Somerset Vikings

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Somerset Vikings RLFC

Full name	Somerset Vikings RLFC
Emblem	Viking
Colours	Black and White
Founded	2003
Sport	Rugby league
League	Rugby League Conference
Ground	Hyde Park, Taunton (Coordinates: 51°01′32.28″N, 3°03′30.97″W)
Official website	http://www.somersetvikings.co.uk

Somerset Vikings RLFC are a rugby league team from the county of Somerset in England. They play in the Rugby League Conference in the South-West and Midlands Division.

[edit] History

Somerset Vikings were formed at the beginning of 2003 as part of the RFL's plans to develop the game further beyond the traditional areas in the north of England. Initially the side was made up of a mixture of Royal Marines based in Taunton and Exeter together with a number of local rugby union players keen to try the 13-man code.

The Vikings play at Hyde Park which is the home of the Taunton rugby union club. This provides facilities alongside the M5 and close to junction 25.

In 2004/5 the Vikings became a club subject to a formal constitution and is now run by a committee of five officials elected at the annual general meeting in September assisted by two ex-officio members. The club are members of the Rugby League Conference and in 2006 played in the South West and Midlands regional division.

The club has never finished lower than 3rd in the league and were winners in 2004. The club have a number of sponsors, including, most notably Aspen Waite, a leading firm of accountants in Bridgwater.

The Vikings finished a successful 2006 season in second place, losing to Gloucestershire Warriors in the South West and Midlands Grand Final. In 2007 they applied for promotion to the Premier division, wand were placed in the Midlands section. The season was successful, considering that the typical away match required a round trip of 300 miles, with the team finishing 4th out of 8. A second team competed in the South West Regional division but did not make the play-offs.