West of England Lionhearts team launched

The England Lionhearts representative team will have a West of England squad from now on, it has been confirmed.

The West of England Lionhearts will consist of players drawn from thw West of England leagues, with Bath & Wiltshire Romans one of the main clubs to contribute.

The ultimate aim is to create a pathway for more players to follow the example of Huw Parks, who converted from rugby union last year and is now dual registered with South Wales Scorpions and the Romans.

Chris Chatten, Bath & Wiltshire Romans RLFC chairman, and West of England Lionhearts squad manager, believes that the new side will give players in the region more to aspire towards.

“If you do have aspirations to play professionally, Huw is an example that you can get noticed playing for the Romans and get into a professional rugby league clubs pathway,” he said.

“But the West of England squad gives players the added opportunity to impress at a higher level.”

All clubs in the league were asked to nominate five players from different position for the initial training/trial session.

The new side’s first game will be on Saturday September 3, at Corsham RUFC, against a South Wales Scorpions development side.

The second game will be away in Wales at Blackwood RFC on Sunday  September 25, the opponents being the Wales Presidents XIII.

The management team are also planning a tour abroad in 2017.