Are BARLA Touring This Year?

If so,what age groups and where?

Just to add to what peter has said above,

I have asked this morning,

so far, there will be an open age tour, an under 18's tour and a chairman's select 13 to go to Dubai.

I'll see if Mick can pop on and post a few more details...

Hello Normy Knight, the answer to that question in a word is yes.

BARLA have got tours at different levels planned starting with a possible tour on or around 7th May for the under 18's to Serbia.
Martin Sowerby is busy looking at costings and the tour may include a stop at Germany.

The under 21's were looking forward to a short trip to Ireland and despite ageeing on various different options and venues for the games, unfortunately, the Irish have pulled out of this one for financial reasons.

The open age side have got an invitation on the table to visit; Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and possibly P. N. G. and at present we are talking to Tas Baitieri on that one.
Alternatively again for the open age side, there is the possibilty of playing different Aboriginal sides at various locations in North Queensland which include; Meereba, Thursday Island, Palm Island and Townsville.

The under 23's have been invited to play two games against Lebanon in Beruit in late August. But after having a long hard look at this one, due to the expenses that we would incur inside Lebanon, it's looking more than likely that we will sadly have to decline this invitation - although the decision has not been made officially at this moment in time.

There is still the invitation for the "Chairman's select" to play in the Dubai competition which would launch Pakistan's ascendency into international rugby league and talks are still on going with Ikram Butt at this stage.

I hope that this information answers your post Normy Knight, I look forward to any furthers posts from you.

Mick Turner
BARLA International Manager

Thanks for all the information gents, presuming that there will be trials for these teams when are they likely to take place?

I only ask, as the open age season could extend into late april due to the lousy weather we have been getting. Also around May time alot of local Cup finals are played around that time.

The U18's tour to Serbia looks very promising, I don't know alot about Serb RL but the 2 Serb players playing at Eastmoor are very good.

Hello Normy Knight,

I'm sorry for the delay in answering your post but I was tied up in a BARLA meeting for most of yesterday, however down to business.

There have already been a number of selection games, these were the three county v South Africa games and the BARLA Great Britain game at Craven Park Hull, which concluded the Rhinos tour.

From these games, twenty (probable) names were put on paper leaving another eight names needed to complete the twenty eight player squad needed for the proposed tour.
However the door is still very much open for eligible players to be included in the squad and I expect things to start moving in around 2/3 weeks to finalise the touring party.

Having read my previous post on international selection, you will be aware of the process we go through to select players. We do operate a sweeping network in an attempt to identify players and part of this network will be nominations from clubs who alert us to a player. If a club gives us a nudge towards a certain player, we will always act on this.

Our selction process is perpetual and we welcome the help of clubs who alert us to players and as I have said, we will always act on club nominations.

Thanks for your interest Normy Knight,

Mick Turner

BARLA International Manager

Thanks for your help Mick. I was more intrested in the U18's.

I have today had a chat with Martin Sowerby and he has put me clearly in the picture re the U18's.

Dates were my main concern (need to sort days off work).

Thanks again for your help.

The County Championship games also form a good platform for the GB Coaching staff to look over the form of the possibles and probables Normy Knight.

Any news on when these games are to be played Mr.Turner? The last the clubs heard on the grapevine was "Friday nights in March"- any update?

Yed Bawon wrote:The County Championship games also form a good platform for the GB Coaching staff to look over the form of the possibles and probables Normy Knight.

Any news on when these games are to be played Mr.Turner? The last the clubs heard on the grapevine was "Friday nights in March"- any update?

Agreed Yed, however you know aswell as I do some of the lads work on Saturdays, where they would have lost out on the county games.

The lads should be picked over a period of time and not just on a show specticle of a county game.

The County games are aimed more at the RFL Community Lions, of which I think BARLA should de-tatch it self from.

The possibles and the probables is a very close affair, I saw last seasons potential players, and let me tell you it was avery high calibre of player that was selected.

The players who will be selected will be good and dedicated to the sport of RL, obviously the coaches will not get it 100% right, but it will be near as dam it.

Good Morning Gents and another nice Christmas card picture to wake up to,

To answer you Yed, the County games are due to kick off with Lancashire v Yorkshire on Friday evening 20th March. The other games are scheduled for Friday 3rd April, with a game in Cumbria or Yorkshire, followed with the decider on Friday 17th April, again either in Cumbria or Yorkshire.

