MK Wolves are an amateur rugby league team based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. They compete in the East RL division of the RFL's Regional Leagues. They train at Emerson Valley Sports Pavilion which also serves as their home pitch, and is also home to Milton Keynes RUFC (MK RUFC). They are ranked club No. 153 by Pitchero.
History Background MK Wolves were founded in early 2012. MK Wolves played home games at the Emerson Valley Sports Pavilion from their inaugural season until 2015. The Emerson Valley Sports Pavilion was also home to MK RUFC.
England and Wigan player Sam Tomkins, who was born in Milton Keynes, agreed to become honorary chairman.
2012 The Wolves' first match was an away friendly against Hemel Stags, on 25 April 2012, which MK lost 20–6. Their only try was scored by prop Ian Gray, with captain Scott Aspinall converting it.
MK Wolves' first competitive match was a home game at Emerson Valley against Bedford Tigers on 5 May 2012, which MK lost 24–40.
+ MK Wolves' debut competitive match lineup Number Player Position 1 John Marchbank Fullback 2 Kieran Perry Right wing 3 Ian Umney Right centre 4 Simon Read Left centre 5 Kelvin Dwumfuo Left wing 6 Chris Melly Stand-off (or Five-eighth) 7 Scott Aspinall Scrum-half (or Halfback) 8 Ian Grey Prop 9 Mickey James Hooker 10 Kieran McConnell (Capt.) Prop 11 David Brown Second row 12 Stuart Tomkinson Second row 13 Phil Powell Loose forward (or Lock)
+ East RL Premier Division 2012 Win Draw Loss Position1 1 8 6th
MK's first league points came in a 24–24 home draw against Kings Lynn Black Knights in July. The club won its first victory the following week, on 14 July 2012, beating the previously undefeated St. Ives Roosters 3824. Head coach Gareth Edwards expressed his surprise in an MK News article, stating "I knew a win was coming, but honestly didn't expect it against the side who hadn't lost a game all season".
2013 + East RL Premier Division 2013 Win Draw Loss Position2 0 6 4th
In 2013, MK Wolves welcomed Hemel Stags and former Ireland international player Wayne Kelly on board as coach. He was heavily involved in the club's pre-season preparations, however after sustaining a serious injury during a match for the Hemel Stags, Kelly decided to return to his native Northern Ireland with his family. The club then appointed Abe Kerra former Bedford Tigers and Hemel Stags playerin his place. He already had experience with the players, having previously led fitness training sessions.
MK Wolves unveiled a new kit using the colours of white, black and red.
After wins against Bedford Tigers and Kings Lynn Black Knights, MK Wolves qualified for the play-offs. They were beaten in the semi-finals by top-of-the-tableand eventual play-off winnersNorth Herts Crusaders. They also made it to the East RL Shield Final, where they were beaten by St Ives Roosters 38–16.
2014 + East RL Premier Division 2014 Win Draw Loss Position3 0 7 5th
2014 began with a victory in the season-opening East RL 9's tournamentthe club's first ever silverware.
MK Wolves secured a spot in the East RL Cup semi-final by defeating Cambridge Lions 544. Notably, Cambridge did not have any substitutes, with Wolves head coach Abe Kerr stating: "we really saw the benefit of ... a much larger squad allowing us to regularly rotate tired and injured players – a luxury Cambridge didn't have."
On 7 June 2014, MK Wolves overcame reigning champions North Herts Crusaders on their home pitch; the score was 2612. It was the Crusaders' first loss in around two seasons.
At the inaugural 4-Counties Rugby League Tournament, an U16s inter-county tournamentwith teams from Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire and BuckinghamshireMK Wolves' U16s team represented Buckinghamshire. Ben Savage was nominated as man of the tournament for MK Wolves.
In the East RL Cup, MK Wolves lost in the semi-finals to Bedford Tigers.
The following week, in a match at Bedford, the game was overshadowed by an injury to player-coach Abe Kerr, which necessitated the summoning of the local Air Ambulance. He was flown to Bedford Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion. MK Wolves went on to lose the match to the Bedford Tigers 4810.
2015 In January 2015, before the start of the rugby league season, MK Wolves announced that their home ground would be moved to Manor Fields, in Bletchley.
A new coaching team was announced for the 2015 season: Jason Talbot, who was previously head coach of the Conference League South team at Bristol Sonics, and Mike Stewart, a former Super League player for Castleford Tigers, Batley Bulldogs, and the Dewsbury Rams. Stewart also captained the Scotland national team twice. Abe Kerr returned to his previous focus on player fitness.
Due to a lack of players, MK Wolves decided to drop from East Rugby League Premier Divison to East Entry League.
On 23 May, at their first home game at Manor Fields, and their first game in a grade below East Premier Division, MK Wolves lost to Bedford Tigers 3240.
The following week, against Kings Lynn Black Knights on 30 May, MK Wolves lost 4032.
2016 MK Wolves moved up to the East Division 1 competition in 2016.
The club's first points of the 2016 season came in a 3636 draw against Southend Spartans on 21 May 2016 in Essex.
On 23 June, MK Wolves lost 2612 to Kings Lynn Black Knights.
After Cambridge Lions forfeited, the club arranged to play a friendly match against Midlands South Premier Division team Northampton Demons. MK Wolves lost the match 6430, but scored more points than any of their other games of the season. Additionally, Cambridge Lions' forfeit meant that MK Wolves trailed competition leaders Kings Lynn Black Knights by a single competition point, as did Southend Spartans. However, Southend had a points differential of 16, compared to MK Wolves' 14.
MK Wolves played their next game against Southend Spartans, and came back from an early 120 deficit to lead 2016 at half time; MK Wolves won the match 3828, sending them to the top of the table. Kings Lynn moved into second, Southend Spartans into third, and Cambridge Lions remained in fourth.
On 30 July, Kings Lynn forfeited, ensuring MK Wolves finished the regular season at the top of the table.
The grand final of the East Rugby League Division 1 was played on 20 August 2016, between MK Wolves and Southend Spartans. While Southend Spartans led 100 at half-time, MK Wolves came back to win 3010. MK Wolves try-scorers included Stuart Tomkinson, Kai Muroi, Saope Sako, Dave Brown, and Ryan Eaton.
At the Player of the Year awards held later that night, the winners were: Young Player Of The Year: Ryan Eaton Most Improved: Munsukh Punian Players' Player: Scott Aspinall Man of Steel: Scott Aspinall
The full grand final squad was: Scott Aspinall (Capt.) Ryan Jordan Jordan Cummins Kelvin Dwumfuo Chris Melly Nathan Thomas Stuart Tomkinson Kai Muroi Ed Kilby Callum Moon Dave Brown Brian Purcell Stuart Bowers Ciaran Walter Nathan Hubert Saope Soko Dil Punian Munsukh Punian
2017 A friendly match on 16 April between Bedford Tigers and MK Wolves resulted in a 4216 Bedford victory.
On 6 May, MK Wolves defeated Luton Vipers 3432 after scoring and converting two last-minute tries.
In June, at MKRuggerfest, a rugby sevens festival, MK Wolves beat the Barbarians to win the Beer Drinkers tournament.
MK Wolves announced in August 2017 that they would be withdrawing from the East RL Division 1 competition, citing season-long issues and, particularly, miscommunications about the awarding of competition points.
Honours + Club honoursLeagueSeasonTeamRefEast Rugby League 9's2014MK WolvesEast Rugby League Division 12016/17MK RLFC 1st Team
+ Player honours InternationalPlayerTeamRefWayne KellyIrelandMike StewartScotland
See also
Rugby league in Great Britain and Ireland Rugby league in the United Kingdom
References