Bears Sign Centre Kadeem Williams

Kadeem Williams - Centre

TT: Kadeem is a centre or winger, who has played a couple of seasons of League 1 now and is developing into strong, athletic outside back. He has played against the Bears a number of times, for both Gloucestershire All Golds and Hemel Stags. We now have a lot of depth on the backline, with some exciting players who know their way to the tryline. The addition of Kadeem will make everyone in those positions work harder to claim a starting shirt.

KW: I enjoyed my time at Hemel and learnt a lot about myself as a player. Another opportunity has thankfully opened up to me to gain more experience at a 1st team level. I am eager to continue my career at the Bears and show everyone in the team what I have to offer. 

Bears Sign Promising Prop Tiernan

Bears Sign Promising Prop Euan Tiernan

TT: Euan, an imposing frontrower in League, but from a Rugby Union background originally, hails from Brentwood in Essex and is studying at Coventry University. He turned up to our first training sessions for the University team (CURL) and immediately showed some excellent natural instincts for Rugby League. Since then, he has played just a handful of matches for CURL, but has been a standout in every one. He then attended our trial day and again impressed. He is a very physical and aggressive player who loves the defensive side of the game, but also has good understanding of his role as a prop and his work-rate and attitude is first class.  The progression he has shown in just 6 weeks of playing the game has given us more than enough confidence to sign him to the Bears for 2019 and I am sure he will put lots of pressure on the more experienced forwards ahead of him. 

ET:  Making the switch to rugby league this season has been a challenge, but I am enjoying the games differences from union. I'm looking forward to playing a very high standard of rugby with some great players this season. I'm aiming to develop as a player and hopefully make some regular appearances for the Bears.

Season Membership Offer Extended

With the announcement of our pre-season match versus Leeds Rhinos we have decided to extend our 2019 Season Ticket offer for one week until noon next Friday 7th December.

We are also revealing our exclusive gift which is a limited edition Coventry Bears pin badge produced by local Coventry company Etch & Pin which is included if you purchase before next fridays deadline. 

Bears exclusive pin badges (3 cm across)

Season Memberships includes all 11 Coventry Bears home games and our preseason match versus Leeds Rhinos. 

Adults  £105

Concessions  £95

Juniors 12-16 £35

Please purchase HERE

Leeds Rhinos Return in January

Leeds Rhinos swing into town in 2019

With the full list of Coventry Bears' 2019 fixtures now announced and pre-season training underway - it is time to get the Bears team into action!

Before the League One fixtures start, there is a real treat in store for fans of Rugby League, and sport in general as the mighty Leeds Rhinos have confirmed that they will be returning to the Butts Park Arena for a friendly on Friday January 18th.

The Rhinos, multiple Superleague winners and one of the biggest names in Rugby League, came down to Coventry on a cold and atmospheric Friday night before the start of last season.

And they were bowled over by the event which saw a record four figure attendance set as fans from across the region came along for some great entertainment.

Speaking at the event, the Rhinos CEO Gary Hetherington spoke in admiration of the Bears and how they were establishing the game in the Midlands, and this return visit is a testament to the high regard the club are held in across the game.

A year will have elapsed and Leeds will be looking to improve on their League position last season, and in preparation are expected to be bringing a strong team to represent the heartland city. New head coach David Furner and Head of Rugby Kevin Sinfield will also be in attendance on the night. 

They will face a Bears side containing many familiar faces from last year plus the first appearance of the Bears new signings including Aussie Nick Newman, England Student International Elliot Hall and a host of others sure to be eager to impress the coaches. 

Tickets are now on sale for this exciting event and are priced at £15 for an adult, £12 for a concession ticket and £5 for children (age 5-16 years). Coventry Bears 2019 season ticket holders will have access to this game for free included with the membership. Season tickets can be purchased by clicking here and are priced at £105 adult, £95 Concession and £35 for (12-16 year olds).

Last year the hospitality was a sell-out event and is set to be again this year!

Hospitality is a great opportunity to enjoy the event in style, where guests will have access to a members only bar prior to and during the game.  From 6pm you couldenjoy a seated two course hot meal, have access to table service for drinks during the meal and be able to watch the game from the inside bar or seated in the terraces with a central elevated position.

