Representative criteria

BARLA Vice Chair and Three Counties Chair John Pattinson has sent out
the following reminder to all BARLA players, the criteria for
international selection for all BARLA Great Britain International teams.
John Pattinson said,

“Any player who fails to make himself available for training or playing
for any of the Three Counties would put themselves in the position of
not being selected or de-selected for BARLA international teams.

“Any player if selected and who fails to play for the County team on
Friday is not eligible to play on the Saturday for his club team, and
again could be de-selected or lose any selection opportunity for the
rest of the season.

“Any player who is unsure of his position needs to contact his respective County committee.

“This seasons Unison South Pacific Tour is not the only possible
international game to be played. BARLA have other internationals to be
played this season including possible tours.

“The squad and shadow squad that has been selected could still be added
to by any player that shows up in the County Championship (the door is
not closed).

“Any BARLA player who wants to ask me a question about international
selection can e-mail me on john.patt@hotmail.co.uk and I will answer
myself or direct the question to the right person.”

The first game of the County Championship takes place on Friday 27th
March when with the ‘War of the Roses’ clash when Yorkshire play
Lancashire at Ince Rose Bridge ARLFC kick off 7.00pm.

If I go to watch the County games will I see all the Pacific tourists in action?

The selection criteria as described appears to be little more than blackmail. The "so called" counties are asking players to choose their loyalties between County/ BARLA and the clubs they play with for all of the rest of the year. Totally out of order!!

The county matches, should be played when the normal leagues in the respective counties are finished, not during them.

On top of that the implication is that these lads should be expected to play on Friday night for their county, then Saturday afternoon for their club. The term "duty of care" comes to mind.

Sounds to me like the organisers of the county games should come out of the dark holes in which they have presumably been hiding and look at the real world!

It's always been this way, nothing has changed.

I think its just a reminder.

The selection team do not have the time to watch every player put forward by a team, so the county games has always been vital for selection.

It's a sacrifice the teams have always had to made, but they get to have a BARLA GB player to boast aboat.

according to Sean it's the RFL who are blackmailing the players with the "them or us" demand

The BARLA GB selection process hasn't changed

Big Bad Bri wrote:It's always been this way, nothing has changed.

I think its just a reminder.

The selection team do not have the time to watch every player put forward by a team, so the county games has always been vital for selection.

It's a sacrifice the teams have always had to made, but they get to have a BARLA GB player to boast aboat.

according to Sean it's the RFL who are blackmailing the players with the "them or us" demand

The BARLA GB selection process hasn't changed

And that makes it right ,you have hit the problem firmly on the head and sums everything up nothing changes.

The selection process has changed this year Bri, the squad is picked, the County games are yet to come.