# South Wales Warriors

The South Wales Warriors are a British American football team based in Llanharan, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. They play in SFC 1 West for the 2022 season. The team was formed in 2001 after the Tiger Bay Warriors had disbanded due to the departure of head coach Rob Mota, along with key staff and players, by the remaining players and staff; the staff used equipment, resources and shirts from the folded Tiger Bay Warriors for economical purposes.
They play their home games at the home of Llanharan rugby club. In the 2008 season the South Wales Warriors won their conference with a record of 9 wins and 1 loss before losing their playoff quarter-final to the Cambridgeshire Cats. However, they were promoted following the reorganisation of the BAFL for the 2009 season. They were relegated to Division 2 West during the 2010 BAFA Community League restructure.
In 2011, the Warriors finished the regular season as runners up in the Division 2 West and finished fifth seed in Division 2 enabling them to enter the playoffs, eventually winning promotion and Division 2 Championship on 25 September at the Britbowl Championships held at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
In 2012, the Warriors finished the Season with a record of 6 wins and 4 losses leaving them out of the playoffs and 4th in the Division 1 South and Central Division.
After being promoted to the BAFANL Premier South during the 2012/2013 league restructure, they played various teams from the southern half of the UK and primarily the 3 major London teams, London Warriors, London Blitz and London Olympians. After the end of the 2013 season, the club suffered heavily from the loss of key players to their Premier South rivals Bristol Aztecs across the border in England. This included Britball MVP Quarterback Gareth Thomas and wide receiver Benny Sherwood. The Warriors played through the following 3 seasons in the Premier South, culminating in their best Premier South record of 3 wins, 1 tie and 5 losses in 2016.
For the 2017 season, BAFA and the Warriors had taken the mutual decision to be demoted to the SFC 1 Central division after retirements and injuries to several veteran Warriors. For this they are unable to progress to the Post Season finals of SFC 1 Central for the 2017 and 2018 Season, and therefore be promoted to the Premier South division.

## History
### South Wales Warriors (2001 to 2010)

In 2001, the team was formed as the South Wales Warriors and were admitted into the British Senior League to compete in Division Two South. After a year out of action, they found the going tougher and finished with a 2–5–1 record. The following two seasons repeated this pattern, with the Warriors finishing with 3–6 and 5–5 records in 2002 and 2003 respectively. However, 2004 saw a vast improvement and they finished second in their group with a 7–2–1 record, making the playoffs for the first time since reforming. Unfortunately, they were knocked out at the first stage, losing their quarter-final 6–30 to the Chiltern Cheetahs.
This feat was repeated in 2005, finishing the regular season in second place before losing their playoff quarter-final. In 2006, the Warriors once again finished in second place, clinching their spot on the last match day of the regular season with a 27–21 win away to the Andover Thrashers. They were drawn at home to the Essex Spartans for their wildcard playoff. The Warriors posted an impressive win, however, the visitors complained to the BAFL that the pitch at Bedwas RFC was too short, and therefore did not comply with league rules. After consultations between the two teams, the game was played as normal but the BAFL decided afterwards that the Warriors would forfeit the game, and therefore the game was awarded to the Spartans as a 1–0 victory.
The 2007 season saw the Warriors get over their play-off disappointment by winning their group with a near-perfect 9–1 record to win their second ever conference championship. A 13–7 quarter-final win against the Cambridgeshire Cats set up a semi-final tie away to the Norwich Devils, who came into this game on the back of a perfect 10–0 regular season and a quarter-final win against the Cornish Sharks. Unfortunately for the Warriors they were unable to beat an impressive home team, going down 28–43.

