South Wales Warriors
Encyclopedia
The South Wales Warriors are an American Football team currently competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA National Leagues
(BAFANL). The team was formed after the Tiger Bay Warriors
had disbanded due to the departure of head coach Rob Mota, along with key staff and players, by the remaining players and staff, using equipment, resources and shirts from the folded Tiger Bay Warriors for economical purposes.
They play their home games at the home of Llanharan rugby club
. In the 2008 season the South Wales Warriors won their conference with a record of 9 wins and 1 loss before losing their playoff quarter-final to the Cambridgeshire Cats
. However, they were promoted following the reorganisation of the BAFL for the 2009 season. They were relegated to Division 2 West during the 2010 BAFA Community League restructure.
In 2011 came runners up in the Division 2 West and finished fifth seed in Division 2 enabling them to enter the playoffs, eventually winning promotion and Britbowl XXV Championship on the 25th September.
.
This feat was repeated in 2005, finishing the regular season in second place before losing their playoff quarter-final. In 2006, the Warriors once again finished in second place, cliching their spot on the last matchday of the regular season with a 27–21 win away to the Andover Thrashers. They were drawn at home to the Essex Spartans
for their wildcard
playoff. The Warriors posted an impressive win, however, the visitors complained to the BAFL that the pitch at Bedwas RFC was too short, and therefore did not comply with league rules. After consultations between the two teams, the game was played as normal but the BAFL decided afterwards that the Warriors would forfeit the game, and therefore the game was awarded to the Spartans as a 1–0 victory.
The 2007 season saw the Warriors get over their play-off disappointment by winning their group with a near-perfect 9-1 record to win their second ever conference championship. A 13–7 quarter-final win against the Cambridgeshire Cats
set up a semi-final tie away to the Norwich Devils
, who came into this game on the back of a perfect 10-0 regular season and a quarter-final win against the Cornish Sharks
. Unfortunately for the Warriors they were unable to beat an impressive home team, going down 28–43.
in Blackburn. The Wolverines were soundly beaten 32-17, leading to a South Wales Warriors and West Coast Trojans Britbowl
final at Crystal Palace and promotions to Division 1 for both teams. The Division 2 Britbowl final was played on the 25th September 2011 at the Crystal Palace Stadium
, London, with the final result of 48-20 to the Warriors crowning them Britbowl XXV BAFANL Division 2 Champions.
, which is situated around half an hour north west of Cardiff
. The ground was purchased by the rugby club in 1989. A 440-seat stand was built shortly afterwards, with a bank of covered terracing built on the opposite side two years later and a new clubhouse in built 2002 on the site of the local British Legion Club. It is one of only three American football venues in the United Kingdom to use a referee's microphone.The team also use Roath Park Recreational Ground for informal training sessions.
For the 2008 season, the Warriors played their home games at Sully Sports & Leisure Centre, located in the village of Sully
, just outside Barry. They shared this ground with a number of local sports teams including Sully rugby club and a baseball club. For the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the Warriors played their home matches at the Bridge Field, located in Bedwas
, Caerphilly
, which they shared with Bedwas rugby club
.
Before this, the team were based in Cardiff
with most of their games played at Canton rugby club, and a few games also being played at Llanrumney Leisure Centre and Roath Park, which is still used by the team as a training ground.
BAFA National Leagues
The BAFA National Leagues are the primary American football competition in England, Scotland and Wales. They were formed by the British American Football Association in 2010 to coordinate contact football and flag football across all age ranges...
(BAFANL). The team was formed after the Tiger Bay Warriors
Tiger Bay Warriors
-Tiger Bay Warriors :The club was formed in 1993 as the Tiger Bay Warriors, and started out as a Junior Flag team. They were accepted into Junior Division Two Touch and recorded a 4-0-0 record in the regular season before narrowly losing the bowl game 6–8 to the London...
had disbanded due to the departure of head coach Rob Mota, along with key staff and players, by the remaining players and staff, using equipment, resources and shirts from the folded Tiger Bay Warriors for economical purposes.
They play their home games at the home of Llanharan rugby club
Llanharan RFC
Llanharn Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Llanharan, South Wales. Llanharan RFC were formally established in 1891-92 when Llanharan was little more than an agricultural hamlet. The earliest photograph on the club house wall is dated 1898...
. In the 2008 season the South Wales Warriors won their conference with a record of 9 wins and 1 loss before losing their playoff quarter-final to the Cambridgeshire Cats
Cambridgeshire Cats
The Cambridgeshire Cats are an American football team competing in Division 1 Central of the BAFA Community Leagues , with their home games played at Coldhams Common in Cambridge. The club was first formed in 1984, entered senior competition in 1985 and won two divisional titles in the 1990s as...
