Bears Managing Director and Head Coach, Alan Robinson and Tom Tsang, with Bradford bulls Managing Director and Head Coach,Steve Ferres and James Lowes

BRADFORD BULLS are delighted to announce the launch of a partnership with the UK’s newest professional side Coventry Bears.

The agreement will allow members of James Lowes’ squad to appear for the Kingstone Press League One outfit throughout the course of 2015 via dual-registration.

And the two clubs are to work together on a commercial basis, with Bulls officials aiding the Midlands outfit’s development following their arrival in rugby league’s professional ranks.

Founded in 1998, the Bears, who play out of Butts Park Arena, were crowned RLC Western Division champions in 2000 and have since gone on to claim a host of other awards.

Coventry were granted permission to join the National Conference League two years ago and last summer were told they would be competing in the sport’s third tier in 2015.

Bulls managing director Steve Ferres said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Bears for the coming season.

“These are exciting times for both clubs and we want to help Coventry adapt to  life outside of the community  game.

“The club has been working extremely hard during the past two seasons, both commercially and in terms of recruitment, and we will aid that in any way we can.

“They will have access to some of our players, which will prove mutually beneficial, and we look forward to seeing how the partnership develops.”

“It has been fantastic for us to strike up a relationship with the Bulls, a club I have admired for many years,” added Ferres’ Bears opposite Alan Robinson.

“I have begun to develop a great relationship with both Steve Ferres and Marc Green off the field while Tom Tsang, our head coach, has been working with James Lowes on it.

“There is already great synergy between our clubs. This is not only a dual-registration partnership but a business one also.

“We hope to take every opportunity to grow and build our club alongside the Bulls.

“This is a new era for rugby league and I feel this sort of opportunity is a milestone in our club’s development in the sport.”

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Coventry Bears launch exciting online partnership with The Rugby Banter Page.

The Rugby Banter Page are pleased to announce a new exclusive partnership with The Coventry Bears Rugby League ahead of the clubs debut in the Kingstone Press League One.

The Rugby Banter Page will become the clubs’ marketing partner and the first major partnership for the Bears since they entered the professional ranks just two divisions below the First Utility Super League.

With a following of over 270,000 on Facebook, The Rugby Banter Page has a monthly reach of over 2,500,000 making it an ideal partner to work with to grow the clubs online reach and expose the Bears brand to new supporters and business partners.

As part of the deal the Rugby Banter Page will be featured on back of the clubs home and away kits for the 2015 season.

Speaking on the announcement Coventry Bears Managing Director Alan Robinson remarked “This is a great start to the new year for the club. We are proud to have the Rugby Banter Page on board as a partner for such a big season for the club. We hope that this will be the first of a number of partnerships which will help the club progress.”

“They are the ideal partner for a new professional club such as us to seek new business and sponsorship partners while growing our own fan base.”

Rugby Banter Page General Manager Paul Bolger added “The Rugby Banter Page are delighted to become partners of the Coventry Bears for their debut in the new Kingstone Press League One division. We are happy to be a part of this new journey for the club and we look forward to working on helping the Bears Prosper in 2015”.

Robinson continued “We are still currently seeking a main sponsor for the Bears and hope to utilize Rugby Banters huge online reach to help us find a forward thinking business to join us and benefit from this relationship. We have a lot to offer being the only professional Rugby League club in the Midlands of the UK bridging the Rugby League gap between the north and south of the country.”

The Bears will kick off their League One campaign with a home fixture on Good Friday (3^rd April) against Oxford Rugby League.

However, before then the team will face a Home pre-season friendly with Hemel Stags on February 14th at Butts Park Arena followed by a League One Cup first round away tie against Oldham Roughyeds.

RBP will be posting monthly updates on the bears, keeping you up to date with all their latest results and upcoming fixtures.

For more general information on the Bears please visit: www.coventrybears.com

Any business interested in exploring a partnership or sponsorship with Coventry Bears can contact us through the commercial section of our website.

