A CLACKS-BASED Rugby League team is hoping to secure a main sponsor ahead of next season's bid to defend their champion title.

Forth Valley Vikings, who became Scotland Rugby League winners last July before missing out on the cup in the finals, are hoping to secure a main sponsor for the upcoming season's kit in what could be a mutually beneficial partnership with a business in the Wee County or beyond.

Several sponsors have already been secured by the team, who play at Tillicoultry with many Clacks Rugby Union players involved in the summertime league.

Mark Milnes, team manager and one of the Vikings founders, told the Advertiser: "What we are really looking for is a local business within the Forth Valley area who would like some connection with the club.

"Currently we have sponsors in Tillicoultry, Stirling, Alva, Alloa and we could maybe go as far Falkirk, Grangemouth, a bit further into Stirling, even up to Dunfermline really."

Fresh kits were recently designed by a team member and the likes of McCormack Carpets from Alva, Rugbytots Stirling and Clacks, uGym in Tillicoultry and Number Nineteen Barbers in Stirling have already secured their spots on t-shirts.

However, the main title sponsor is still missing for the front of the shirt to help with travel costs and similar with £1,200 sought for a two-year deal.

On top of two full seasons with a space across the front of the shirt, sponsors are also promised a fair amount of exposure to FV Vikings followers and more.

Mark said: "It's the usual sports club exposure we can give them and what we try to do is: for example with Number Nineteen Barbers, we encourage all our players to go there and she gives us 10 per cent off a haircut.

"Whatever money she puts into the club in the short term, the guys are really putting back into the hair business.

"Same with the [McCormack] carpets – they've been good to us, we are good to them and we encourage it through all our players, supporters, family members as well – it's been mutually beneficial."

Rugby League games are played between May and September and many Vikings players come from union clubs in Alloa, Tilly, Dunfermline, Stirling and Falkirk – truly covering the whole Forth Valley region.

Established in 2020, Forth Valley Vikings have come a long way in a short period of time, going from winning their first game in 2021 to winning the league in the past season.

Reflecting, Mark said: "Within two season we went from nothing – so difficult to get players even to turn up – we've gone from that to winning the league last year and reaching the cup final.

"The guys absolutely put everything into it."

Businesses interested in sponsoring the team can email forthvalleyvikings@gmail.com or call 07359 296446.