Hospitality tickets are priced at £45 per person and will include the following per guest:

• Match entry ticket

• Match day programme

• Two course meal

• Free onsite parking

The hospitality is fully accessible for all guests via an indoor lift. Tables will be set for 10 guests so if you want to reserve more than a couple of places, you are advised to contact Debbie via email: debbie.watson@coventrybears.co.uk

For visitors not local or familiar with the Butts Park Arena, the location is very central, just a short distance on foot from the city centre of Coventry. There is ample parking onsite and very nearby in an NCP carpark. A Premier Inn hotel is situated right next door to the stadium and other hotels are just a short walk away. Many local fans, staff and players will be around to meet fans after the game in the bar at the stadium and at local pubs thereafter making this an excellent social occasion to kick off your year.

LEEDS RHINOS TICKETS AND SEASON TICKETS

For more details and to buy tickets for Coventry Bears v Leeds Rhinos go to Eventbrite by clicking HERE

Coventry Bears Season tickets can also be purchased HERE and include this match

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Coventry Bears Full 2019 Fixture List

30 seconds with Ron Banks

Over the next few weeks, we’re getting to know a few of the stars of our recent season launch video a little better. Today we meet our President, Ron Banks.

The story of how Ron Banks got involved with the Coventry Bears has become something of a local legend…it was all down to an advert placed in the local paper 20 years ago.

Club founder Alan Robinson had taken out the ad, looking for people who wanted to be involved with a new rugby league side he was forming in the city.

Ron’s window of opportunity as a player might have closed, but for the rugby league-loving Barrow native now residing in the Midlands, it was a chance to get involved with his favourite sport, on his doorstep.

In the 20 years since Ron has helped the club with just about everything going.

That means selling raffle tickets, printing programmes, marking out the pitch and a whole host of other jobs too.

Now, he has the grand title of President and is someone you will definitely see on your next visit to a Bears match.

Ron said: “I’ve had some great memories from the last 20 years, but top of the list must be when we won National 3.

“I’m a lifelong Barrow Raiders supporter - originally. Now, I’m Bears through and through.”

Ron is also excited about where the club might go next, particularly after such a successful season in 2018.

He added: “I feel that we’re on a journey and that we could go right to the top in this game.”

If you’d like to follow in Ron’s footsteps and volunteer with us, then please get in touch!

If you want to join us for the next year of rugby league in Coventry, then snap up your season ticket now. They include access to all of our Betfred League 1 home matches, any home pre-season games, access to a members’ bar and free parking at all home games.

30 seconds with...Kieran Sherratt

Over the next few weeks, we’re getting to know a few of the stars of our recent season launch video a little better. Today, our subject is Kieran Sherratt.

As the song goes, sometimes ‘you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone’ - and it’s a lyric you can definitely attribute to Kieran Sherratt.

That’s not to say his stellar contributions on the pitch in 2018 weren’t noticed, but his three-month absence through injury midway through the year certainly hit the Bears hard.

It was no coincidence that his return to the fold saw results on the field take a swing in a positive direction as he added steel and nous to the Bears’ offering.

The Wigan Warriors academy product has played for Coventry University, England students and is now ready for his third season with the Bears having firmly established himself as a fans’ favourite.

Kieran said: “Since I’ve joined the Bears, the team has really grown and rugby league in the city has really developed.

“My hope for 2019 is that we go on, win more and cause more upsets in the future.”

Kieran is part of a host of 2018’s forwards to recommit to the Bears cause for 2019, and head coach Tom Tsang is delighted to have him back for another year.

Tom said: “Kieran is now a familiar face at the Bears, as he enters his third season with the club, and has established himself as one of our best players. A threat in attack, with good footwork, strength and awareness - Kieran has made the left second-row position his own, while also having the versatility and toughness to play other positions such as loose-forward and when needed, hooker. 

“He has really improved since he first joined us, not just technically, but also in terms of leadership qualities and his positive influence on the team. I think Kieran has a lot more improvement in his game and I am looking forward to seeing him kick on and have his best season to date in 2019.”

Kieran already has a sponsor in place for 2019, but if you’d to help one of his teammates then check out our excellent sponsorship packages.

If you want to join us for the next year of rugby league in Coventry, then snap up your season ticket now. They include access to all of our Betfred League 1 home matches, any home pre-season games, access to a members’ bar and free parking at all home games.

Bears sign Nathan Conroy

Coventry Bears are delighted to announce the signing of experienced hooker Nathan Conroy.

TT: When we reviewed our squad from last season, hooker was a position we targeted to improve, as we really struggled for consistency in this area, due to injury and inexperience and were looking for a player who can be a leader for us in such a crucial position and Conroy is just that. 

