Gobin to lead England in PDRL World Cup

Leeds Rhinos PDRL player Scott Gobin has been appointed captain of a 20-strong England Community Lions squad for the first Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup this autumn.

Scott is one of seven Leeds players in the England squad, which also includes representatives from Wigan, Castleford Tigers, Wakefield Trinity and Warrington Wolves.

His try-scoring exploits for the Rhinos have made him one of the hottest commodities in the PDRL game, and that importance will now be reflected by being tasked with the responsibility of leading his country to success at the World Cup.

The squad includes an age range that spans from another Rhinos player Peter Clarke in his late 40s to Warrington’s teenage pivot Jamie Barnett, and has been selected with consideration to the classification system recently introduced for PDRL.

There are seven players from the A classification, seven from B and six from C. In addition two players – Connor Lynes of Castleford (A) and Harvey Redmonds of Leeds (C) – have been classified as “Red Shorts”, meaning they should not be tackled physically.

Shaun Briscoe, the former Super League and England full-back who has been appointed the Community Lions PDRL team’s first head coach, said: “Selection is always tough, and this was extra complicated because of the classifications.

“There were some very happy guys when I informed them of their selection over the weekend – one of them told me he was crying his eyes out in the middle of the street, after having a tough week. The down side is having to tell some players they haven’t made it, or are in the standby squad.

“Scott was a natural choice as captain for me – he’s not a shouter or a screamer, but he’s really impressed me with the way he leads by example on and off the field.

“We’re all excited about the tournament now, with the focus firmly on that first game of the tournament against Australia.”

The draw for the PDRL World Cup was recently held on Channel 4’s The Last Leg, when Adam Hills confirmed he will represent his native Australia in the tournament, despite his eligibility for England.

England will face Hills and Australia in their opening match of the tournament on Sunday October 23, before taking on Wales two days later and completing their group matches against New Zealand on Friday October 28.

All group matches are at Warrington’s Victoria Park, with the Final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday October 30.

England Community Lions PDRL World Cup squad:

Scott Gobin (captain, Leeds, class A), Mike Addison (Warrington, class C), Jamie Barnett (Warrington, C), Peter Clarke (Leeds, class B), John Clements (Wakefield, C), Darren Dean (Wakefield, C), Adam Fleming (Wakefield, B), Mark Gummerson (Castleford, C), Nick Horner (Leeds, A), Nick Kennedy (Castleford, B), Nicholas Leigh (Leeds, B), Conor Lynes (Castleford, A, red shorts), Adam Morris (Warrington, B), Ben Nicholson (Wakefield, B), Callum Parkinson (Wakefield, B), Tommy Pouncey (Leeds, A), Harvey Redmonds (Leeds, C, red shorts), Ben Seward (Wigan, A), Tony Seward (Warrington, A), Sam Zellar (Leeds, A).

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