North Wales Origin to tour Devon in 2019
Photo courtesy of Richard Long
North Wales Origin will kick start their season with a clash against the Keighley Cougars Reserves on June 29.
This is part of a busy schedule for the representative side which is stepping up its preparation ahead of the Welsh Tri-Series scheduled to take place in September and October.
The team will also take on the Prison Service on the July 16 and then the RAF on the August 8 – that’s before their scheduled tour of Devon which will see them come up against the Devon and Dorset Lions.
After that, it’s the start of the Tri-Series which will see the North Wales Origin take on their counterparts from the East and the West on the September 29 and October 5.
Chairman of the North Wales Origin, Conrad Anderson, said: “A lot of hard work is going into developing youngsters and creating a pathway in North Wales, we’re very proud of that.
“I think that a strong Dragonhearts team is good for the game. We need to give the English Lionhearts competition and I think a strong Welsh development programme will only develop the Welsh game.
“Our aim is to increase participation. We have the North Wales Crusaders in the north and the West Wales Raiders in the south and obviously we need to create Welsh-born players for the future of those clubs.”
The Welsh Dragonhearts make their squad selection based on the Tri-Series which means many youngsters could have the opportunity to play international rugby league.
That is a point backed up by head coach of the North Wales Origin, Matt Drinkwater, who said: “Those games are a competitive trial for the Dragonhearts selection.
“The good thing about it is that it gives an opportunity to everyone. Its giving the players the opportunities to play at a higher level and represent their country.
“The whole concept of it all is to grow the game in Wales. Not just North Wales which is obviously of our interest but, growing it across the whole of Wales and increase the level of interest in rugby league.”
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