 GO GIVE THEM A LIKE ON FACEBOOK! (click here) 

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Ahead of Ireland’s first ever u19 game, we caught up with the Captain Matt Connolly.

Matt is one of the most experienced players in the club, having played with Ashbourne Stags, Athboy Longhorns, and the Republic of Ireland State of Origin and Ireland Student teams.

Connolly has had a lot of success in Rugby league this year so far, winning the RLI 9’s tournament with Athboy Longhorns and then going on to win the inaugural State of Origin Series with ROI.

This u19 team is made up of fully domestic players, comprised from schools and clubs players.

-Hi Matt, How has the training been going?

Training has been going great it has been very tough but we are pulling together as a team and gelling nicely.

 
-What’s the mood in the camp like?

We all have started to get a buzz going about us coming closer to the match, the lads are bonding well. everyone is excited to get stuck in.

 
-How did you feel when Conor Kelly gave you the nod to be captain?

It was on my birthday, I was out having dinner when Conor rang, I was very surprised and honoured to be chosen. Who could ask for a better birthday present.

 
-How did you get into Rugby League?

I was asked to play for Ashbourne stags by Steve Szpara, and it all went up from there.

-Are you excited for the two games?

Personally I am really excited to lead out the lads. It will be a very proud moment for me and my family. How do you think We’ll get on?Both games will be really physical but I think with our fitness and the strong amount of effort during training we have the skills and raw physicality to win both games.What do you think will be the biggest challenge for us against the two teams? Definitely just to keep our focus, not to over complicate anything and to play our game not theirs.

 
-What’s been the highlight of your rugby league career up to date (apart from the captaincy)?

Winning the state of origin with the Republic of Ireland eagles and winning the rli 9’s with Athboy longhorns.

FAST FIRE ROUND! 

1. Morning, noon or night? 

Night

 
2. How do you like your steak? 

Medium rare

 
3. What was the last film you saw? 

Annabelle 

 
4. What’s your favorite place to watch TV? 

My bedroom

5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

Australia 

 
6. What did you eat for breakfast? 

Four weetabix 

7. What is your favorite cuisine? 

Italian 

8. What kind of car do you drive? 

Peugeot 206

9. What are your favorite clothes? 

Rugby league Ireland gear 

10. Where would you visit if you had the chance? 

New Zealand 

11. Weapon of choice? 

M4A1 carbine

12. Favourite colour ?

Blue
13. Where would you want to retire?

Fiji

14. Gold or Silver? 

Silver

15. Where were you born? 

Dublin

16. What is your favorite sport to watch? 

Rugby league

17. Who do you think will not tag you back? 

Jake wall the lads not on Facebook 

18. Do you have any pets? 

A dog (Caesar)
19. Hard or soft?  

Hard 

20. Sub or dom? 

Sub

21. Are you a morning or a night person? 

Night

Ireland Under 19 Squad:

Adam Anderson (Belfast Metropolitan College)

Adam Brodigan (St. Joseph’s CBS, Drogheda)

Adam Carberry (Gormanston College)

Cathal Downey (St. Joseph’s CBS, Drogheda)

Cathal Duffy (St. Joseph’s CBS, Drogheda)

Cian Harrington (Gormanston College)

Conor Redmond (St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda)

Craig Black (Moyle Park College / West Dublin Bears RLFC)

Darren Madden (Tallaght Community College / West Dublin Bears RLFC)

Daryl Hand (Belfast Metropolitan College)

Emmet Banahan (Gormanston College)

Jake Wall (Athboy Longhorns RLFC)

Johnny Dunlop (Belfast Metropolitan College)

Johnny Mooney (Belfast Metropolitan College)

Mark Bishop (Belfast Metropolitan College)

Matt Connolly (Athboy Longhorns RLFC)

Paul Bolger (St. Mac Dara’s Community College / Dublin City Exiles)

Ryan Healy (St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda)

Sean Hayes (Gormanston College)

Ty Mackness (Belfast Metropolitan College)

The Ireland u19 team will take on Scotland u19 at 12pm on Saturday (25th October) in Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. 

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