### South Wales Warriors (2011)

The 2011 Season saw the Warriors compete in the reformed BAFA National Leagues. The opening game of the season saw them take on the Gloucester Banshees and win 46–0, one of four shut out games that season, which were to set the tone of the Warriors season. Eight wins and two defeats to the hands of the Berkshire Renegades resulted in the team finishing runners up in the Division 2 West league and entering the playoffs as wild card fifth seed. The quarter finals against the Kent Exiles resulted with a 33–13 Warriors victory . The Warriors then moved on to the semi-finals at the home ground of the Lancashire Wolverines in Blackburn. The Wolverines were soundly beaten 32–17, leading to a South Wales Warriors and West Coast Trojans Britbowl final at Crystal Palace and promotions to Division 1 for both teams. The Division 2 Britbowl final was played on 25 September 2011 at the Crystal Palace Stadium, London, with the final result of 48–20 to the Warriors crowning them Britbowl XXV BAFANL Division 2 Champions.

### South Wales Warriors (2012)

2012 saw the newly promoted Warriors to Division 1 South and Central play a condensed season of football (10 Games over 13 weeks). The warriors had a mixed result to the season, winning six games and losing four. The Warriors home game to Essex Spartans was postponed from 16 June to 15 July due to adverse weather conditions affecting large parts of mainland Britain at the time, the subsequent game was forfeited after Essex were unable to field a team. The Warriors managed to keep a 100% home record for the season which left them finishing in fourth place within the division.
On 23 September it was announced that the South Wales Warriors were to be promoted to the Premiership South Division after an expansion programme run by BAFA.

### South Wales Warriors (2013)

2013 saw the newly promoted Warriors in the expanded Premiership South Conference and played a season of 10 games from end of April till the end of August. The Warriors played each club in the Conference once give a total of 5 away games and 5 home games. The Warriors started the season at home to Peterborough Saxons, which ended in a narrow loss and ended the season on the road to London Olympians, which again was a narrow loss. The Warriors finished 9th in the division and started to get ready for their second season in the Premiership South Conference.

### South Wales Warriors (2014)

2014 saw the Warriors again in the Premiership South Conference and played a season of 8 games from end of April till the end of August (8 as Sussex Thunder pulled out before the season began.) The Warriors played each club in the Conference once – a total of 4 away games and 4 home games. The Warriors started the season at home to Colchester Gladiators, which ended in a victory and ended the season at home to the London Olympians, which was a narrow loss. The Warriors finished 6th in the division with a 3–5 record, with victories in the home games against Colchester Gladiators, East Kent Mavericks and Cambridgeshire Cats, and defeats against Bristol Aztecs, London Blitz, London Warriors, London Olympians and Berkshire Renegades.

