Young Rugby Star

Year 10 pupil Bradley started this season enjoying his favourite sport rugby playing for his club Ormskirk RFC but he could not at that time imagine what the next eight months had in store. He is a prop forward, a position which is very technical but requires tremendous strength and endurance particularly in scrums and line-outs. In October 2009 Brad successfully trialled for Merseyside Under 15s for whom he went on to play four representative matches and he scored a try in the first match against West Cheshire. He had already caught the eyes of the Lancashire selectors and in December he successfully trialled for Lancashire 15 Group. Bradley began training weekly with these elite sports stars and backed it up in school with a personal programme of strength and conditioning training in the school’s fitness suite under the watchful eye of his Form Teacher Mr. Gillon. The hard work paid off and he enjoyed a successful season with the county highlighted by notable wins against Cardiff and Yorkshire. Brad’s progress was also being monitored by the Premiership club Sale Sharks and recently he was invited to join the Sale Academy which attracts players from all over the North West of England. This means more training but he is only too eager to learn more about the game from the professionals. Next season, besides turning out for Ormskirk and Sale, he will play county rugby for Lancashire U16s and he can aspire to representing the North of England and England 16 Group.