Rochdale players make team for North West festival

The 2010 u18s Squad

A provisional 20 man squad has been chosen to represent the Bolton, Bury and Rochdale (BBR) Rugby League Development Group at this year’s North West under 18s regional festival at Hopwood Hall College in September.

After trialing eligible players from BBR teams including Bolton Mets, Bury Broncos, Bolton Rugby Union, Bury Rugby Union, Littleborough, Rochdale Mayfield, Rochdale Cobras, West Houghton Lions and Hopwood Hall College, as well as players living in the local authorities who are playing for clubs wider afield including Siddal, Wigan St Patricks, Folly Lane and Saddleworth, a total of ten different clubs are represented in the final selection.

Botlon Community Rugby League Coach Coach John Duffy, said: “The standard on display over the last couple of training sessions has been really good. It’s been difficult whittling the squad down to 20 but I’m sure the lads selected will do us proud come game day.”

Rochdale Community Rugby League Coach, Danny Pyke, added: “Selection was really difficult, as we had a great response to the open invitation to trial. Some of the lads that have been working with Duffs [John Duffy] in Bolton and with Matt Calland at Hopwood Hall are showing the benefit of working with top quality coaches, add to the mix the lads who were at u16s regional level and at scholarship and I think we will have a competitive team this year.”

The Bolton, Bury and Rochdale team will take to the field against teams from St Helens, Liverpool and Knowsley, Warrington and Cheshire, Oldham and Tameside, SMT (Salford, Manchester and Trafford), Wigan, Leigh, Halton and Lancashire.

Selectors will be on hand looking to pick a North West team and, ultimately, a team to represent the Great Britain Community Lions u18s in test matches next summer.

The 20 man squad (plus 2 reserves) is as follows:

Caryl Agard - Centre/Wing - Hopwood Hall College/ Rochdale Mayfield ARLFC
Jack Ashworth - Loose/Stand Off - Rochdale Cobras
Mathew Ashworth - Second Row - Rochdale Mayfield ARLFC
Jake Boardman - Prop /Loose Forward - Siddal
Ciarran Brogan - Hooker - Folly Lane
Ben Emmerson – Prop - Rochdale Mayfield ARLFC
Luke Kavanagh - Second Row - Wigan St Patricks
Damon Lees - Centre/Stand Off - Hopwood Hall College
Shaun Markland - Scrum Half - Westhoughton Lions
Aiden Matthews - Stand Off - Hopwood Hall College/ Rochdale Mayfield
Brandon Mills – Prop - Littleborough
Luke Nutley - Second Row - Littleborough
Kieran Paine - Second Row - Littleborough
Dominic Quinn – Hooker - Westhoughton Lions
Jason Rigby - Scrum Half/Full Back - Littleborough
Luke Senior - Full Back/Centre - Rochdale Mayfield ARLFC
Daniel Slack - Second Row/Centre - Rochdale Mayfield ARLFC
Connor Smith – Wing - Westhoughton Lions
Gary Smout - Second Row - Rochdale Mayfield ARLFC
James Timms – Wing - Bolton Union Ruffians RLFC

Reserves:

Matthew Meehan - Prop - Westhoughton Lions
Jack Butters Prop - Westhoughton Lions