Groundbreaking tour full of eastern promise

Jul 17 2008 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

YOUNG rugby league stars from The Heath College are flying the flag for their school, town and country.

The school’s Under 15s have embarked on a three-game tour of Russia.

The eastern European country is still a developing nation in rugby league terms while the game also remains in its infancy at the Runcorn school, although great strides have been taken.

The concept of undertaking such a trip would have been a pipedream four years ago.

Rugby league wasn’t even played in the town, let alone the schools.

But now, thanks to the hard work of PE teachers Tony Fretwell and Paul George, who organised the tour, the school will live out the dream.

The trip will see the players play at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow – scene of Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League triumph over Chelsea.

The rookie Runcorn side, led by captain Karl Morland, will face Lokomotiv Moscow RLFC tomorrow.

They will become the first junior side in the country to play rugby league in the world-renowned stadium.

Their other adversaries on the tour which began yesterday will be Strella Kazan RLFC and Spectre RLFC.

Fretwell said: “It is the realisation of a dream and lots of hard work which started two years ago.

“Rugby League in Runcorn has huge support and through the initiatives pushed through by The Heath, we see ourselves as one of the leading lights in rugby league in the borough of Halton and the North West.”

The school has been working alongside Russian-born Julia Bennison, who is a regional co-ordinator for the Rugby League European Federation.

She lives near the college and she has played a pivotal role in the organisation of the trip.

The tour is being backed to the tune of £10,000 by the British Council.

It’s the first time the Council has backed a rugby league project and it is seen as a massive coup for the school.

With the support and backing of Halton Borough Council, Runcorn Rugby League Club and Widnes Vikings, the tour is another important part of the rugby league renaissance in the town.

Heather Mullaney, headteacher, said: “Everybody at The Heath is really excited about the rugby league tour to Russia. It’s the first for us, for Halton and for the country. We are proud to be the standard bearers.

“The staff and students have worked very hard to prepare and have raised lots of money to help fund the trip.

“We are also grateful to our sponsors, without whom the trip would not be possible.

“The students will learn so much from their experience as they will have the opportunity to visit cultural sites, museums and places of great historical merit.

“We wish them all the best on their tour and are sure that they will be superb ambassadors for The Heath, Halton, but most of all themselves and their families who have been the greatest supporters of all.”

The players are: Ben Robinson, Mike Hand, Jonathon Morgan, Stephen Bailey, Ryan Beech, Alex Brown, Andy White, John Sanders, Jack Wignall, Karl Morland (capt), Conor Hatton, Liam Morgan, Colin Wright, Zak Highton, Jamie Cook, Jordan Holt, Louis Lecossois, Ben Moores, Jack Shaw, Joel Short and Jason Barrett.