Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Dragons Swoop to Sign Outlaws High-flying Nottingham Outlaws Rugby League Club have made a wonderful start to life in the Co-operative Rugby Conference National division, winning eight matches on the trot and currently lying fourth in the division, with games in hand.

It has been a dream start for East Midlands' premier rugby league side and reigning Harry Jepson Trophy holders, defying the critics who expected them to struggle to adapt to the ferocity of life in the top summer league. By contrast, they have exceeded all expectations so far, losing just two matches against sides that are expected to be challenging in the finals come the play-offs.

Outlaws' outstanding start has not gone unnoticed and the first professional club came calling this week when Co-operative Championship side Doncaster Dragons swooped down to sign two of their outstanding prospects, second-row forward Steve Hall and flying winger Chris McNamara.

The potential of the Nottingham players had clearly been brought to the Dragons' attention in March when the Outlaws travelled to Doncaster for a friendly and comprehensively beat their reserves in a pre-season run-out.

Both Hall and McNamara have a fine pedigree in the game, earning international call-ups at student level and playing for the all-powerful Loughborough students team, with Hall in particular having a fine international series playing for his native Wales.

With both players under 21 years of age, they are clearly marked as ones for the future yet, within hours of signing, Hall was drafted into first team duty and McNamara seems sure to follow him sooner rather than later.

Below first team level, several of the Outlaws outstanding under-16s players have also had the talent scouts from the professional ranks on their case after starring in the regional training camps and trials matches.

On the face of it, one might have expected Outlaws coach Martin Crick to have been disappointed with the prospect of losing some of his squad to the professional ranks but he was decidedly upbeat commenting, "it would be quite easy to be negative about these things from an insular point of view but I see it as a huge endorsement of the club and what we are starting to achieve in the Midlands. If the professional clubs are coming to Nottingham and picking up our players, then the club is obviously on the right track and the pathway is clearly there for any local player who wants to have a shot at a pro contract"

Outlaws Chairman Richard Johnson endorsed the thoughts of his coach and went on to add, "I would like to take the opportunity to thank both Steve Hall and Chris McNamara for their efforts last season when they both starred in our magnificent Trophy-winning season and for showing that they could more than handle life in the Conference National. While we are sorry to see them go, we wish them every success as they make the step up to the professional ranks"