. However, they were promoted following the reorganisation of the BAFL for the 2009 season. They were relegated to Division 2 West during the 2010 BAFA Community League restructure.
In 2011 came runners up in the Division 2 West and finished fifth seed in Division 2 enabling them to enter the playoffs, eventually winning promotion and Britbowl XXV Championship on the 25th September.
South Wales Warriors (2001 to 2010)
In 2001, the team was formed as the South Wales Warriors and were admitted into the British Senior League to compete in Division Two South. After a year out of action, they found the going tougher and finished with a 2-5-1 record. The following two seasons repeated this pattern, with the Warriors finishing with 3-6 and 5-5 records in 2002 and 2003 respectively. However, 2004 saw a vast improvement and they finished second in their group with a 7-2-1 record, making the playoffs for the first time since reforming. Unfortunately, they were knocked out at the first stage, losing their quarter-final 6–30 to the Chiltern CheetahsWatford Cheetahs
The Watford Cheetahs are an American football team, based in Watford competing in Division 2 East of the BAFA Community Leagues , with their home games played at Fullerians Rugby Club...
.
This feat was repeated in 2005, finishing the regular season in second place before losing their playoff quarter-final. In 2006, the Warriors once again finished in second place, cliching their spot on the last matchday of the regular season with a 27–21 win away to the Andover Thrashers. They were drawn at home to the Essex Spartans
Essex Spartans
The Essex Spartans are an American Football team based in Billericay, Essex, England. The team has played under the Spartans name since 1998 following a merger between two local teams and currently play in the BAFA Community Leagues, Division 2 East....
for their wildcard
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
playoff. The Warriors posted an impressive win, however, the visitors complained to the BAFL that the pitch at Bedwas RFC was too short, and therefore did not comply with league rules. After consultations between the two teams, the game was played as normal but the BAFL decided afterwards that the Warriors would forfeit the game, and therefore the game was awarded to the Spartans as a 1–0 victory.
The 2007 season saw the Warriors get over their play-off disappointment by winning their group with a near-perfect 9-1 record to win their second ever conference championship. A 13–7 quarter-final win against the Cambridgeshire Cats
Cambridgeshire Cats
The Cambridgeshire Cats are an American football team competing in Division 1 Central of the BAFA Community Leagues , with their home games played at Coldhams Common in Cambridge. The club was first formed in 1984, entered senior competition in 1985 and won two divisional titles in the 1990s as...
set up a semi-final tie away to the Norwich Devils
Norwich Devils
The Norwich Devils are a British American Football team based in Norwich, Norfolk.-Overview:The Devils currently field a senior team in Division 2 East of the BAFA Community Leagues...
, who came into this game on the back of a perfect 10-0 regular season and a quarter-final win against the Cornish Sharks
Cornish Sharks
The Cornish Sharks are an American Football team currently competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA Community Leagues . They play their home games at the Newquay Sports Centre, in Newquay, Cornwall...
. Unfortunately for the Warriors they were unable to beat an impressive home team, going down 28–43.
South Wales Warriors (2011)
The 2011 Season saw the Warriors compete in the reformed BAFA National Leagues. The opening game of the season saw them take on the Gloucester Banshees and win 46-0, one of four shut out games that season, which were to set the tone of the Warriors season. Eight wins and two defeats to the hands of the Berkshire Renegades resulted in the team finishing runners up in the Division 2 West league and entering the playoffs as wild card fifth seed. The quarter finals against the Kent Exiles resulted with a 33-13 Warriors victory . The Warriors then moved on to the semi finals at the home ground of the Lancashire WolverinesLancashire Wolverines
The Lancashire Wolverines are a British American football team based in Blackburn and from the 2007 season will be playing in Division Two of the British American Football League...
in Blackburn. The Wolverines were soundly beaten 32-17, leading to a South Wales Warriors and West Coast Trojans Britbowl
BritBowl
BritBowl is the championship game of the British American Football Association Community Leagues, and formerly the British American Football League in the United Kingdom. It is the most prestigious of the league's three bowl games that constitute BritBowl Weekend. Only teams in the Premier...
final at Crystal Palace and promotions to Division 1 for both teams. The Division 2 Britbowl final was played on the 25th September 2011 at the Crystal Palace Stadium
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
, London, with the final result of 48-20 to the Warriors crowning them Britbowl XXV BAFANL Division 2 Champions.
