After a packed start to the new Masters Rugby League season, catch up on some of the Masters Rugby League headlines so far this year...
The very first Masters Rugby League Tri-Nations Day is set to take place at Bethesda Rugby Club in North Wales this Saturday (May 14) with hosts, Wales Masters, taking on Ireland Masters and England Masters.
The England team was selected back in late 2019 to take part in the Tri-Nations which was originally planned for May 2020.
One change to the original selection is the inclusion of Rich Ellis who was selected for the International Festival in 2021 but could not play due to injury, replacing Allan Dunham who will miss out through injur.
Each Masters Rugby League club was invited to nominate a Masters player for consideration in the selection process. The Masters team selection criteria include the need for coverage of regions, a spread of short colours - and therefore age groups - together consideration of the Masters games and festivals played. With Masters from 39 to 66 years of age selected, the team is full of experience!
The England team of 19 players from 19 different Masters clubs is:
- Richard Humphries (Red Shorts) - Aldershot & Fleet
- Alan Riddick (Gold Shorts) - Arlecdon
- Gary Holdroyd (Red Shorts) - Blackpool
- Rob Winder (Red Shorts) - Carlisle
- Lloyd Neary (Red Shorts) - Crosfields
- Paul Finnerty (Black Shorts) - Eastmoor
- Derek Lund (Gold Shorts) - Elland
- Andre Gligorijevic (Gold Shorts) - Golborne Parkside
- Steve Archer (Black Shorts) - Hindpool
- Matthew Oldfield (Black Shorts) - Huddersfield
- Andrew Coggin (Red Shorts) - Hull
- Rich Ellis (White Shorts) - Hull Warriors
- Carl Rollins (Black Shorts) - Leyland Warriors
- Michael Winstanley (Black Shorts) - Ossett
- Liam Kirkham (Black Shorts) - Rylands
- John McNally (Gold Shorts) - Siddal
- Adie Smith - (Black Shorts) - Solent Masters
- Ian Worthington - (Black Shorts) - Wigan St Judes
- Stephen Whattam - (Red Shorts) - York Lokos
Simon Moat, York Lokos and Masters Vice Chair, takes on the role of Team Manager and Gaz Hopkins of Leigh East is Assistant Manager with National Coach, Paul Royston, completing the Management Team.
As England will play two games on the day, Paul Royston has selected two captains; Rich Ellis of Hull Warriors and Matt Oldfield of Huddersfield have the honour of leading the team.
For more details, click HERE.
The inaugural Masters Rugby League Tri Nations Festival takes place on Saturday 14th May at Bethesda RFC in North Wales. England, Ireland and Wales will play each other with the first game kicking off at 2pm.
The match officials for the three games have been confirmed. Experienced referees Paul Field, Martin Flynn and Kev Remond will each take control of a one game and act as touch judges for the other two.
Elsewhere, North East Masters player Jim Collins recently celebrated his 80th birthday and, after hitting the milestone, became England's fourth-ever blue short Masters Rugby League player. He joins Jim Airnes, Brian Rishworth and Ray Timson as a Masters 'Blue Shorter'.
He turned out for the first time in his blue shorts at the Cumbria Masters Festival in Carlisle, playing in two games against Barrow Masters and Golborne Parkside Masters.
Proudly wearing his England Masters polo enjoying the social side of Masters Rugby League after he had played, Jim was delighted to have been awarded Masters of Festival on the day but wanted to focus on how much he enjoyed Masters Rugby League.
He only started to play Masters five years ago and was delighted with how warmly he had been received.
He spoke with feeling as he explained how good it was at his age to be able to play in a contact game of rugby even though he was "tigging" to tackle and "tagged" to be tackled.
Jim played for England Masters in the 2021 International Tournament against Canada, Ireland and Wales describing this as "icing on the cake."
Masters Rugby League Chair, Martin Flynn, said: "Jim made his Masters Rugby League debut in 2017 as a sprightly 75-year-old and immediately bought in to the concept of Masters.
"Jim is well-known and hugely respected throughout the Masters Rugby League community and is warmly welcomed wherever he turns up to play."
Asked how long he would continue to play Jim was very clear: "as long as I can!"
To find out more about Masters Rugby League and where you can take part, visit mastersrugbyleague.org.uk.
