Withdrawls hit BARLA Squad

Great Britain Amateurs Selection Festival At Leigh Miners Rangers ARLFC Saturday 18th October 2003 BARLA v Student Rugby League, 1.00 p.m. Combined Services v Four Nations Select, 2.30 p.m.

BARLA Great Britain Lions Manager Neil Baxter has been forced to make changes to his squad for the inaugural Great Britain Amateurs Selection Festival.

Baxter said, "We are obviously disappointed that the five players have had to pull out, however we are sure that the four players we have brought in will not let us down."

BARLA player of the year Terry Lynn, his West Hull colleague Gavin Last, Matt Roger (Eastmoor), Scott Teare (Wath Brow) and Jon Cole (Woolston) have all been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.

The five withdrawals have meant call-ups for Neil Mears (Normanton), Jason Ackroyd (Oldham St Annes), Lee Hunter (Westfield) and Melvin Alker(Wigan St Patricks), and the BARLA squad has now been reduced to 17 players.

For the first time teams representing the Student Rugby League, the Combined Services Rugby League and a Four Nations Select have been invited to participate in the inaugural Great Britain Amateurs Selection Festival, to be held on Saturday 18th October 2003 at Leigh Miners Rangers ARLFC.

The event will facilitate talent identification for the BARLA Great Britain Lions, thereby ensuring a pathway of progression for all amateur players. The BARLA Great Britain Lions play a crucial role on the International Rugby League scene and will be touring Australia in summer 2004.

BARLA Great Britain Squad:

Jason Ackroyd (Oldham St Annes) Melvin Alker (Wigan St Patricks) Anthony Broadhead (Thornhill Trojans) Gavin Corfield (Wigan St Judes) Phil Crane (Skirlaugh) Paul Davidson (Wath Brow Hornets) Tommy Goulden (Leigh Miners Rangers) Lee Hunter (Westfield) John McMullen (Wigan St Judes) Neil Mears (Normanton) Darren Mitchell (Thatto Heath) Gary Mowforth (Cottingham Tigers) Eddie Robinson (Ellenborough Rangers) Carl Rudd (Wath Brow Hornets) Phil Thacker (Skirlaugh) Gary Weymes (East Hull) Leigh Wingfield (Leigh East)