THREE players from Leigh East are preparing to do battle with the Aussies.

The top trio are in the Great Britain Young Lions squad on BARLA's 30th tour to and from the Southern Hemisphere.

And Radney Bowker, Chris Halliwell and Ian Lewis will be hoping to go where none has gone before - inflicting on the Aussie Schoolboys their first defeat by a Lions team.

The Aussies have never lost a Test series against any country and, in their 25-year history, have been beaten only three times. The current 9-match tour features Tests at the Port Macquarie Sports Stadium on August 9 and Wynnum Manly RLFC, Brisbane, a week later.

Half-back Radney, 18, who toured France earlier this year, is a student of sports studies. He enjoys weightlifting and was a county swimmer eight years ago.

Utility back Chris, 18, is now an apprentice at Halifax. He played for Great Britain against France in the last two seasons, winning the MoM award in Paris. His ambitions are clear-cut: "To get into the first team at Halifax, lift the Challenge Cup and tour with Great Britain."

Back row forward Ian, also 18, simply wants to play professional rugby. The 6ft3in youngster was in the Presidents X111 which played France last year and toured France with Great Britain earlier this year.

The squad is led by International Youth Director Geoff Owen, a founder member and president of Leigh East and a founder member and former vice-chairman of BARLA.

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