The RFL

The Community Lions - Attaining the Highest Honour

One of the first tasks of the Community Board after the adoption by all parties of the Genesis Report was to investigate the full integration of the Representative Programme for Community Rugby League.

There were teams representing "Great Britain" at Student and Combined Services, England Lionhearts plus "A" Squads from Wales and Scotland plus a BARLA Squad representing the Three Counties that make up the BARLA membership. It was decided, in consultation with BARLA, Student, Rugby League Conference and Combined Services that there should be one squad that represents Great Britain and that it should be open all Community players with a clear and open selection policy.

The positions of Head Coach and Team Manager were advertised and an interview panel including the Director of Coach Education and the BARLA International Chair plus the BARLA Representative on the Community Board appointed Jimmy Taylor as Coach and Jimmy Aspinall as Manager of the Open Age side.

Selection is according to the existing selection for each body with Jimmy Taylor working in consultation with the Head Coaches of each Representative Squad to select the Great Britain Squad.

The advantage of the new system is that any player, anywhere in the country can play Rugby League and know exactly what has to be achieved to get selected for Great Britain. The system builds upon the fantastic history of all the bodies who have over the past few years enjoyed games against squads from all parts of the world. Now the game is beginning to take root across the country it is vital that the Great Britain Squad has the ability to reflect that and that the most talented players from wherever can attain the highest honours.

The Great Britain Community Lions Squad should, in time, become the highest honour that any Community Rugby League Player can achieve. It will build upon the solid foundations already in place and move the whole programme to new heights for the players. It should also open up opportunities for more players in the other Representative Squads as places are become free. There is a constant theme of striving to improve at all levels and that applies to managers, coaches, administrators and, most importantly, players.

The Community Lions Under 18 Squad is made up of the best players from across the country. Selection follows the familiar Service Area Programme where players are selected to represent their local Service Area in a two game series. From there the best are selected to play in a Selection Festival and the Community Lions Squad is selected from that group of players.

Selection is clear and open and carried out by the Coaching Staff supported by the network of RFL Performance Analysts.