Valley Cougars v All Golds on Saturday takes a new twist

By Ian Golden,

South Wales Scorpions’ new loan signing Alex Davidson says that this weekend will be a strange one as he coaches against Valley Cougars before playing for South Wales Scorpions.

Valley Cougars take on Gloucestershire All Golds’ reserve side in the RFL Conference South at Treharris RFC on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm) and Davidson is head coach of the visitors.

With Dafydd Hellard head coach of the Cougars and a South Wales Scorpions first team squad member, they could be doing the captain’s run together on Saturday morning as Scorpions prepare to face Hunslet Hawks at Caerphilly RFC on Sunday (kick-off 3pm) before becoming fierce rivals in the afternoon.

League leaders Valley Cougars, after suffering defeat to London Chargers in their last game will be determined to get back on a winning run, whilst the All Golds are also looking to bounce back following a home defeat to West Wales Raiders last week.

“It will be a strange situation poising my All Golds side against my new team mates on Saturday,” he said. “However there’s no harm in the competition with each other and now bragging rights are on offer the stakes heighten.

“Dafydd got one over on me last time at our place so I’m keen to get one back and I make no bones about it when I take to the field, as a coach or player, I go to win with that team. Strange situation to be in but I’ll enjoy it and thrive off the challenge.”

Davidson, formerly a Super League player with Salford Red Devils and also turned out for North Wales Crusaders, is looking forward to getting going with the Scorpions.

“I’m keen to adapt to the team’s needs whether that at prop, second row or loose forward,” he said. “From training so far I know we’re keen to get over the line more and if I can do that myself I will be chuffed.

“I’ll avoid reminding that I scored twice against the Scorpions earlier this year at the Prince of Wales Stadium, but if I can assist the team in getting over the line I will do what I can. I pride my talk on the pitch and hopefully I will be able to up our volume in tasks a head.”

Davidson, already a level 2 qualified coach, is also a qualified referee, something we need more of down in the south.

“it can be tiring and is a busy schedule but I love the game and all the roles I take up,” he said. “Rugby League, for me, is the greatest game of all and I enjoy all aspects of it. I want to spread the word of the game across the south of England and Wales and hopefully assist kids in being brought up with and, above all else, enjoy this great game as I had such opportunities to do so from very young. I enjoy seeing the great rugby talents develop into future Rugby League greats. It’s tough to plan and schedule but I love it.”

South Wales Scorpions v Hunslet Hawks is the culmination of an exciting afternoon of events which sees a Masters Rugby League festival between teams from South Wales, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Medway Dragons from Kent. The European Cup trophy, won by Wales last year, will also be on display and fans can have their photos taken with this. Tickets for the day, priced £8 for adults, £5 concessions and £1 juniors can be bought by going to www.scorpionsrl.com.