Dallimore: ‘I wish I’d taken up league 10 years ago’

South Wales forward Neil Dallimore says he wishes he’d taken up rugby league ten years ago, after enjoying a brilliant start to his career in the 13-man game.

The 28-year old second row has played rugby union all his life and turned out for Welsh Premiership rugby union sides Caerphilly, Bedwas and Llanharan before switching to the 13-man game in January after attending the Scorpions’ open trial.

In May, after outstanding performances away from home against Gateshead Thunder and London Skolars where he scored two tries in each game, he was rewarded for his progress by being named in the Co-operative Championship 1 Team of the Month in Rugby League World magazine.

“It feels good to be named in the Team of the Month as I haven’t been playing rugby league that long,” said Dallimore. “I wish I had found rugby league ten years ago because I really enjoy the game. It’s faster, more physical and there’s a lot more skill involved, it’s my type of game.

“We had a really good month in May. We ran Blackpool close and had two outstanding wins. I may have got named in the team of the month, but you can’t fault the whole team in May. It was probably because of the brilliant team performances that I was named.”

Scorpions coach Anthony Seibold has praised Dallimore’s performances this season.

“Neil deserves a great deal of credit,” he said. “He is 28 years of age and had never played a game of Rugby League in his life until the first fixture of our season against Workington in February, a game that we won.

“He has been a Rugby Union player all his life and felt like a challenge when he applied for the open trial. We saw something in him at the open training sessions and in the intra club trial, he improves each week and his attitude is second to none in the squad.

“I am very happy that the Scorpions have allowed people like Neil to challenge themselves in Rugby League. A recent comment from him in his feedback sheet that I have each of the players complete after games said, “I wish I had found Rugby League 10 years ago”. That is one hell of an endorsement for our game from Neil and we should shout this from the rooftops as there must be many others in and around South Wales who may just say the same after they sample our great game.”