Recently appointed CEO of Welsh Rugby League Richard Hibbard believes now is the time for rugby league to take hold in Wales.

He said this at the launch of the Welsh Rugby League Conference, a league which has a fresh new feel about it.

The league is now sponsored by JES Group, a company which offers pipeline installations along with structural steelwork design from their base of Port Talbot, and the league has a new trophy dedicated to the steel background.

The new format will see eight teams go head-to-head throughout the season with each team playing each other once, with one randomly drawn looped fixture.

Then the top four teams will go into the playoffs before a Grand Final at Neath’s The Gnoll ground on August 18^th.

The games begin this weekend as reigning champions South Wales Jets face Bridgend Blue Bulls on Saturday.

The other teams include Hibbard’s former club Aberavon Fighting Irish, Cynon Valley Cavaliers, Rhondda Outlaws, South Wales Saints, Swansea Rams and Torfaen Tigers.

Additionally, the league will be underpinned by youth competitions for U13s, U14s and U16s.

For Hibbard, it’s crucial league takes the learnings from Crusaders Rugby League who played in the Super League in 2009 and spent three seasons in the league before disbanding in 2011.

“For us it’s getting it right from the start,” said Hibbard.

“We’ve tried it before when we went too high club-wise with Crusaders which was a great and I loved it at the time but there was nothing coming through underneath it and without the development aspect it would always be difficult.

“We need to be financially stable make sure the bottom of the pyramid is really strong rather than have nothing to rest the top on and not blow our money on black and hope for the best.

“I know we produce quality rugby league players and I reckon we can unearth a couple of sleeping giants.

“It’s about introducing everybody to the brand and we want to expose everyone to rugby league.”

This new emphasis on league comes at an interesting time in the wider landscape of Welsh rugby.

Wales’ wheelchair side have secured their place at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, whilst Wales women are one game away as they prepare to face Netherlands in June.

The men’s side could also qualify but have spent a long period without a game, having not played at home in three years.

Additionally, whilst the traditional rivalry between union and league appears to be dissipating, league could take advantage of a period where the XV code is struggling.

“I think this is a huge time for rugby league,” said Hibbard.

“In a time of doom and gloom, rugby league is an entertaining, gladiatorial spectacle and what makes it better it’s a summer sport and it’s a prime opportunity for rugby clubs and players to go out and enjoy the sun.

“It’s fantastic to watch and even better to play. I hope this will catch the eye of people who’ve fallen out of love with rugby union and are looking for something to play.”

For Justin Johnson, Director at JES, sponsoring the league was a no-brainer.

“The discussion came about 10 days ago, I met with Richard [Hibbard] and the day after I said yes we want to sponsor the league,” said Johnson.

“Richard’s passion was contagious and I said yes as I want to be involved.

“Rugby is close to my heart and I’m from this town. My father played in the late 80s and it instilled me with a passion for it, I started playing at 17 and was lucky enough to play for Wales students at a World Cup in Sheffield.

“The way rugby union is going it’s pretty dire at the moment and this is a refreshing change in the summer without games being called off, it’s a fresh start.”

The trophy they will all be fighting for is inspired by the steelworks, which provided a key component to the league press day, held at Aberavon Green Kings RFC with Port Talbot steelworks in the background.

For Brandon Shaw, who is a coach at Cynon Valley Cavaliers, the league and development system is crucial for the South Wales Valleys.

“It’s the second year of us having a senior team and, having just missed out on the playoffs last year, we’ve got a good core of under 16s coming through and we’re in a stronger position and it’s exciting,” said Shaw.

“We’re based up in Hirwaun and they haven’t had mini and juniors teams up there, even in the union in I think in 10 years, so it’s good we’ve got every age group competing in the leagues, even the seniors so it’s nice to see rugby back up there and thriving.

“I’m a Hirwaun boy and used to play for the mini and juniors and the last few years have been hard to see, but it’s good to see people from all up the Cynon Valley coming to play.

“We have to be a bit more patient than other clubs, waiting for union to finish before we start with league training. We aim for middle of April for training but most of the boys didn’t finish union until the 18^th of May but as soon as the season kicks off everyone’s buzzing for it!”

For 21-year-old Alex Hounsell, who plays at Hibbard’s former club Aberavon Fighting Irish, the league is a fantastic opportunity for dual code players to play in.

“We’ve been deprived of rugby league in South Wales in my opinion and now that Richard has come in, it’s developing and we’re going places,” said Hounsell.

“There’s a history of rivalry between union and league but something’s changed and now we’ve got a lot of dual coders like myself and the sport is growing.”

With so many games getting called off in union due to incremental weather there has been a lot of talk about moving union to a summer calendar, something which is already in place in league.

South Wales Saints’ Max Hendy is another who is loving the opportunity league offers, particularly the brighter weather.

“Last year was the first season so it was a bit of a tough old season,” said Hendy.

“But we had a friendly last week and it’s already 10 times better and we’re gelling as a rugby league side.

“I’m really excited especially with the league expanding. I’ve been playing for about six years since the league was set up originally and it’s nice to see it expanding with a lot more competition.

“It’s good for fitness but the main thing if I’m honest is the weather. Playing December rugby union in Pen-y-Graig is not brilliant so it’s nice to have summer rugby!”

Saturday’s fixtures are South Wales Jets v Bridgend Blue Bulls, Swansea Rams v Cynon Valley Cavaliers and South Wales Saints v Rhondda Outlaws.