Plans to get World Cup stars to visit Bridgwater (From This is The West Country)

Plans to get World Cup stars to visit Bridgwater

2:00pm Thursday 15th December 2011 in Sport

NORTH-Petherton based Somerset Vikings Rugby League Club hope World Cup players will visit Bridgwater when they come to the UK in 2013.

The club, who are associated with Leeds Rhinos, have teamed up with 1610 to request the Rugby Football League (RFL) send some players to the area to meet youngsters and train with the Vikings.

It comes after the announcement that Bristol has been chosen to host World Cup matches.

If successful, Bridgwater may see internationally recognised athletes coming to the town while they prepare for their games.

Vikings chairman Claire Salter said: “I’m really glad all the hard work which has gone into the Vikings and its community links is now starting to become more beneficial to the community.

“We believe rugby league as a sport delivers personal development socially, mentally and physically and this builds our future generations a base of personal confidence to go out there and become successful in whatever path they take.”

The 2013 Rugby League World Cup was officially launched in November 2010 and is part of the UK’s Golden Decade of Sport.

The tournament will involve 14 nations, Australia, Cook Islands, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Scotland, Tonga, USA and Wales.

Steve Leahy, chairman of the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s great to see the Somerset Vikings working with Futures for Somerset and 1610 to help both the development of the town’s young people and show Bridgwater off to the rest of the county and the world in such a positive light.”