The Bears players have been preparing for the new season off the field, but the club has also been developing a new kit design and now we need your help.

USA illustration company Ink Tycoon who developed the new Bears logo brand have been looking at a new Jersey  design and have come up with some stunning ideas.  The designs are all so good we couldnt choose a winner so this is where you ‘the Bears fan’ comes in!

For this weekend the Bears would like your feedback and are launching a campaign to select the new Jersey design that the Bears First team will wear in 2012. There are also other options to use the designs for training shirts and promotional jerseys but the primary goal is to pick a design which will be developed into the main first team playing  jersey.

All you have to do is comment and like the jersey of your choice on the Bears facebook fanpage, then once you have commented/liked, your name will go into a draw to win a jersey once it is manufactured.

Facebook link here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/CoventryBearsRL

Bears Alan Robinson commented: I cant wait to see what people think as these designs are at the cutting edge of sports design. Mike Ray from Ink Tycoon is a very respected illustrator in the USA sports market and has years of experience creating branding and imagery for some of the top sports teams in the states. I think the designs show the forward thinking nature of the our club and that we want to stand out from the crowd and not make an easy choice of hoops or a V design for a jersey.  There was alot of debate from behind the scenes at the club so we thought the best thing was to let the fans decide the outcome!

Coventry Bears Head of Rugby Alan Robinson commented:

This was a great start, we have been recruiting well and its good to see a large amount of new players coming down to the club and getting a taste of what we have to offer. Part of the new partnership with Coventry RFC means we can share facilities and the York Fitness performance Gym at Woodlands Academy is perfect for large squad sessions. Speaking to the coaches we are having a big focus on fitness, teamwork and building a good environment, and this certainly allows us to do that. Im looking forward to the U18s and mens squads developing over the next few months in preparation for the season.

Until further notice Coventry Bears Squad training for all U18′s, Mens A team and First team take place on Tuesdays 7pm at the Coventry RFC Performance Gym at Woodlands Academy, Broad lane, Coventry, CV5 7FF. (please note this is not in the powerleague building but through the school gates at the back of the school grounds to the right of the site)

Bears announce pre-season training

The Bears pre season training dates have now been announced for all Mens teams, the Bears are recruiting players for U18 and First teams including the newly formed Midlands Premier Bears A team.

Coventry Bears new community manager Barry McGuffog commented:

Everyone is looking forward to getting stuck into Rugby League again we have had a great response so far to player recruitment. It should be exciting to see what our two first team coaches have in store. We have some fantastic facilities available now having both the Xcel centre and Coventry RFC gym at our disposal. We are now in a great position to re-launch our Men’s A team as with our development work we have quite a few players coming through our pathway from our junior section. Along with a large squad planned for our first team and new partnerships developed with Coventry University and other sectors we are hoping to have a very strong pool of players available at senior level.

New Coventry Bears First team coach Tom Tsang commented on becoming First team coach and the season ahead:

“After aggravating an old shoulder injury playing for the Bears last year, I faced a tough decision whether to retire from playing or not. So when Alan Robinson offered me the opportunity to join the coaching staff with the Mens 1st team, I jumped at the chance. I believe the Bears are a forward thinking club, and have the potential to do some great things for Rugby League and sport in the region. “Pre-season is due to start on the 19^th January, and the new and returning players can expect it to be tough, hard work, but there will definitely be an emphasis on enjoyment and team bonding. Our aim is to reach the play-offs this year, and then challenge for the title – to do so we will need a large squad of players who are willing to go that extra mile for their team-mates.”

The Bears have a big year ahead with the First team competing in the RLC National and newly formed Bears A team competing in the Midlands Premier division. We are now seeking players of all levels and experience so please get in touch through the links below or just pop along to preseason training and have a look at what the Bears have to offer.

Pre season Training will commence on Thursday 19th January 2012, 7pm-9pm and will then change to Tuesdays from the week after Tuesday 24th January, 7pm -9pm.

