The BARLA You Tube Channel kicks off the New Year, tomorrow, Saturday 2nd January with a trip to the South Pacific, when the then named BARLA Great Britain Lions toured three countries within that region in 2009.
The game features their Test Match in Samoa when they took on a strong Toa Samoa side.
The BARLA Lions side was coached by former Great Britain International John Fieldhouse and current Whitehaven Head Coach Gary Charlton who were Head Coach and Assistant Head coach respectively. The squad featured players who had come through the Three Counties Championship.
The link for viewers to watch this game at 2.30pm kick off time is:
BARLA Vice Chair Steve Manning said,
“First of all on behalf of the BARLA Chair Sue Taylor, the BARLA Board and Trustees a Happy New Year to all amateur clubs, their managements, coaches, physio’s, players and all its other volunteers who help to keep the game going albeit because of Covid 19 little rugby league has been played.
“During 2020 BARLA has assisted a large number of clubs with grants of up to a £1000 to help them keep going together with other monies available through other bodies within the game. Only time will tell when the game is allowed to return in a safe and well environment, which hopefully will be sooner rather than later.
“After having a week off on Boxing Day last year the BARLA You Tube Channel returns tomorrow with the BARLA Great Britain Lions, as they were then known taking on Toa Samoa in Samoa on the Lions tour of the South Pacific in 2009.
“Samoa was one of three countries visited on that tour and I was lucky enough to be the BARLA Media Manager on that tour and I, like all those selected, will never forget that experience.
“Included amongst those were the Head Coach and Assistant Head Coach, former Great Britain international John Fieldhouse and current Whitehaven RLFC Head Coach Gary Charlton respectively. The players representing their country had come through playing for Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire in BARLA’s Three Counties Championship.
“The game is one never seen in this country before and should evoke great memories for all involved in that tour and the clubs that they came from. An ideal start going into 2021.”
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