Bristol Sonics are a rugby league club based in Bristol in the South West of England. The Sonics' first team plays in the Conference League South competition, having previously played in the now defunct Rugby League Conference Midlands Premier division. Bristol Sonics A play in the West of England Rugby League. The Sonics also run two social touch rugby teams, the Subsonics, and a number of Junior sides around Bristol and South Gloucestershire. History 2002–2004: Early Days During the 1980s, and early ‘90s, there was an amateur club, based in Bristol, playing in the now defunct Midlands and South West Amateur Rugby League Association (MASWARLA). With the 100-year conflict between rugby union and rugby league still on-going, the club struggled to attract and retain players, with most regular players appearing under pseudonyms in order to avoid a lifetime ban from playing rugby union. The club was eventually disbanded. Then, in 2002, an official from the Rugby Football League contacted Phil Cole, a local rugby league enthusiast, to ask whether he was interested in launching a new club in Bristol. Cole did just that, posting messages on Internet forums asking anyone interested to come to a meeting. In September 2002 Bristol Sonics were formed by this group of rugby league enthusiasts at Horts pub in Bristol city centre. The club colours of maroon and gold were chosen as a tribute to Bristol's original rugby league club. The Sonics name comes from Bristol's links with the development of the Concorde supersonic passenger jet, which was built and tested close to the club's original ground of St Brendans Old Boys in Filton. Bristol Sonics were granted membership of the Rugby League Conference in January 2003, taking their place in the South West Division alongside Gloucestershire Warriors, Somerset Vikings, Worcester Saints, Cardiff Demons and Oxford Cavaliers. Before training began in February 2003, the Sonics agreed to host a heat of London Broncos' (now Harlequins RL 'Prop Idol' competition. One of the Bristol winners, Michael Lowis, was announced as one of the three finalists and went on to train with the Broncos. Bristol Sonics initially struggled to attract players. Just 14 players, a couple borrowed from other clubs, took to the field for the Sonics' first game, a friendly against Cardiff Demons on Sunday 27 April 2003. The inexperienced Sonics lost to their local rivals 8–74, with captain Ben Morris getting Bristol's first ever try