## Senior team season records
### Summary

| Season | Division | P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Final Position | Playoff record | Notes |
| 2001 | BAFL Division 2 South | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 66 | 104 | 7 / 9 | — | First season competing |
| 2002 | BSL Division 2 South | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 258 | 128 | 7 / 19 | — | — |
| 2003 | BSL Division 2 South West | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 158 | 172 | 4 / 6 | — | — |
| 2004 | BSL Division 2 South West | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 228 | 129 | 2 / 6 | Lost 6–30 to Chiltern Cheetahs in quarter-final. | — |
| 2005 | BAFL Division 2 South West | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 298 | 71 | 2 / 6 | Lost 16–30 to Kent Exiles in quarter-final. | — |
| 2006 | BAFL Division 2 West | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 285 | 93 | 2 / 5 | Defeated Essex Spartans in wild card playoff. | Forfeited the game against Essex Spartans on 80 yard pitch technicality. |
| 2007 | BAFL Division 2 South West | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 255 | 91 | 1 / 5 | Beat Cambridgeshire Cats 13–7 in quarter-final. Lost 28–43 to Norwich Devils in semi-final. | Conference champions |
| 2008 | BAFL Division 2 South West | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 255 | 59 | 1 / 5 | Beat Colchester Gladiators 21–12 in wild-card playoff. Lost 7–21 to Cambridgeshire Cats in quarter-final. | Conference champions. Regular season record includes one win by forfeit. Promoted to Division One. |
| 2009 | BAFL Division 1 South West | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 194 | 86 | 3 / 5 | — | — |
| 2010 | BAFACL Division 1 South West | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | ? | ? | ? / ? | — | Relegated to Division 2 West |
| 2011 | BAFANL Division 2 West | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 317 | 66 | 2 / 6 | Beat Kent Exiles 33–13 in quarter finals playoff. Beat the Lancashire Wolverines 32–17 in semi finals playoff. Beat the West Coast Trojans 48–20 to win Division 2 Britbowl Final at Crystal Palace. | Finished Western Conference as runners up to Berkshire Renegades. Britbowl XXV BAFANL Division 2 Champions. Promoted to Division 1 South and Central |
| 2012 | BAFANL Division 1 South and Central | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 270 | 192 | 4 / 8 | — | Promoted to Premiership South through Premiership Expansion Programme |
| 2013 | BAFANL Premiership South | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 93 | 302 | 9 / 11 | — | — |
| 2014 | BAFANL Premiership South | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 58 | 244 | 6 / 9 | — | — |
| 2015 | BAFANL Premiership South | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 41 | 331 | 5 / 5 | — | — |
| 2016 | BAFANL Premiership South | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 150 | 347 | 5 / 6 | — | Demoted to BAFANL SFC 1 Central under mutual agreement during the 2017 league restructure. |
| 2017 | BAFANL SFC 1 Central | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 56 | 196 | 5 / 5 | — | Demoted to BAFANL SFC 2 West. |
| 2018 | BAFANL SFC 2 West | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 310 | 12 | 1 / 6 | Beat Worcestershire Black Knights 1–0 in Quarter-finals. Black Knights forfeit game due to player levels. Lost 37–12 to Portsmouth Dreadnoughts in Semi-finals. | BAFANL SFC 2 West Conference Champions |
| 2019 | BAFANL SFC 2 West | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 298 | 54 | 1 / 6 | Beat Bristol Apache 28–3 in Quarter-final. Beat London Blitz B 16–6 in Semi-finals. Beat Bournemouth Bobcats 0–13 in Final. | Britbowl XXXIII BAFANL SFC 2 Champions SFC 2 West Conference Champions Promoted to Division 1 |
| 2020 | BAFANL SFC 1 Central | – | – | – | – | – | – / – | — | League Season cancelled Due To COVID-19 Outbreak. |
| 2021 | BAFANL Severn Division | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 96 | 2 / 6 | — | Localised League Season Due To COVID-19. |
| 2022 | BAFANL SFC 1 West | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 101 | 134 | 4 / 6 | — | — |
| 2023 | BAFANL SFC 1 West | 10 | – | – | – | – | – | -/6 | — | — |

### 2011 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 24 April 2011 | WARRIORS @ Gloucester Banshees | 46–0 | — |
| 7 May 2011 | Bristol Apache @ WARRIORS | 0–34 | — |
| 28 May 2011 | Cornish Sharks @ WARRIORS | 8–42 | — |
| 5 June 2011 | WARRIORS @ Berkshire Renegades | 6–9 | — |
| 19 June 2011 | Gloucester Banshees @ WARRIORS | 14–46 | — |
| 26 June 2011 | Berkshire Renegades @ WARRIORS | 19–14 | — |
| 9 July 2011 | WARRIORS @ Bristol Apache | 54–8 | — |
| 16 July 2011 | Bournemouth Bobcats @ WARRIORS | 0–34 | — |
| 23 July 2011 | WARRIORS @ Cornish Sharks | 22–0 | — |
| 6 August 2011 | WARRIORS @ Bournemouth Bobcats | 19–8 | — |
| 29 August 2011 | WARRIORS @ Kent Exiles | 33–13 | Wild card playoff |
| 5 September 2011 | WARRIORS @ Lancashire Wolverines | 32–17 | Playoff semi final |
| 25 September 2011 | WARRIORS @ West Coast Trojans | 48–20 | Britbowl Playoff final at Crystal Palace |

