Chester Gladiators have launched an under-13s team for boys in Year 7 & 8 and are staging two free development days for prospective players.

The free development days will take place on June 4 and June 11 at The Cheshire County Sports Club between 10.30am and 12.30pm.

Players will take part in skills sessions, games and talent identification with club coaches and first-team players, while parents can find out more about the club and the new team, who will be playing friendlies through the summer months.

Club development officer Paul Foster said: "We're excited to start a new U13s team and we're keen to hear from anyone interested in playing for the team, regardless of experience.

"We have a new kit thanks to our sponsors Ungerer so now we need players to wear it. We started the season with four junior teams and they are going from strength to strength and this feels like the natural step, particularly as we've had quite a lot of interest in this age group.

Chester Gladiators are launching an U13s side to add to the existing U7s, U8s, U9s, and U11s teams
Chester Gladiators are launching an U13s side to add to the existing U7s, U8s, U9s, and U11s teams

"The team will be playing friendlies and festivals through the summer months so it's ideal for rugby union players who want to try a new code or keep up their fitness and develop new skills over the close season.

"We would encourage anyone whose children enjoy rugby at school or socially to come along to the development days, find out more about the club and take part in free coaching sessions."

Last season the Gladiators successfully launched U7s and U8s teams in the North West Counties and followed that with the launch of a new U7s team and an U11s team this season, and this is the next stage in the club’s continued growth.

Boys who currently play rugby league, those who play rugby union and those with no previous rugby experience are welcome to be part of the new team.

For more details or to book places for the development days email info@chestergladiators.com or text 07512 355396.

Impressive performances from Gladiators

Chester Gladiators U7s welcomed a bigger and more experienced Rylands Sharks team on Sunday morning but met the challenge head on with courageous defence and some superb tries with magic moment awards for Joseph Kearns and Ewan Cartwright.

The club’s U8s scored 14 tries in a thrilling end-to-end game with Culcheth Eagles Owls with Nathan Critchley and debutant Theo MacAndrew in red-hot form and strong displays from the whole team.

Chester’s U11s travelled to Shevington Sharks to take on a team with an impressive record this season and pushed them to the limit in a fantastic game. There were tries for Josh MacAndrew (2), Zach Brookes and Cormac Moore-Jones with conversion from Zach Brookes and Reuben Sharp.

Ewan Cartwright on his way to the try line for Chester Gladiators U7s against Rylands Sharks
Ewan Cartwright on his way to the try line for Chester Gladiators U7s against Rylands Sharks