TWO local Rugby League teenagers have been selected to represent Great Britain in their tour to New Zealand this summer.

James Taylor and Liam Rowson, both 18, have been picked to play for the BARLA Great Britain Young Lions for the tour to the southern hemisphere country.

And the pair will also be touring France this week with the BARLA representative side in a two-match tour.

But the two Leigh East players need to raise at least £1,200 each to go on their trip of a lifetime to New Zealand, and a fund-raising night has been arranged for later this month.

James, who plays loose forward, said: "I'm really excitied about going to New Zealand. It's my first tour abroad and it's going to be good to come up against the New Zealanders. They will be a big pack physically and will play a different style of rugby to us, so it's going to be tough."

Second rower Liam said: "I'm really looking forward to the tour. I've never been to New Zealand before and it will be an experience that I will most probably never have again.

"There will be a lot of hard games, but we are quietly confident. If we stick to our game plan we can beat them. We both need to raise as much money as possible so the more who come to the sportsman's dinner the better it will be for James and I."

The dinner will be held on Friday 20 June at Leigh British Legion to raise money for James and Liam and tickets cost £25.

For more details contact Leigh East Chairman Jim Hoffman on 01942 675923.