### 2012 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 28 April 2012 | Hampshire Thrashers @ WARRIORS | 18–34 | — |
| 6 May 2012 | WARRIORS @ Berkshire Renegades | 20–22 | — |
| 26 May 2012 | Kent Exiles @ WARRIORS | 12–56 | — |
| 2 June 2012 | WARRIORS @ Sussex Thunder | 13–28 | — |
| 10 June 2012 | WARRIORS @ Hampshire Thrashers | 42–13 | — |
| 16 June 2012 | Essex Spartans @ WARRIORS | P–P | Postponed due to adverse weather conditions |
| 23 June 2012 | WARRIORS @ Cambridgeshire Cats | 36–44 | — |
| 7 July 2012 | East Kent Mavericks @ WARRIORS | 12–18 | — |
| 14 July 2012 | WARRIORS @ East Kent Mavericks | 15–17 | — |
| 15 July 2012 | Essex Spartans @ WARRIORS | 0–1 | Essex forfeited |
| 28 July 2012 | Sussex Thunder @ WARRIORS | 26–35 | — |

### 2013 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 28 April 2013 | Peterborough Saxons @ WARRIORS | 13–8 | — |
| 4 May 2013 | WARRIORS @ East Kent Mavericks | 26–35 | — |
| 25 May 2013 | WARRIORS @ Sussex Thunder | 0–20 | — |
| 9 June 2013 | London Warriors @ WARRIORS | 56–0 | — |
| 22 June 2013 | WARRIORS @ Cambridgeshire Cats | 14–30 | — |
| 30 June 2013 | Bristol Aztecs @ WARRIORS | 41–0 | — |
| 14 July 2013 | Ipswich Cardinals @ WARRIORS | 7–12 | — |
| 3 August 2013 | WARRIORS @ London Blitz | 0–69 | — |
| 10 August 2013 | Berkshire Renegades @ WARRIORS | 18–33 | — |
| 25 August 2013 | WARRIORS @ London Olympians | 0–13 | — |

### 2014 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 27 April 2014 | WARRIORS @ London Blitz | 0–43 | — |
| 4 May 2014 | Colchester Gladiators @ WARRIORS | 12–14 | — |
| 11 May 2014 | WARRIORS @ Bristol Aztecs | 0–52 | — |
| 25 May 2014 | WARRIORS @ Berkshire Renegades | 6–7 | — |
| 8 June 2014 | East Kent Mavericks @ WARRIORS | 14–17 | — |
| 29 June 2014 | Cambridgeshire Cats @ WARRIORS | 20–21 | — |
| 20 July 2014 | WARRIORS @ London Warriors | 0–70 | — |
| 10 August 2014 | London Olympians @ WARRIORS | 26–0 | — |

### 2015 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 26 April 2015 | WARRIORS @ Bristol Aztecs | 7–35 | — |
| 10 May 2015 | WARRIORS @ London Olympians | 10–27 | — |
| 24 May 2015 | London Warriors @ WARRIORS | 49–0 | — |
| 7 June 2015 | London Olympians @ WARRIORS | 22–18 | — |
| 14 June 2015 | Bristol Aztecs @ WARRIORS | 49–0 | — |
| 28 June 2015 | London Blitz @ WARRIORS | 59–6 | — |
| 18 July 2015 | WARRIORS @ London Blitz | 0–49 | — |
| 26 July 2015 | WARRIORS @ London Warriors | 0–41 | — |

### 2016 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 17 April 2016 | WARRIORS @ London Warriors | 0–71 | — |
| 1 May 2016 | WARRIORS @ London Olympians | 35–18 | — |
| 8 May 2016 | WARRIORS @ London Blitz | 6–27 | — |
| 22 May 2016 | WARRIORS @ Bristol Aztecs | 27–27 | — |
| 5 June 2016 | Farnham Knights @ WARRIORS | 28–30 | — |
| 12 June 2016 | London Olympians @ WARRIORS | 13–20 | — |
| 26 June 2016 | London Warriors @ WARRIORS | 35–0 | — |
| 10 July 2016 | London Blitz @ WARRIORS | 48–0 | — |
| 17 July 2016 | WARRIORS @ Farnham Knights | 14–32 | — |
| 31 July 2016 | Bristol Aztecs @ WARRIORS | 48–18 | — |

