Aled JAMES [
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Thu October 20, 2011
by Ian Golden
South Wales Scorpions skipper Aled James says that being selected for Wales this year was a complete surprise for him.
James, who has won 11 caps for Wales since his debut against Russia in 2003, is set to take to the field this Saturday when the Welsh take on Ireland at The Gnoll in Neath (kick-off 6pm).
Wales are using this game as valuable preparation for their Gillette Four Nations campaign which they kick off a week later against England in Leigh.
"I'm really happy to get into the Welsh squad," he said. "I didn't think I'd get in as it's an elite competition this year and there's a lot of players who are available from Super League and from Australia. Playing for the Scorpions is good but it is in a lower league so I didn't think I'd get this opportunity again.
"It's great that Christiaan Roets and Andy Gay from the Scorpions have been selected too. They're both really excited too as, without being pessimistic, we all had the same thoughts this year. We're all very happy to be in.
"It's a great opportunity for Andy, he came in last year and had a great couple of games and Roetsy played in all the games last year. It's good for all three of us - everything we're doing down in South Wales seems to be working and hopefully it can continue to grow. We had a number of Scorpions players in the train-on squad who didn't make it, and next year perhaps the likes of Steve Parry, Joe Burke, Chris Davies and others may get a chance as they're the future of the game."
James knows that the next four weeks will be the toughest of his career but he says that he's ready for the challenge starting with the pre-tournament warm-up game this Saturday against Ireland.
"We had success last year but we're realistic," he said. "We're playing the best three sides in the world and we're lucky to have that opportunity.
"Australia gave New Zealand a bit of a battering on the weekend so it's going to be a tough competition and you've got to perform on the day. Iestyn's made it clear that if your skills are not good enough then you put yourself under pressure to improve.
"Hopefully if the three of us have a good game against Ireland on Saturday, we may get a chance to play in the Four Nations. The Gnoll's a great place to play, it's a fantastic surface and it's a ground that you really get to enjoy playing in. I'm looking forward to it. It'll be tough as Ireland have already played one match this year and we've just got together as a full squad.
"It was a close game against Ireland last year and they will want to get a win this year. It's the same with us, we want to put a performance in and the boys will want to stick their hand up for a place in the side against England the following week."
Wales kick-off their international season with a warm-up match against Ireland on Saturday 22nd October at The Gnoll in Neath (kick-off 6pm). Tickets are priced £5 for concessions and £10 for adults in advance, going up to £6 and £12 respectively on the day. They can be bought by going to www.walesrugbyleague.co.uk.
Fri July 8, 2011
by Ian Golden
South Wales Scorpions' trio Aled James, Joe Burke and Dalton Grant have been called up on loan for Crusaders' Super League side for the Hull Kingston Rovers match at The Racecourse this Saturday (kick-off 3pm) in the wake of the suspensions announced by Crusaders.
Aled James, who has been captain of South Wales Scorpions since inception and this year, as Player Performance Manager for Wales Rugby League, has been one of the people responsible for the development of up and coming Rugby League youngsters in South Wales including the Crusaders under 15, 16 and 18 sides.
He will be making his Wrexham Super League debut but it will be his 23rd senior Crusaders appearance.
James started his rugby league at Cardiff Demons before he was signed by Widnes Vikings in 2003, who were then in Super League. He signed for Sheffield Eagles in 2004, then returned to Wales to play for the Crusaders in 2006.
The 29-year old made his Wales debut against Russia in 2003 and has since won 11 Welsh caps and was in the Wales side that beat France 12-11 last year to qualify for this season's Four Nations.
"It's like a fourth Crusaders debut for me," said James. "I started in the Crusaders in the first season in 2006. I went back into rugby union for a bit with Glamorgan Wanderers and then I came back in 2008 and 2009 and played some Super League.
"Then earlier this year I played in pre-season friendlies for Crusaders. No matter how many times I feel that it was my last game for Crusaders, I keep coming back."
It may be Joe Burke's and Dalton Grant's Crusaders Super League debuts but both have played for the club in the past at junior levels.
They were both in the Crusaders under 18 side in the 2008-09 season that won the Gillette National Youth League. They both played in 18 of the 19 games and were the top two try scorers that season, Grant with 15 tries and Burke with 12.
For Joe Burke, it'll be his second appearance at The Racecourse. The up and coming Scorpions star won enough accolades last season to be selected for the Wales side that took on Italy last October where Gareth Thomas scored on his Welsh Rugby League debut.
He also turned out for the Crusaders first team in pre-season friendlies earlier this year at Widnes Vikings and Catalan Dragons, both of which ended up in Crusaders wins.
A solid 21-year old prop, Burke is tipped for a bright future in the game and is looking forward to his potential Super League debut.
"It'll be really good," he said. "It's been hard work with the Scorpions this year but we're all trying hard and it could have been a number of players picked for the Crusaders so I just need to take my opportunity.
"I was grateful for the opportunity to play for Crusaders against Widnes and Catalan in pre-season friendlies, those were both really good experiences and will hopefully this will help me in Saturday's game."
Dalton Grant, like James and Burke, has been at the Scorpions since inception but he only broke into the first team this year.
And since then he has been a revelation. Ten tries in his nine games has meant that the 21-year old is second highest try scorer for the Scorpions this season behind Andrew Gay, and he is grateful for finally getting his Scorpions chance this year and where it has led him.
"It feels really good," he said. "I think I've done pretty well with the Scorpions so far this season. Obviously the boys have helped me a lot. I'd love be full time Super League one day and this is a good stepping stone for me.
"Being in a full-time Rugby League environment will be massive for me. It's something I've never done before and being around Super League players and being coached by Iestyn Harris will really help me in my career."
Grant wishes the Scorpions side luck as they travel to Whitehaven this Sunday (kick-off 1pm) and knows that more tries for Andrew Gay will put him further ahead in the try scoring ranks.
"I'll have to try and catch up with him again when I'm back at the Scorpions," he added.
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 2011 Four Nations Test Series
Wales
1 games; [View] Round 1 [29 Oct 11] L 4-42 v England (A). [BE]
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2011 engage English Super League
North Wales Crusaders
1 games; [View] Round 21 [09 Jul 11] L 10-38 v Hull KR (H). [SR]
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2009 engage English Super League
North Wales Crusaders
6 games; [View] Round 8 [10 Apr 09] L 10-30 v Huddersfield (A). [WG]
[View] Round 9 [13 Apr 09] L 18-40 v Harlequins (H). [WG]
[View] Round 10 [19 Apr 09] L 10-44 v Wigan (A). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [26 Apr 09] L 22-34 v Castleford (H). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [03 May 09] L 16-40 v Huddersfield. [BE]
[View] Round 15 [06 Jun 09] L 6-26 v Harlequins (A). [CT]
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James, Aled
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