Wigan link up with West Wales in bid to bring through more Welsh players

Wigan have agreed a partnership with West Wales Raiders that will see an enhanced pathway opportunity for young Welsh players.

As part of the project, the Warriors will run a series of development camps, talent camps, coach education and school work that ensures the work is sustainable and starts a legacy.

The connection will support the young generation in Wales through greater exposure to the sport, playing opportunities and the chances for Welsh coaches to work with the Warriors to gain a better understanding of how the club’s talent systems work and the part they can play to develop great players in Wales.

Wigan will also work to make Coleg y Cyomoedd, the local college of Aberdare, Nantgarw, Rhondda and Ystrad Mynach, much stronger in the rugby league world as well.

On the partnership with the Raiders, Warriors head of youth development Matty Peet said: “Over the last few years we’ve seen an emergence of Welsh Schools having success in the national school competitions, but they don’t have the same opportunities that the heartlands teams have.

‘We have kept an eye on one or two players and have been monitoring them but feel we could offer them and the Raiders support and opportunities to progress in the sport.”

Raiders chief executive Peter Tiffin added: “We couldn’t believe it when we spoke to Matty on how passionate he was to support us.

“It’ll be a two-way street as our youngsters get an opportunity to progress, whilst we can look at helping the young Wigan players gain an exposure to League 1 and adult rugby league that will help us build a player base that has progressed through the same system.

“We’re looking forward to the project producing high quality players and hopefully players that can flourish on the international stage too.”

The project starts in earnest in August, with a group of Wigan coaches heading down to Wales to run rugby camps, development camps, elite camps and coach education.