### 2017 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 9 April 2017 | Ouse Valley Eagles @ WARRIORS | 14–12 | — |
| 23 April 2017 | Oxford Saints @ WARRIORS | 13–6 | — |
| 30 April 2017 | Sussex Thunder @ WARRIORS | 14–8 | — |
| 7 May 2017 | WARRIORS @ Solent Thrashers | 0–20 | — |
| 13 May 2017 | WARRIORS @ Sussex Thunder | 6–17 | — |
| 11 June 2017 | WARRIORS @ Ouse Valley Eagles | 0–3 | — |
| 18 June 2017 | WARRIORS @ Solent Thrashers | 8–15 | — |
| 25 June 2017 | WARRIORS @ Oxford Saints | 0–42 | — |
| 8 July 2017 | Sussex Thunder @ WARRIORS | 17–0 | — |
| 30 July 2017 | Solent Thrashers @ WARRIORS | 41–16 | — |

### 2018 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 5 April 2018 | WARRIORS @ Somerset Wyverns | 8–6 | — |
| 6 May 2018 | Jurassic Coast Raptors @ WARRIORS | 0–50 | — |
| 13 May 2018 | Cornish Sharks @ WARRIORS | -–- | Postponed due to Cornish Sharks player levels. Rearranged for 24 June 2018. |
| 17 June 2018 | WARRIORS @ Worcestershire Black Knights | 48–0 | — |
| 24 June 2018 | Cornish Sharks @ WARRIORS | 0–64 | — |
| 1 July 2018 | Worcestershire Black Knights @ WARRIORS | 0–48 | — |
| 8 July 2018 | WARRIORS @ Torbay Trojans | 14–6 | — |
| 22 July 2018 | Torbay Trojans @ WARRIORS | 0–42 | Warriors crowned SFC2 West Champions. |
| 5 August 2018 | WARRIORS @ Cornish Sharks | 36–0 | — |
| 11 August 2018 | Worcestershire Black Knights @ WARRIORS | 0–1 | Playoff Quarter-finals – Worcestershire Black Knights Forfeit |
| 18 August 2018 | Portsmouth Dreadnoughts @ WARRIORS | 37–12 | Playoff Semi-finals |

### 2019 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 28 April 2019 | WARRIORS @ Cornish Sharks | 33–0 | — |
| 12 May 2019 | Worcestershire Black Knights @ WARRIORS | 0–55 | — |
| 19 May 2019 | WARRIORS @ Bristol Apache | 46–21 | — |
| 2 June 2019 | Somerset Wyverns @ WARRIORS | 6–29 | — |
| 9 June 2019 | WARRIORS @ Somerset Wyverns | 26–7 | — |
| 23 June 2019 | WARRIORS @ Torbay Trojans | 49–14 | — |
| 7 July 2019 | Torbay Trojans @ WARRIORS | 6–10 | — |
| 4 August 2019 | Cornish Sharks @ WARRIORS | 0–51 | — |
| 11 August 2019 | Bristol Apache @ WARRIORS | 3–28 | Quarter-finals |
| 18 August 2019 | London Blitz B @ WARRIORS | 6–16 | Semi-finals |
| 31 August 2019 | Bournemouth Bobcats @ WARRIORS | 0–13 | Britbowl Playoff final at New River Stadium, London |

