Following on from Oga Mabaya and Oli Trippier’s appearances against Cheshire earlier in the season, last Saturday PGRFC 1st XV players Sam Gale (sponsored by Drumacre), Ryan Purcell (sponsored by Marcus Worthington Ltd) and Jake Squirrel (sponsored by Accor Hotels) made their senior county debuts when they represented the Lancashire Royals XV against the Anti-Assassins at Blackburn RUFC’s Ramsgreave Drive ground.
The Royals came into being last season and is an avenue for talented and ambitious players competing at Level 5 and below to gain county recognition. Selection is restricted to players competing at these league levels and players who have previously played for the Senior XV are ineligible.
In a highly entertaining game, the Royals led late in the second half before going down 24-29 to the AA’s. All three players did well and enjoyed pulling on a senior county jersey. Rob Bramhall, currently on loan from Hoppers to Blackburn also featured for the Royals.
The Royals will be looking for a further fixture later in the year with a rumoured Roses clash against Yorkshire being suggested in certain quarters.