We have made it clear that we are working to a philosophy of locally based players, and Nathan does sit outside this, however when the opportunity arose to sign someone of his calibre it was something we couldn't overlook. I am extremely confident that Nathan's talent and experience will help speed up the development of some of our young players. 

With Mitch Shaw and Nathan we now have two excellent options at hooker. 

Conroy came through the Bradford Bulls youth system and has played Championship level RL for both the Bradford Bulls and Dewsbury Rams, before more recently being a key member of our rivals Keighley Cougars in League One. At just 23 he has already had a successful career and I look forward to working with him and helping him improve again.

NC: I wanted to sign for the Bears to give me a new challenge in my career. The Bears have improved a lot over the past few years and are now seen as a very respected team within the competition. I am looking forward to helping them progress even further and I believe I have the qualities to do this. I am looking forward to ripping in during the 2019 season and try and guide the team to their most successful season - something I believe is more than capable of happening. I'd like to thank Tom and the club for the opportunity and I am looking forward to meeting the lads and starting pre-season.

Help the Bears Roar!

We are very proud to announce a new initiative we have created for friends of the club to be able to assist further in our development. The Roar BearsBuilder Initiative. 

Many sports clubs have squad builders to allow friends to donate financially to the club and become part of its journey on another level.  

Members of the Roar will have the opportunity to have true behind the scenes insight into the club and our environment and get to know players and staff on a personal level.  

We will also be hosting special Roar fundraising events.

We hope you can join us and become a closer ambassador for the Bears while supporting us to reach the next level in our development as a club. 

Please click below to see a list of benefits of becoming a member of the Roar, what it means and how you can contribute: 

 http://www.coventrybears.com/bearsbuilder/

30 seconds with…the Bonsor family

Over the next few weeks, we’re getting to know a few of the stars of our recent season launch video a little better. This time, it’s the turn of one our generous sponsors - the Bonsors.

If you come along to a Bears match at the Butts Park Arena in 2019 (season tickets are available now but the way) then you’ll almost certainly see at least one member of the Bonsor family.

The whole gang are big Bears fans - so much so that they’ve been sponsors for four years and still love it.

Nigel Bonsor said: “We sponsor the Bears because we love the community interaction the players have - it’s wonderful to be able to see them after the game, they become real people rather than just players on the pitch, so it’s wonderful to engage with them in that way.”

Nigel and his wife Lina will not only gladly chat to you about their love of the Bears, but the latter will also happily give you a haircut too! Lina runs B-Salon in Bell Green and Bears season ticket holders are entitled to a 20% discount.

“I enjoy the fact that we’re all in it together,” Nigel added, “It’s a wonderful team, a wonderful fanbase and we are all one - we are the Bears and it’s wonderful to be part of that.”

As for Nigel’s favourite thing about the Bears?

“They’re just nice lads!” he said.

If you’d like to be like the Bonsors and become a Bears sponsor as we head into the next chapter of our story, then please get in touch! All of the details are available here.

You can also find out more about B-Salon on their website.

Fixtures for the 2019 season will be released on Sunday 25 November - if you want to join us for the next year of rugby league in Coventry, then snap up your season ticket now. They include access to all of our Betfred League 1 home matches, any home pre-season games, access to a members’ bar and free parking at all home games.

Jack Morrison Returns

Prop Forward Jack Morrison has Re-Signed for the Bears

TT: Regular followers of the Bears will know the story of Jack. When he joined us mid-way through 2015 he was a real find for us and the following year in 2016 he was one of the best front-rowers in the competition. 2017 was a down year by Jack's standards and due to his work situation, he left the club before the start of 2018, playing locally at top amateur NCL club, Ince Rose Bridge, in Wigan. We have kept in touch and with the departure of the likes of James Geurtjens and Malikhi Lloyd-Jones, we were looking for an experienced prop, so I offered Jack an opportunity to re-join the club in 2019. 

On his day, Jack is a damaging and powerful ball carrier and strong defender and we have seen him single-handed take opposition packs apart. He has taken up the challenge to get himself back into League 1 shape, and I have never seen him more motivated and focused on having a great season. I am looking forward to seeing him get back to where he should be - one of the best props in League 1.

JM: I am looking forward to getting back into it after a year away and get back with the lads and coaching staff. I am thankful for the opportunity handed to me by Tom and I am determined to repay that faith. It is going to be a big pre-season and year for me personally and for the team, and I am looking forward to all the challenges and fun times throughout the season, playing in front of the faithful Coventry supporters.