineligible players.[5]

The 2019 season saw the West Wales Raiders again finish at the foot of the table but a win was registered in a home match against Coventry Bears. In 2019 they played 20 league matches and won 1, lost 19. Scored a total of 222 points and conceded 1091. A points difference of minus 869. Average result 55 - 11. The average home crowd was 258.

In 2020 former Wales rugby union international Gavin Henson switched codes and signed for the Raiders.[6]

In the 2021 League 1 season, West Wales finished bottom of the table failing to win a single game for the entire year.[7]

2021 squad
West Wales Raiders 2021 Squad
First team squad Coaching staff
  • 23 Fraser Stroud – SH
  • 27 Morgan Allen – LF
  • 28 Eparama Francis Boginisoko – WG
  • 33 Jamie Murphy – CE
  • 19 Alan Pope – FB
  • 20 Ryan Shalish – SR
  • -- Sam Martin – PR
  • -- Jefeti Vakalalabure – WG
  • -- Michael Holden
  • -- Scott Gibson – SH
  • 31 Will Ramsey – FB
  • -- Harry Boots – PR
  • -- Jamie Laing – CE
  • -- Alex Hicken – PR
  • -- Archie Snook – SR, PR
  • 18 Charley Bodman – LF
  • -- Daniel Maiden – LF
  • -- Jordan Saunders – PR
  • -- Ieuan Badham – WG
  • -- Dai Evans – WG
  • -- Ewan Badham – PR
  • 30 Callum Mulkeen – SR, CE

Head coach

  • Aaron Wood

Assistant coaches

  • Wayne Ponting
  • Gareth Laugharne
Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice captain(s)

Updated: 20 April 2021
Source(s): 2021 Squad Numbers

2022 transfers

Gains

PlayerClubContractDate
Fergus SimpsonRed Star Belgrade1 YearNovember 2021
Luke BrosterEllenborough Rangers1 YearJanuary 2022[8]

Losses

playerClubContractDate
Will RamseyLondon Broncos1 YearOctober 2021
Charley BodminHunslet R.L.F.C.1 YearOctober 2021
Rowland KayeHunslet R.L.F.C.1 YearNovember 2021
Phil CowburnMidlands Hurricanes1 YearNovember 2021

Seasons
Season League Challenge Cup Other competitions Coach
PWDLFAPtsPosPlay-offs
2018 2600261762106−4 14th Did not qualify R3 Multiple[lower-alpha 1]
2019 20101922210912 11th Did not qualify R3 1895 CupR1 Kim Williams[11][12]
2020 League abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic R3 Aaron Wood[13]
2021 1801172389421 10th Did not qualify R3[lower-alpha 2] 1895 CupR1

Records
  • Biggest win:
44-16 v. Coventry Bears (at Llanelli, 20 July 2019)
  • Biggest defeat:
144-0 v. York City Knights (at Bootham Crescent, 29 April 2018)

Notes
  1. After head coach Jon Ellis was sacked on 2 May, Phil Carleton was named as interim coach.[9] Carleton left the club on 23 June, and was replaced by joint-head coaches Andrew Thorne, Steve Parry, and Morgan Evans (the latter two being player-coaches).[10]
  2. Officially round 1 due to the competitions temporary restructure in 2021.

References
  1. "New owners for South Wales Ironmen". Wales Rugby League. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017.
  2. "World's worst rugby league team?". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  3. "About". raidersrugbyleague.co.uk.
  4. "Wales Rugby League". walesrugbyleague.co.uk.
  5. "West Wales Raiders Deducted Four Points". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  6. Orders, Mark (19 September 2020). "Gavin Henson explains cross-code switch to rugby league". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  7. "Ben Flower to stay involved in rugby league as a coach". www.loverugbyleague.com. 9 October 2021.
  8. "Cumbria's Luke Broster signs 12-month West Wales Raiders contract". Cumbria Crack. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  9. "Jon Ellis: West Wales Raiders coach sacked after record 144-0 loss". BBC. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  10. Rowe, Katrina (28 June 2018). "Phil Carleton leaves West Wales Raiders". West Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  11. "Welsh appointment confirmed for Capras coach". qrl.com.au. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  12. Darbyshire, Drew (13 November 2019). "West Wales coach Kim Williams departs for Huddersfield". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  13. "West Wales Raiders appoint Aaron Wood as Head Coach". rugby-league.com. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
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