Training Venue: Xcel Centre, Canley, Coventry, CV4 8DY

Contact us through our PLAY FOR form on the homepage to be added to our team mailing list

Divisions for next year;

RLC National Division (still to be fully tbc)

Coventry Bears, Nottingham Outlaws, Bramley Buffaloes, Warrington Wizards, Huddersfield Underbank, Dewsbury Celtic, Valley Cougars, Bristol Sonics, St Albains Centurions, Hemel Stags

RLC Midlands Premier

Coventry Bears A team, Leicester Storm First team, Northampton Demons First team, Birmingham Bulldogs First team, Coventry Dragons, Gloucestershire Warriors

Midlands U18s division;

Coventry Bears, Birmingham Bulldogs, NEW Ravens, Northampton

New Coventry Bears Head of Rugby Alan Robinson explains. We have become increasingly business orientated over the past few months and have been making some read inroads into developing local partnerships both on the commercial and playing sides. We have also spent a lot of time looking at what we need to do to put ourselves in a better position to be considered for Championship one in the near future. It was mainly due to this that I have decided to step back from direct coaching to concentrate more on overall club development. I will still be involved in developing our coaching and support our coaches at all levels but we are in a much stronger position now with the right personel being available at the club to deliver what we need at the highest level.

Appointments in the new look staffing team:

Community Manager

To develop our junior and youth Rugby and help to sustain a flow of development through to our men’s A and First teams, we have appointed Barry McGuffog as our new community manager. Barry originally from Barrow in Cumbria brings a wealth of coaching and playing experience both overseas and in this country he also has a valuable network of experienced rugby league officers at other professional clubs which he can call upon for advice. One such example was how he has set up a pathway in the South of France for a number of our First team players in the off season.

First Team Coach

Next new appoitment is to the Bears First team staff. Tom Tsang has been appointed as First team coach and will work alongside our other current First team coach Mark Sloan. Tom is currently studying for his level 3 coaching cert and is rubbing shoulders with some of the best professional coaches in the game, he has decided to step back from playing due to further shoulder problems so it took no time at all for him to take this offer from the Bears and decide to concentrate fully on his coaching development. Current coach at Loughborough University First team and a former Leeds Metropolitan student, Tom has pedegree at England and Great Britain student level as both a player and a coach. He will add real value to the club.

 
We are very lucky to have such experience at our disposal I have every confidence that with this new team now in place we can look to a bright year ahead in 2012.

Coventry Bears are seeking new sponsors and business partners for the forthcoming year, we have many options available such as advertising with one of our many teams and at the Butts Park Arena. The club is growing and we would like you to join us on our journey to bring the highest level of Rugby League to Coventry and Warwickshire. Below are just ways in which we can give your business exposure.  Please get in touch through our Sponsor section or download our 2012 sponsorship pack.

• Regional & National exposure through advertising with our teams
• City wide media exposure all year round through local press and radio
• Access to our fan base, community, school and university network to promote your business
• Visual advertising on match days at the Butts park arena
• Advertising through our match day programme and bespoke website

The Bears now have a new website which we hope will help take the club forward in 2012 in preparation for the start of the new season in March. We hope you like the new format and would love it if you could take the time to follow us on twitter, like us on facebook let us know what you think and share our news with everyone, you can also share this news story from the links below. We have dedicated sections for our teams aswell as featured tabs for supporters and new ways for you to interact and get involved.

The main focus of our new site is gathering information so whether you want to become a fan and sign up to our e news, look into options for sponsoring the club or you are interested in giving Rugby League a try with one of our teams in the new year then its never been easier to get involved!

We look forward to hearing from you.

New for 2012

Coventry Bears Mens A team will be relaunched in 2012, the team will compete in the Midlands premier division against other top Midlands regional teams, the A team will play games from both the Butts Park Arena and the Xcel Leisure centre and will train alongside the Coventry Bears RLC national squad.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Alternativley you can purchase tickets from Coventry Rugby Clubs Butts Park Arena office during normal hours or match days at the Butts Park Arena.

Next season will be very simliar to the last with the Bears competing in the RLC National league.

Coventry Bears Rugby League 2012 Season tickets are only £30 until January 31st 2012, they will then be £35 for the remainder of the season.

Bears community manager Barry McGuffog commented: We can now play games at the Xcel centre and utilise this fantastic facility to the full, previously we just used the grass for training and junior games but now we have installed the new pitch it gives us many more possibilities for other teams to play. The new pitch has also been measured up to be the same size as the Butts Park Arena Stadium pitch which is a full size 100m x 68 m. This will allow the Bears teams to play at both grounds and feel at home while being able to train to the maximum capability.

We are all looking forward to the first game at the Xcel im sure it will be a great day for the club which ever team will take to the field.