More than 400 young Rugby League players attended the recent England Community Lions development days held in Halifax, St Helens and Whitehaven.
The development sessions are the first step in becoming an England Community Lion at under 16 and under 18 age groups in 2023.
At under 16 level there were 112 players from 29 clubs across Cumbria and the North West, 96 from 26 clubs in Yorkshire and four players from two southern England clubs. The under 18s sessions attracted 124 players from 30 clubs in Cumbria and the North West, 76 from 24 in Yorkshire and two more from clubs in the south.
Players were nominated by their own clubs on the basis of ability and potential, with sessions run by experienced coaches from both the RFL and the Community Game. 60 players will be selected at each age group to form three teams which will compete in trials for ‘train on’ squads for matches against Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
RFL National Development Manager, Alan Davidson, says:
“The standard shown from all players at all the development days was of a high quality and has given coaching staff at both age groups a real selection headache. For the under 18s this will ultimately end up as a squad of players playing in the 2024 European Championships.
“Both squads will be fluid, and players may be invited into the squad based on their community club performances and alternatively players dropping out of the original train on squad. It’s all, to play for.”
The RFL thanks St Benedicts School (Whitehaven), Pilkington Recs ARL (St Helens) and Siddal ARL (Halifax) for their support.
Trial games at both under 16 and under 18 levels will be hosted by Pilkington Recs on Sunday 19 February.
