A RUGBY LEAGUE team has been founded in Clackmannanshire and is looking for players to join the team.

Forth Valley Vikings were recently founded by Kris Illingworth who has been playing Rugby Union with Hillfoots RFC since moving to the Wee County from West Yorkshire three years ago.

He decided to start the new team to introduce the variant to the Wee County and give an opportunity to the community to try out something new.

Kris said: "Rugby League is a summer sport and nothing beats walking out onto a rugby pitch with your mates on a warm summer's day.

"Union players from Alloa, Hillfoots and even beyond to Stirling could use this as a chance to keep their fitness while in the off-season."

Kris has been playing with Hillfoots RFC since he moved to the area and explained how he got started.

He said: "I was living in Alloa at the time, and a couple of the guys I'd started talking to were involved with Hillfoots RFC.

"I've played Rugby League all my life and never played Rugby Union but they said to me just to come along because I had rugby experience. I went to their pre-season game with Alloa, enjoyed it and then started going to training."

Kris was playing Rugby League throughout the summer in Fife during his time with Hillfoots RFC; however, he believes the Fife team are relocating, and so the idea of a new team was born.

The Vikings are looking for new players experienced or not with rugby to sign up and join the team, as Rugby League in Scotland is still hoping to have a season this year in the summer with nearly 40 players interested already.

Players aged 16 and over are invited to join the open age men's team and there are plans to start recruiting an U16s team to be put into the U16s league for 2022 depending on participation.

Kris continued: "Everybody's got to start somewhere so even if they've not got much experience and want to go along and have a go, at least there's loads of people there.

"Even if they want to train and not play. Not only will it help people's fitness improve but their mental health too."

After Covid-19 wreaked havoc on the sporting calendar, Kris believes there's no time like the present to get involved.

He added: "There's no point now in should I or shouldn't I, just come along and have a go and see if you like it."

Forth Valley Vikings RL will be based out of the Hillfoots RFC facilities in Tillicoultry.

For more details, email forthvalleyvikings@gmail.com