Whilst Super League and Championship sides have been playing since early February London Skolars, and the rest of the Championship 1 sides, get their seasons underway this Sunday, the 3rd March, when the first Northern Rail Group matches take place.
Skolars start their Northern Rail Cup campaign on Sunday with a trip to Neath to take on South Wales Scorpions. The two teams met in the competition last season when Skolars edged a close encounter 30-38 at the Gnoll. Skolars went on to record two league victories against the Welsh outfit, which included an emphatic 64-6 home win. This season sees the introduction of a different competition format with the winners of the Northern and Southern groups progressing to a knockout stage in May, when the Championship teams join the competition.
Skolars head coach Joe Mbu has been busy in the close season adding some quality new signings to the core of the 2012 squad and will be looking for his team to get off to a flying start with the Kingstone Press Championship 1 season only a month away. A number of London Broncos players have signed dual registration forms with the club and it is hoped that some will feature on Sunday.
On Sunday the 10th March Skolars host their first home fixture of the 2013 season and it promises to be a cracker as Hemel Stags are the visitors for the long awaited southern derby. Skolars have designated the match a ‘Family’ day with a variety of events happening including a mini real ale festival and a half-time mascot race. The club have pre-sold more tickets for this game than any other game outside of the Capital Challenge and Friday Night Light matches as fans will be looking to witness a bit of Rugby League history in the south.
Commenting on the Hemel game Skolars General Manager Howard Kramer had this to say: “This is a game that should capture the imaginations of rugby league fans in and around the capital. We’ve had a great response to our early bird half-price ticket offer and fans have been snapping up tickets online prior to the close of the ticket deal deadline this Friday. We’ve made the game a ‘Family’ day with lots going on before and after the match. It promises to be a great occasion for the sport in the south.”
Skolars will conclude their Northern Rail Cup group matches with games at home to University of Gloucestershire All Golds and away to Rochdale. The league season gets underway on Friday the 29th March when Hemel Stags are once again the visitors to New River.
This season Skolars nor only have a new kit manufacturer in Azzurri Sport but the player’s shirts will bear the name of new main sponsors NASDAQ OMX Global Indexes.
One London Skolar making his debut next week will not be that well known to Rugby League fans and that’s because the debutant is in fact London Skolar, the racehorse! The horse, owned by Skolars President Harold Nass, will be making his racing debut in the 6.00pm race at Kempton Park on Wednesday the 6th March. Let’s hope he gets off to a winning start.
Tickets for the match can be purchased in the club’s online shop by clicking here
