The Great Britain Community Lions have today set off on their three game tour of South Africa.

The Lions left Manchester earlier this morning with coach Jimmy Taylor looking forward to the tour which will be known as the “Tom Van Vollenhoven 75th Anniversary Tour.”

“We’re taking a 22-man squad with us and will be playing two games before the test match against the South African Rhinos on Saturday July 31,” said Taylor.

“In the first game our opponents will be wearing a replica of St Helens’ Wembley strip from the 1966 Challenge Cup Final, whilst the next game will see us play in front of Tom Van Vollenhoven at the club of which he is now president.”

The squad named by Taylor includes Andrew Lake from Co-operative Rugby League Conference side St Albans Centurions, whilst the RAF also provide a squad member in the shape of hooker Jimmy Bardgett (pictured).

Skirlaugh provide four members of the tour party with Steve Atkinson, Matty Bowers, Jordan Precious and captain Sean Wildbore plying their trade for the Hull based National Conference League side, whilst from the other side of the Pennines Ince Rose Bridge of Wigan are represented through Tony Baker, Wayne Leyland and Scott Winstanley.

Commenting on his selections Taylor was keen to point out that it is not just the players’ ability on the field that helps sway his judgement on a player.

“I make sure I don’t just pick people of how they play, I also only pick good lads off the field.”

“It’s important when you’re away that everyone is going to get on well together and that’s a big part of the success of any tour.”

To keep up to date with the Lions progress in South Africa visit www.therfl.co.uk/community


Squad

Anthony Atherton (Wigan St Patricks)
Steve Atkinson (Skirlaugh)
Tony Baker (Ince Rose Bridge)
Jimmy Bardgett (RAF)
Lee Brown (East Hull)
Joe Budd (York Acorn)
Gavin Corfield (Wigan St Judes)
David Dunwell (Normanton Knights)
Matty Bowers (Skirlaugh)
Mark Holmes (Oulton Raiders)
Paul Hunt (Halton Simms Cross)
Andrew Lake (St Albans Centurions)
Wayne Leyland (Ince Rose Bridge)
Gary Middlehurst (Leigh East)
Paul Pendlebury (Wigan St Judes)
Jordan Precious (Skirlaugh)
Carl Redford (Leigh East)
Ryan Smith (Leigh Miners Rangers)
Kevin Thompson (Wath Brow Hornets)
Christopher Walker (Oulton Raiders)
Sean Wildbore (Skirlaugh)
Scott Winstanley (Ince Rose Bridge)


Fixtures

v South Africa A
Nigel, Johannesburg
Saturday July 24
Kick Off 3.00pm

v South African Universities & Colleges
Pretoria
Wednesday July 28
Kick Off 7.00pm

v South African Rhinos
Vanderbijlpark
Saturday July 31
Kick Off 3.00pm