And to you Normy, I suspect that the "Possibles v Probables" you speak of, may have been the trial game we held in the selection for our 2008 Under 18's Australian Tour. Yes it was a close affair and you're right about the calibre of player on show, I've been told that quite a few of them have been picked up already by the pro game.

The County games however are an integral part of the selection process leading to international selection. Making yourself available for County selection is the criteria a player must follow to be eligible for BARLA Great Britain selection. I agree with you that a player should not be picked on these games alone and through my posts, you will have learnt that our selction process is perpetual. Players are monitered at their clubs - both on and off the field - and this will have played a part in the players reaching County level. So you see it will not just be a couple of games that determines an international squad.

If the Community Board management team can take advantage of these games, then that's their windfall. It wouldn't surprise you to learn that scouts from many pro clubs attend these games would it. A lot of people benefit from the hard work that BARLA does. But I believe that the Community Board selection process, differs from the strict amateur status, that BARLA demand in their international teams.

Mick,

Many thanks for the thorough reply to Normyknight and myself and the confirmation of dates.

Yed

Seeing that the playing season is still going on in March - couldn't the County games have been played on a Wednesday night instead of Friday?

That way, players won't have to choose between their Club and County - or won't have to play two days on the run. It could be for some lads that their club is fighting for promotion - or to avoid relegation.

Hello Samsung,

It's always welcoming to get a player's point of view on what I consider to be a very important issue.

Yes it could be seen as unfortunate for some players/clubs that the County games have been scheduled for Friday evenings at the business end of the National Conference League season.

I believe that the Three Counties Committee made the decision to play on the Friday evening as to midweek, was based on the fact that it would lessen the number of days a player would have to take off work.

The Crux of the situation as I see it could possibly be the 14 team, plus end of season play off system, which the NCL Premier division currently operate. The regular playing season alone demands fixtures commencing in August playing through to May and that already includes some mid-week fixtures. Maybe a reduction of two teams in the Premier division could help address that situation, And the play - off system, is it what all the clubs want?

It's of my own opinion that in this day and age, with a definite climate change which produces inclement weather conditions, that are taking huge chunks out of the playing season, one eye should be looking at reducing the number of league games in a playing season.

The NCL Fixture calender does make provision for National/Challenge Cup games and there is plenty of scope within the regular season to provide for the playing of three County games - which unfortunately, appear to be of little relevance to the NCL management - but do have a major significance in representive rugby.

What what would be needed, is a distinct compromise between the governing body of the amateur game and the playing leagues. BARLA as the governing body of amateur rugby league should be allowed - with the assistance of playing leagues - to formulise a workable fixture calender which would allow for the County games, National Cup, Challenge Cup and of course any international fixtures that could be planned.

Mick Turner
BARLA International Manager

Well the 7th of May has come and gone, no news of a tour for the U18's to Serbia.

The U23's are up and running I think, or at least have a squad formulated.

Anybody shed anymore light on the subject?

Hello Normy,

Unfortunately the planned Serbian tour was shelved a while ago due to lack of response from the hosting country.

On the plus side however, we are currently investigating several possible exciting destinations for next season and with time on our side, we will be able to have a tour date and destination firmly fixed before we make any premature announcements.

Once again Normy, your interest is always appreciated and well done to everyone at the Knights for a great finish to your season.

Mick Turner
BARLA International Manager

Thanks for the reply Mick, not your fault the Serbs pulled out, I see some of the lads are going on the U23's tour though.

Am I right in thinking BARLA will U19's next year.

Hello Normy,

Yes it was a shame that we couldn't take our under 18's away this year after their successful visit down under in 2008. As you say though, quite a few of them are compensated with their inclusion for the trip to the Ukraine in June. These lads were noticed for their efforts in the under 19's County games.

As for the BARLA Great Britain set up, the age levels for next season will remain at under 18's under 21's under 23's and open age. However, I would like to see a much more expanded international structure and would like to see players being introduced to representative rugby at a younger age.

I would like to see the BARLA youth section - with the help of the clubs and regional leagues - introduce an international team at under 15's and under 17's age levels. It would then give the younger players an opportunity to see what the BARLA International system has on offer.

I would then like the open age section to be re - structured with the introduction of an under 19's age level to supplement the existing under 21's, 23's and open age sides. Each age level would have it's own merits and allow players the opportunity to progress at their own pace. This would allow more players to develope within the international structure without devaluing the system.

Mick Turner
BARLA International Manager