Summary
| Season | Division | W | L | T | PF | PA | Final Position | Playoff Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | BAFL Division 2 South | 2 | 5 | 1 | 66 | 104 | 7 / 9 | — | First season competing |
| 2002 | BSL Division 2 South | 3 | 6 | 0 | 258 | 128 | 7 / 19 | — | — |
| 2003 | BSL Division 2 South West | 5 | 5 | 0 | 158 | 172 | 4 / 6 | — | — |
| 2004 | BSL Division 2 South West | 7 | 2 | 1 | 228 | 129 | 2 / 6 | Lost 6–30 to Chiltern Cheetahs Watford Cheetahs The Watford Cheetahs are an American football team, based in Watford competing in Division 2 East of the BAFA Community Leagues , with their home games played at Fullerians Rugby Club... in quarter-final. |
— |
| 2005 | BAFL Division 2 South West | 8 | 2 | 0 | 298 | 71 | 2 / 6 | Lost 16–30 to Kent Exiles in quarter-final. | — |
| 2006 | BAFL Division 2 West | 7 | 3 | 0 | 285 | 93 | 2 / 5 | Defeated Essex Spartans Essex Spartans The Essex Spartans are an American Football team based in Billericay, Essex, England. The team has played under the Spartans name since 1998 following a merger between two local teams and currently play in the BAFA Community Leagues, Division 2 East.... in wild card playoff. |
Forfeited the game against Essex Spartans Essex Spartans The Essex Spartans are an American Football team based in Billericay, Essex, England. The team has played under the Spartans name since 1998 following a merger between two local teams and currently play in the BAFA Community Leagues, Division 2 East.... on 80 yard pitch technicality. |
| 2007 | BAFL Division 2 South West | 9 | 1 | 0 | 255 | 91 | 1 / 5 | Beat Cambridgeshire Cats Cambridgeshire Cats The Cambridgeshire Cats are an American football team competing in Division 1 Central of the BAFA Community Leagues , with their home games played at Coldhams Common in Cambridge. The club was first formed in 1984, entered senior competition in 1985 and won two divisional titles in the 1990s as... 13–7 in quarter-final. Lost 28–43 to Norwich Devils Norwich Devils The Norwich Devils are a British American Football team based in Norwich, Norfolk.-Overview:The Devils currently field a senior team in Division 2 East of the BAFA Community Leagues... in semi-final. |
Conference champions |
| 2008 | BAFL Division 2 South West | 9 | 1 | 0 | 255 | 59 | 1 / 5 | Beat Colchester Gladiators Colchester Gladiators The Colchester Gladiators are an American Football team competing in the South East Conference of British American Football League Division 2. They play their home games at the Broad Lane stadium in Wivenhoe, Essex and train at the Sir Charles Lucas Centre for Sport and Art in Colchester... 21–12 in wild-card playoff. Lost 7–21 to Cambridgeshire Cats Cambridgeshire Cats The Cambridgeshire Cats are an American football team competing in Division 1 Central of the BAFA Community Leagues , with their home games played at Coldhams Common in Cambridge. The club was first formed in 1984, entered senior competition in 1985 and won two divisional titles in the 1990s as... in quarter-final. |
Conference champions. Regular season record includes one win by forfeit. Promoted to Division One. |
| 2009 | BAFL Division 1 South West | 6 | 4 | 0 | 194 | 86 | 3 / 5 | — | — |
| 2010 | BAFACL Division 1 South West | 4 | 6 | 0 | ? | ? | ? / ? | — | — |
| 2011 | BAFANL Division 2 West | 8 | 2 | 0 | 317 | 66 | 2 / 6 | Beat Kent Exiles 33-13 in quarter finals playoff. Beat the Lancashire Wolverines Lancashire Wolverines The Lancashire Wolverines are a British American football team based in Blackburn and from the 2007 season will be playing in Division Two of the British American Football League... 32-17 in semi finals playoff. Beat the West Coast Trojans West Coast Trojans The West Coast Trojans) are a fantastic, world class American Football Team based in Renfrew, Scotland. The Trojans play their home games at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow and are a member of the BAFA Community Leagues, where they compete in Division 2 North.The team posted a number of high profile... 48-20 to win Division 2 Britbowl BritBowl BritBowl is the championship game of the British American Football Association Community Leagues, and formerly the British American Football League in the United Kingdom. It is the most prestigious of the league's three bowl games that constitute BritBowl Weekend. Only teams in the Premier... Final at Crystal Palace. |
Finished Western Conference as runners up to Berkshire Renegades. Britbowl XXV BAFANL Division 2 Champions. |
2011 Results
| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/04/11 | WARRIORS @ Gloucester Banshees | 46~0 | — |
| 07/05/11 | Bristol Apache @ WARRIORS | 0~34 | — |
