Rugby League Coaching Manuals

The BARLA Great Britain Open Age side are to embark on a tour of the South Pacific this summer which will be sponsored by Unison. The Tour will be known as the Unison South Pacific Tour and follows superb behind the scenes work from BARLA Great Britain International Manager Mick Turner.

The BARLA Great Britain side will be visiting Samoa, Fiji and Tonga and during the tour the side will be playing six games including Test Matches against the respective countries. It will be the first time the BARLA Great Britain have visited those countries since 1994.

The party are scheduled to fly out on the 7th/8th June to Samoa via Los Angeles and play two games before moving onto Fiji for two games before the final leg of the tour takes to Tonga for two further games.

The arduous tour is expected to last approximately three weeks and will be the biggest challenge for BARLA Great Britain for many years.

BARLA Great Britain International Manager Mick Turner said, "This promises to be a momentous event both for BARLA and its Great Britain Open Age side and it will be a tough ask for all concerned.

"We don't know the quality of the sides that will be put in front of us. I am sure though that after each of those respective countries successful show in last years World Cup they will be ready for the challenge.

"BARLA are all about developing the game which is what we continuously strive to do will continue to do on this tour. It is the first time since 1994 that BARLA visited these countries and it is long overdue that we return and visit them once more.

"The next biggest challenge now apart from the administrative side of the tour in is to pick the squad for the tour. I have no doubt that every amateur player within the game will want to represent their country. There is no greater honour and with the coaching and scouting procedures we have no stone will be unturned to pick the best squad to do the job.

"What greater incentive could players have as we come to the back end of another exciting season to play in the red white and blue of BARLA Great Britain. Our other ethos continues play for BARLA and see the world."