Welsh youngsters recently took their first steps to competing
in professional rugby league after the recent trials for the Wales Schoolboys
and South Wales Academy Under-20 squads.
Competing at Hawthorn
High School, Pontypridd, nearly 100 youngsters strutted their stuff in the hope
of being picked to work towards the first internationals of the year in April.
Swansea youngster Jordon Liney was one of those selected for
the under-16s, despite still being eligible for under-15s rugby. He told the
Mid Glamorgan Press Agency of his pride at being selected.
“It’s a great achievement as I’m a year younger [than the
rest of the squad],” said the Gowerton Comprehensive School pupil. “It’s a
great honour to play for my country and my family are really chuffed.
“It was a hard day, a really hard trial. A lot of the boys
were strong players. I just went for the experience really and when I found out
I had been selected I was over the moon.”
Jordon plays for Bonymean Broncos but is also a member of
the South Wales Scorpions scholarship side, as well as playing at county level
in rugby union. He called for all union players to give league a go in the hope
of helping the sport grow in Wales.
“I’m now working towards getting a trial with Wigan Warriors
as part of my scholarship with the Scorpions and the link between the clubs.
“I gave rugby league a go, and now it is my first sport. It’s
my dream to play senior rugby for Wales in rugby league over rugby union. Other
boys should just give it a go in the summer.”
WRL Head of Performance Dan Clements was delighted that so
many had turned out and exhibited such a high standard of rugby, saying: “We
were really pleased with the turnout for this year’s schoolboys trial and we
were even more pleased with the standard of play that was on show given the
freezing conditions.
“The Wales Schoolboys side is an important stepping stone on
the player pathway of rugby league in the Principality and, judging by the
number of players and the talents they showed, we have got a big selection
headache coming our way, which is only good for the game in Wales.
“Many of our youngsters at this age have gone on to
represent their country at senior level and we hope there are a number of
players who were with us last weekend who will be on that journey now.”
Clements was also pleased with those slightly older players
who had turned out for the South Wales Academy trials in Treforest. He
added: “It was a really good day and we
identified a number of players who can potentially go through the academy
programme and into senior rugby league.
“Now the biggest challenge is to improve their rugby league
knowledge that will hopefully help them reach their potential.”
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