### 2021 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 25 July 1921 | WARRIORS @ Worcestershire Black Knights | 28–0 | — |
| 8 August 1921 | WARRIORS @ Birmingham Bulls | 14–18 | — |
| 15 August 1921 | Swindon Storm @ WARRIORS | 0–12 | — |
| 22 August 1921 | Hereford Stampede @ WARRIORS | P–P | Hereford informed SWW that they couldn't fulfil fixture |
| 5 September 1921 | WARRIORS @ Hereford Stampede | 22–12 | — |
| 12 September 1921 | Bristol Aztecs @ WARRIORS | 36–0 | Played at Filton SGS – Wise Campus |
| 19 September 1921 | Worcestershire Black Knights @ WARRIORS | P–P | WBK informed SWW that they couldn't fulfil fixture |
| 3 October 1921 | WARRIORS @ Bristol Aztecs | 0–20 | — |

### 2022 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 10 April 1922 | Hertfordshire Cheetahs @ WARRIORS | 13–7 | — |
| 17 April 1922 | Rushmoor Knights @ WARRIORS | 43–20 | — |
| 24 April 1922 | WARRIORS @ Oxford Saints | 7–7 | — |
| 15 May 1922 | WARRIORS @ Bournemouth Bobcats | 5–12 | — |
| 22 May 1922 | Oxford Saints @ WARRIORS | 2–31 | — |
| 19 June 1922 | Portsmouth Dreadnoughts @ WARRIORS | 0–13 | — |
| 26 June 1922 | Bournemouth Bobcats @ WARRIORS | 6–12 | — |
| 3 July 1922 | WARRIORS @ Hertfordshire Cheetahs | 6–15 | — |
| 24 July 1922 | WARRIORS @ Rushmoor Knights | 0–33 | — |
| 31 July 1922 | WARRIORS @ Portsmouth Dreadnoughts | 0–3 | — |

### 2023 results

| Date | Fixture | Result | Notes |
| 30 April 1923 | WARRIORS @ Bournemouth Bobcats | 13–7 | — |
| 7 May 1923 | Hertfordshire Cheetahs @ WARRIORS | 29–0 | — |
| 14 May 1923 | Rushmoor Knights @ WARRIORS | 21–14 | — |
| 28 May 1923 | WARRIORS @ Oxford Saints | 0–3 | — |
| 4 June 1923 | Bournemouth Bobcats @ WARRIORS | 16–14 | — |
| 11 June 1923 | WARRIORS @ Rushmoor Knights | 14–23 | — |
| 25 June 1923 | Oxford Saints @ WARRIORS | 2–25 | — |
| 2 July 1922 | Bristol Apache @ WARRIORS | 0–3 | — |
| 23 July 1922 | WARRIORS @ Hertfordshire Cheetahs | – | — |
| 6 August 1922 | WARRIORS @ Bristol Apache | – | — |

## Game venue and training

The home of the South Wales Warriors from 2009 has been the Dairy Field, home of Llanharan RFC, which is situated around half an hour north west of Cardiff. The ground was purchased by the rugby club in 1989. A 440-seat stand was built shortly afterwards, with a bank of covered terracing built on the opposite side two years later and a new clubhouse was built in 2002 on the site of the local British Legion Club. It is one of only three American football venues in the United Kingdom to use a referee's microphone. The team also use Roath Park Recreational Ground for informal training sessions.
For the 2008 season, the Warriors played their home games at Sully Sports & Leisure Centre, located in the village of Sully, just outside Barry. They shared this ground with a number of local sports teams including Sully rugby club and a baseball club. For the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the Warriors played their home matches at the Bridge Field, located in Bedwas, Caerphilly, which they shared with Bedwas rugby club.
Before this, the team were based in Cardiff with most of their games played at Canton rugby club, and a few games also being played at Llanrumney Leisure Centre and Roath Park Recreational Ground. While Llanharan RFC play on the Dairyfield toward the end of the UK Rugby season, the Warriors train on 3G Astroturf at Y Pant Comprehensive School, Pontyclun during winter months and the Llanharan Welfare Ground during the Spring Months.