South Wales Scorpions

The South Wales Scorpions, known as the South Wales Ironmen in 2017, were a semi-professional rugby league club based in South Wales. They played in the third tier of the British rugby league system (currently known as League 1) between 2010 and 2017. The team initially played at The Gnoll in Neath, before spells at Caerphilly, Mountain Ash, Maesteg, and Merthyr Tydfil.

South Wales
Club information
Full nameSouth Wales Scorpions
Colours
Founded2009
Exited2017
Websiteironmenrl.wales
Former details
CompetitionLeague 1
2017 season15th
Records
Premierships0
Runners-up0
Minor premierships0
Wooden spoons2 (2014, 2015)
Most capped111 – Ashley Bateman[1]
Highest points scorer282 – Paul Emanuelli[1]

Under new ownership, the club relocated to Llanelli effective immediately in July 2017. The following season, they began competing as West Wales Raiders.[2]

History

In December 2009, South Wales RLFC was admitted into Championship One for the 2010 season. This followed the relocation of Super League club Crusaders RL from Bridgend to Wrexham.[3][4] The Scorpions moniker was announced on 22 December.[5]

Wales Rugby League agreed to take over the running of the Scorpions for the 2014 season after club owner Phil Davies decided to step down.

In 2014, the Scorpions played at Llynfi Road in Maesteg.[6] The club relocated the following year, to Parc Dyffryn Pennar in Mountain Ash, which also served as a training ground.[7] In 2016, the team played at Virginia Park in Caerphilly.[8]

The club was renamed South Wales Ironmen for the 2017 season, coinciding with their move to The Wern, Merthyr Tydfil.[9]

In July 2017, the club was bought by Andrew Thorne, owner of amateur club West Wales Raiders. The Scorpions began using Llanelli's Stebonheath Park as their home ground for the remainder of the season. The club were rebranded as the West Wales Raiders and remained in League 1 in 2018 - and, as such, the Raiders can be regarded as a continuation of the Ironmen club, and their previous incarnation the South Wales Scorpions.[2]

Seasons
See also: West Wales Raiders § Seasons
Season League Challenge Cup
PWDLFAPtsPosPlay-offs
2010 20901157646834 6th Lost in Elimination play-offs R3
2011 20601453667422 8th Did not qualify R3
2012 18401436568016 9th Did not qualify R4
2013 16501136850419 8th Did not qualify R3
2014 19201729877810 9th Did not qualify R3
2015 22102127411222 14th Did not qualify R3
2016 1410131765822 13th Did not qualify R3
2017 1510142126542 15th Did not qualify R3

References
  1. "South Wales Scorpions". wrl.wales. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  2. "New owners for South Wales Ironmen". Wales Rugby League. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017.
  3. "South Wales club to join Championship One". Rugby Football League. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  4. "New rugby league club South Wales gets the green light". BBC. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  5. "South Wales Scorpions are named". Love Rugby League. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  6. "South Wales Scorpions Relocate to Maesteg". Wales Online. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  7. Golden, Ian (1 October 2014). "Scorpions move to Mountain Ash". scorpionsrl.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  8. "South Wales Scorpions move to Caerphilly". Wales Online. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  9. "Rugby League: Scorpions to rebrand as South Wales Ironmen and move to Merthyr Tydfil". Caerphilly Observer. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
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