| 28/05/11 | Cornish Sharks Cornish Sharks The Cornish Sharks are an American Football team currently competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA Community Leagues . They play their home games at the Newquay Sports Centre, in Newquay, Cornwall... @ WARRIORS |
8~42 | — |
| 05/06/11 | WARRIORS @ Berkshire Renegades | 6~9 | — |
| 19/06/11 | Gloucester Banshees @ WARRIORS | 14~46 | — |
| 26/06/11 | Berkshire Renegades @ WARRIORS | 19~14 | — |
| 26/06/11 | WARRIORS @ Bristol Apache | 54~8 | — |
| 09/07/11 | Bournemouth Bobcats Bournemouth Bobcats The Bournemouth Bobcats is an English American football team based in Bournemouth, Dorset competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA Community Leagues. The team's home ground is at Chapel Gate, Bournemouth.... @ WARRIORS |
0~34 | — |
| 16/07/11 | WARRIORS @ Cornish Sharks Cornish Sharks The Cornish Sharks are an American Football team currently competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA Community Leagues . They play their home games at the Newquay Sports Centre, in Newquay, Cornwall... |
22~0 | — |
| 23/07/11 | WARRIORS @ Bournemouth Bobcats Bournemouth Bobcats The Bournemouth Bobcats is an English American football team based in Bournemouth, Dorset competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA Community Leagues. The team's home ground is at Chapel Gate, Bournemouth.... |
19~8 | — |
| 29/08/11 | WARRIORS @ Kent Exiles | 33~13 | Wild card playoff |
| 05/09/11 | WARRIORS @ Lancashire Wolverines Lancashire Wolverines The Lancashire Wolverines are a British American football team based in Blackburn and from the 2007 season will be playing in Division Two of the British American Football League... |
32~17 | Playoff semi final |
| 25/09/11 | WARRIORS @ West Coast Trojans West Coast Trojans The West Coast Trojans) are a fantastic, world class American Football Team based in Renfrew, Scotland. The Trojans play their home games at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow and are a member of the BAFA Community Leagues, where they compete in Division 2 North.The team posted a number of high profile... |
48~20 | Britbowl Playoff final at Crystal Palace |
Stadium
The home of the South Wales Warriors from 2009 has been the Dairy Field, home of Llanharan RFCLlanharan RFC
Llanharn Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Llanharan, South Wales. Llanharan RFC were formally established in 1891-92 when Llanharan was little more than an agricultural hamlet. The earliest photograph on the club house wall is dated 1898...
, which is situated around half an hour north west of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. The ground was purchased by the rugby club in 1989. A 440-seat stand was built shortly afterwards, with a bank of covered terracing built on the opposite side two years later and a new clubhouse in built 2002 on the site of the local British Legion Club. It is one of only three American football venues in the United Kingdom to use a referee's microphone.The team also use Roath Park Recreational Ground for informal training sessions.
For the 2008 season, the Warriors played their home games at Sully Sports & Leisure Centre, located in the village of Sully
Sully, Vale of Glamorgan
Sully is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales lying on the northern coast of the Bristol Channel, midway between the towns of Penarth and Barry and 7 miles southwest of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff.-Medieval Sully:...
, just outside Barry. They shared this ground with a number of local sports teams including Sully rugby club and a baseball club. For the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the Warriors played their home matches at the Bridge Field, located in Bedwas
Bedwas
Bedwas is a town two miles north-east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly county borough, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire....
, Caerphilly
Caerphilly (county borough)
Caerphilly is a county borough in southern Wales, straddling the ancient county boundary between Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.Its main town is Caerphilly, and also the largest...
, which they shared with Bedwas rugby club
Bedwas RFC
Bedwas RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh village of Bedwas. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.-Club history:...
.
Before this, the team were based in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
with most of their games played at Canton rugby club, and a few games also being played at Llanrumney Leisure Centre and Roath Park, which is still used by the team as a training ground.
Current roster (2011)
| South Wales Warriors 2011 Roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Receivers / Tight-Ends
|
Defensive Backs
Linebackers
|
Linemen
Coaching/Staff
Retired Numbers
|
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