South Wales Warriors Prepare For 2017 American Football Season

South Wales Warriors have announced their fixtures for the 2017 British American Football Association season.

They start with three successive home games to begin the year.

Warriors are taking a step down from the top league in the UK to focus on recruiting and building the team for the future and begin their campaign on Sunday, April 9 against Ouse Valley Eagles.

With a 10-game schedule ahead of them, Warriors will face some tough competition through a four-month period before finishing the season at home against Solent Thrashers.

For the last few seasons Warriors have been in the top division, but made the difficult decision to step down and plan for the future.

Warriors head coach Geraint Roberts said of the decision: “Although it has been an extremely difficult decision to relinquish our position in the top division of UK Football, I am positive it will benefit us in the long run.

“We are embarking on our second year of junior football and have also added a younger age group this year. We are also working within local schools and have good links with our local universities.

“It is our aim to build a football programme in South Wales with progression from the younger age groups and not solely be a senior team that relies on annual recruitment to subsidise our playing numbers.

“We would like to thank the BAFA for their consideration and providing us with an opportunity where we feel that we can develop the long-term sustainability of American Football in South Wales.”

The 2016 season was Warriors’ best in the premiership division, but dropping numbers in players forced the squad to try and focus on the future with the hopes of success then.

Home games for the Warriors will be played at Llanharan RFC with the squad training at Y Pant School in Pontyclun.

American Football and the NFL in North America has had an influx of British talent in recent years, highlighted by London-born Miami Dolphins running-back Jay Ajayi, who last season rushed for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns as well as being named to the 2017 Pro Bowl.

South Wales Warriors home fixtures

April

Sunday 9 v Ouse Valley Eagles

Sunday v Oxford Saints

Sunday 30 v Sussex Thunder

May

Sunday 7 v Solent Thrashers

Saturday v Sussex Thunder

June

Sunday 11 v Ouse Valley Eagles

Sunday 18 v Solent Thrashers

Sunday 25 v Oxford Saints

July

Saturday 8 v Sussex Thunder

Sunday 30 v Solent Thrashers