London cabbie
first to hear Broncos first line-up

It wasn't the team or even the Broncos press office that first learnt of the team to play Wigan this Sunday, in what will be London Broncos very first game together in Britain.

It was in fact a cab driver this morning who dropped Tony Rea to the training ground that was first to learn of the new-look line-up.

The conversation went like this:

Cabbie: "So what where you off to?"

Rea: "The training ground at Brunel University, Isleworth thanks."

Cabbie: "So what you do?"

Rea: "I coach the London Broncos, you heard of us?"

Cabbie: "That bunch of Aussies init?"

Having been a central part of the Broncos set up since 1994, as a player, CEO, and more recently, head coach, Rea has heard this line time and time before. In fact, it's not the first time a cabbie has associated London Broncos the land from down under.

Rea answered: "Funny you should say that. We've got our very first game of the year this Sunday, and you know what, there won't be one Aussie in the starting line-up!"

"So do us favour," Rea added, "When you're next talking to your London Cabbie mates, tell them that things are quite different these days."

Different is an understatement. Of the eleven new signings this season, just two are Australian. And the 24-man squad boasts just eight Aussies, which is actually under the club's import quota.

The 'best of British' shift began a few years back. Last season saw the youngest and 'most British' squad the club had ever seen make it through to the Tetley's Super League Play-Offs, so there is a very strong argument that the current policy is working.

This season the average age is even younger, and when the team lines up against Wigan at Orrell RUFC on Sunday (Kick off 2pm), there will not be one Australian in the starting line-up.

Rea commented: "It's a reflection of where we are headed as a club. Regardless of where our players are from, they've each been selected to do a job for us and I have every confidence they'll do just that."

There will be three players missing on Sunday who are all carrying injuries; Mat Toshack has recently undergone corrective knee surgery and will be out for at least two months, and new recruits, Lee Greenwood and Dave Highton are both carrying foot injuries.

The game has been shifted from the JJB Stadium due to a waterlogged pitch and will kick off one hour earlier than originally scheduled.

Starting team: Paul Sykes, Jon Wells (Wakefield), Andrew Mc Nally (Castleford), Rob Jackson, John Kirkpatrick (St Helens), Rob Purdham, Lee Sanderson (Leigh), Andrew Brocklehurst (Halifax), Neil Budworth, Francis Stephenson, Tommy Haughey, Joe Mbu, Radney Bowker (Rochdale)

Substitutes: Mitch Stringer (Sheffield), Steve Trindall, Steele Retchless, Andrew Hart (South Sydney), Jim Dymock, Nigel Roy, Dennis Moran, Mark O'Halloran (Wests Tigers)

On Monday night Broncos supporters will gather to meet the new squad at the official 2004 club launch in Brentford. Fans wishing to attend should call 0871 222 1132 for further information.

For London Broncos Membership & Season Ticket enquiries, call - 0871 222 1132.

London Broncos first home game in Tetley's Super League IX is against St Helens at 6pm on Saturday 6th March at Griffin Park.