Taylor names Great Britain Community Lions squad



Great Britain Community Lions coach Jimmy Taylor has named a 28-man training squad ahead of the Lions clash against France A at the end of November.

Taylor – who along with manager Jimmy Aspinall was recently re-appointed for a three-year term – will put his squad through their paces on Sunday November 15 at Hopwood Hall, Rochdale, before naming an 18-man squad which will travel to the south of France.

Skirlaugh provide five members of the squad with Steve Atkinson, Mathew Bower, Mark Spence, Sean Wildebore and Jordan Precious included, and the RAF have a sole representative in Jimmy Bardgett.

Six players come from the Rugby League Conference with Paul Drake, Shaun Flynn (Bramley Buffaloes), Andy Lake, Rudie Van De Merwe (St Albans Centurions), Matt Evans (Telford Raiders) and Carl Leech (Warrington Wizards) all gaining recognition after the summer season.

The Lions’ game at St Cyprien, near Perpignan, will be their first outing since a narrow 22-16 defeat again France A at Wakefield in March.

Community Lions training squad:

Steve Atkinson (Skirlaugh)
Mathew Bower (Skirlaugh)
Mark Spence (Skirlaugh)
Sean Wildebore (Skirlaugh)
Jordan Precious (Skirlaugh)
Jimmy Bardgett (RAF)
Tony Baker (Ince Rose Bridge)
Lee Brown (East Hull)
Shaun Painter (East Hull)
Gavin Corfield (Wigan St Judes)
Paul Pendlebury (Wigan St Judes)
Ryan Fieldhouse (Leigh East)
Carl Redford (Leigh East)
Simon Stephens (Leigh East)
Gary Middlehurst (Leigh East)
Gary Phillips (Wigan St Patricks)
Ryan Robb (Wath Brow Hornets)
Kevin Thompson (Wath Brow Hornets)
Danny Ulyatt (Hull Dockers)
Martin Johnson (Hull Dockers)
Carlos Sanchez (Oulton Raiders)
Chris Walker (Oulton Raiders)
Paul Drake (Bramley Buffaloes)
Shaun Flynn (Bramley Buffaloes)
Andy Lake (St Albans Centurions)
Rudie Van De Merwe (St Albans Centurions)
Matt Evans (Telford Raiders)
Carl Leech (Warrington Wizards)