T’Other Side: London Broncos

T’Other Side: London Broncos

LONDON BRONCOS 2018 SHIRTS

LAST TIME OUT

Head Coach: Danny Ward

After three years as head coach at London Broncos, Andrew Henderson has now moved on to become the assistant coach at Warrington Wolves and this year London Broncos appointed Danny Ward as their head coach. He had been working as assistant since 2015 and before that he spent two years coaching the Broncos U19 team. This is his first head coach position. In his playing career he was a prop forward and made his début at Leeds Rhinos in 1999. He stayed at the Rhinos until joining Castleford for one season in 2006. That was followed by one year at Hull Kingston Rovers before moving to London Broncos (then Harlequins RL) in 2008. He retired in 2011. In 2004 he made one substitute for Great Britain against New Zealand in that year’s Tri-Nations competition.

Captain: Jay Pitts

Born in Ossett, Jay Pitts started his career with Wakefield, making his début in 2008. In July of the following year he was signed by Leeds. In March 2012 he moved on to Hull FC. Then, in 2014, he had loan spells at Doncaster and Bradford Bulls before signing for the Bulls before the 2015 season. Last year he joined London Broncos and played in every one of their 31 matches. He plays at either loose forward or second row.

At the back

Playing either on the wing or fullback, Kieran Dixon is a speedy try scorer well capable of scoring long range tries. He is also a competent goal kicker who can take over from Jarrod Sammut when required. Dixon played for the England Knights team in 2012 and 2013. His professional career began with the Broncos in 2012. In 2015 he was signed by Hull KR but returned to the Broncos in 2017. In 2014 he played for Hemel Stags on dual reg and played for Newcastle Thunder (also on dual reg) in 2016. Dixon is Broncos leading try scorer this season. Elliot Kear plays in the three-quarters or at fullback. He has played 20 times for Wales and is a genuine Welsh International having been born in Cardiff. He started with Crusaders and played in Super League for them and for Bradford Bulls. Usually at fullback is Alex Walker who has been attracting a lot of attention for his excellent performances. He made his Broncos début in 2014. He has had dual reg spells with London Skolars and Hemel Stags and played for Scotland in 2015. Rhys Williams is another genuine Welshman but this time hailing from North Wales. He has 23 caps for his country and scored a hat trick against Scotland in 2010. He began his career with Warrington and also played for Castleford, Salford and Swinton before joining the Broncos in 2015.

In the halves

Youngster, James Meadows, is in his first year having made his début in February he has already played 11 matches for the Broncos mostly at stand off and has also played for one game for London Skolars on dual reg. New Zealander, Ape Pewhairangi, is an Irish international! He has played at both stand off and centre this year. Before joining London he had been with Newcastle Knights, Parramatta Eels and New Zealand Warriors. Jarrod Sammut, is an Australian and a Maltese international. He is London’s main goal kicker and was also their leading try scorer last year when he scored 268 points. He usually plays at scrum-half but has also played at hooker. He spent 2015 and 2016 with Workington. He originally came to the UK to play for Crusaders RL and has also been in the squads at Bradford Bulls and Wakefield (from where he played 1 game for Fev on dual Reg).

At hooker

James Cunningham began the season as the regular starting hooker but recently he has also been playing at scrum-half. His career began at Hull FC in 2012. In 2014 he had a loan spell with the Broncos and in 2015 he played for Doncaster on dual reg before being signed by the Broncos in June. Newly signed from Lézignan a couple of weeks ago is Frenchman Eloi Pelissier. He is a highly rated French international who played for Catalans from 2011 to 2016 and for Leigh Centurions last year.

In the pack

Eddie Battye is one of those prop forwards who never takes a backward step. His career began at Sheffield in 2008 and he signed for Broncos in 2016. He has also played for French club Villeneuve Leopards. Matt Davis usually plays at loose forward but can also play hooker. He started with Broncos in 2015 and played a few games for Hemel on dual reg in 2016 and with London Skolars last year. (Not to be confused with … see below). Mark Ioane is a rumbustious prop forward. He is a New Zealander and has played in the NRL for both Gold Coast Titans and Saint George Illawarra Dragons. He joined the Broncos in 2016. In 2010 he played for the Junior Kiwis and was a member of the New Zealand Warriors team that won the Toyota Cup Grand Final. Yet to make his début is Prop Forward Daymeric Pelo who was signed from Limoux on July 11th. Tom Spencer is another prop forward who has started most matches this year. His career started with Wigan in 2012 and had loan or dual reg spells with South Wales and Leigh before signing for Leigh in 2014 and went on loan to Oldham in 2016. He joined the Broncos in 2017.

Dual Registration

London Broncos have a dual registration agreement with London Skolars that involves their younger players getting game time with the Skolars but does not usually lead to Skolars players turning out for the Broncos.

The Fev connection

There are three members of the London Broncos squad who have previously played for Fev. Welsh international, Michael Channing, was at Rovers in 2016. Scottish international, Ben Hellewell, came to Rovers for two seasons from the Warrington Academy in 2013. Both Michael and Ben played in last year’s World Cup. Jarrod Sammut (see above) played just one game for Fev on dual registration from Wakefield in 2014. During that match against North Wales he kicked 10 goals out of 10 attempts!

There are also four players who have appeared for Rovers this year and who have played for London Broncos. Brad Dwyer played for them on loan from Warrington in 2015. Richard Moore was with them in 2002 and 2004, Scott Wheeldon in 2012 and 2013 and Jason Walton in 2015.

Name Confusion!

On the playing roster at the Broncos are both Matt Davis and Sam Davis. But matters are even more confusing because there is also Matt Davies! As both Matt Davis and Matt Davies sometimes play in the second row it brings back memories of when Fev fielded second rowers both called Gary Price in the same match!