Special tour brings from Rotherham RL stalwart backs to his roots

Craig Weston during his playing days with Rotherham.

Craig Weston, who was a player and coach with the now disbanded Rotherham Roosters, will be returning with the Capalaba Warriors this Easter.

Around ten years ago Craig moved to Brisbane with his family to start a new life.

His love for Rugby League brought him into contact with the Warriors, first as a player and then as a junior coach, where his ambition to bring a team back to the UK to tour started to take shape.

And it was his close friendship with Andy Tyers, also a former Rotherham Roosters player and coach and now chief executive officer at Sheffield Eagles RLFC, which has led to the Eagles hosting the Australian club's U16s UK tour this April.

Craig's team will play games against Dearne Valley Bulldogs, Milford Marlins, the Leeds Rhinos Academy and a curtain raiser against Normanton Knights before the Eagles' clash with Oldham at Castle Park in Doncaster on April 15.

Andy said: “Myself and Craig had some good times at Rotherham. We have kept in touch and I was with him in November when I did some coaching and fund-raising for the trip with his team.

“Coming over here is a fabulous experience for their young players, it's an opportunity of a lifetime Craig has put together for these lads.

“He is looking forward to catching up with some of his old mates and seeing how his new charges fair against the local sides.”

Weston coached the Roosters to promotions in the early 2000s and the club enjoyed success in the regional leagues, playing in front of good crowds at Herringthorpe Stadium before a lack of players caused them to fold.

“It's a real shame what happened to Rugby League in Rotherham,” recalled Andy. “We had a good side in the late 1990s and early 2000s but unfortunately we all grew old together and there weren't many players coming through.

“When Rotherham Giants started in the summer league there weren't the numbers for all-year-round rugby.

“It will be great for me to catch up with Craig again and he'd love to see old friends at the matches.”