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Young Rugby Leaguers Train With Sporting Hero

Tuesday 26 April 2011

GSAL’s newly formed and highly successful U14 Rugby League squad were delighted when a rugby league hero, Barrie McDermott, ran a training session with them.

Barrie, who is Head of Youth Development at Leeds Rhinos, is a former Wigan, Rhinos and Lancashire player. He also earned his caps for Great Britain and Ireland as well as winning every honour possible in the game.

The Rhinos U18s and U20s squad also came along to the training session.  The session ran with Barrie coaching the GSAL boys for 35 minutes whilst the Rhinos under 18s and under 20s squad worked separately on the other half of the pitch.

The session concluded with four teams being selected from the whole group to allow two games of touch and pass. This gave the boys the unique experience of playing with and against professional rugby league players.

The GSAL Rugby League squad was only formed a the beginning of the season but has managed to win the 13 a-side and the nine a side Leeds Schools’  Festivals and are still in the running for the Leeds Schools’ Cup. They also managed to reach the third round of the National Cup before losing to South Holderness, Hull.

GSAL P.E. teacher Phil Holmes, who is a former professional Rugby League player himself, said:  “For a club with the magnitude and profile of Leeds Rhinos to offer to work with our boys says a huge amount for their care and concern for the young players within the community. “

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