As the Jets brand approaches 500 registered players for the 2025 Wales Rugby League season, owner and chairman Liam Price is delighted at how the expansion plans are progressing in South Wales.
Already in place are South Wales Jets, playing out of Penallta RFC, who have competed in Wales for the past two years, introducing juniors in 2024 and already taking home two trophies as a club.
Now, playing in the Ammanford area, west of Swansea, are the West Wales Jets. Following an initial meeting in early March, over 150 players have signed up with Wales Rugby League to play in the 2025 season, with the number increasing daily.
Therefore, following a meeting between the clubs last night (Wednesday), it has been confirmed that West Wales Jets will field sides at men’s, U16, U14, U12, U11, U10, U9 and U8 levels.
This will complement the existing South Wales Jets who will field sides at men’s, U18, U14, U13, U12, U11, U10, U9 and U8 levels, plus a girls U14s side where 40 have signed up to play.
That’s a total of 18 sides that will potential wear the Jets branded shirts during the summer months.
And Price says that there is more to come as the aim is to get a Jets men’s side into the semi-professional ranks of the English competitions before the end of the decade.
He says: “I’m absolutely delighted with what we as a brand have achieved in such a short space of time.
“Our new club in West Wales will be a separate entity to the existing club in Ystrad Mynach, with different coaches, players and managers, but they will be part of the Jets family as we aim to grow rugby league in South Wales.
“It is essential that we have a men’s side in the Rugby Football League as soon as we can, as we can already see the implications of this not being the case at international level.
“At junior level, WRL is doing a great job with the U18s and U16s internationally and I know many young Welsh players are playing professionally in the north of England because of their hard work. One of our stars from last year, Henry Parker, has recently made his debut for Leigh Leopards in their reserves side for example.
“However, it is reality that to get even more players through, we’ll need a semi-professional side down here to continue to develop players locally. We have the Super League experience in the coaching staff I’ve recruited in Ben Flower and Lloyd White, and they are both all too eager to get Wales back into the top levels of the international men’s game.”
Whilst around 500 players will be taking to the field in Jets colours this year, Price has plans for expansion again in 2026.
“We want to go further east somewhere,” he said. “We have links with clubs in Monmouth and Abergavenny and an East Wales Jets isn’t out of the question.
“We also want to help expand the female game, hopefully starting this year. We are already holding girls U14s sessions and have one fixture tentatively planned. Hopefully we’ll have at least three or four games this season and it’ll grow for 2026. A wheelchair side connected to West Wales Jets isn’t out of the question either.
“I love rugby league and am passionate about Wales. All we at the Jets want to do is see Wales Rugby League succeed at every level, which I know is also the case at every other club. Together we can do this.”