There’s strong Cumbrian interest in the Scotland squad named for the Rugby League World Cup.
Three of them are based in Cumbria while a fourth, Australian Lachlan Walmsley played for Whitehaven in 2021.
Barrow’s good form in the Championship has helped Charlie Emslie and Shane Toal showcase their talents.
Whitehaven’s Guy Graham is the fourth player of Cumbrian interest and he’s completing a family double as dad George is a former Scotland rugby union international who played league for Carlisle.
Scotland have named four National Rugby League players in their squad for the forthcoming World Cup.
Forward Euan Aitken, who is joining new NRL club Dolphins next season after leaving New Zealand Warriors, is back after missing the 2017 tournament.
Luke Bain of Parramatta, Brisbane’s Logan Bayliss-Brow and Bailey Hayward from Canterbury have also been chosen in coach Nathan Graham’s 24-man group.
Kyle Schneider of semi-professional side Mackay Cutters is included too.
Aitken is the only one of the five Australia-based contingent to have previously earned a cap.
Other experienced players in the squad include Salford Red Devils’ Ryan Brierley, Kane Linnett of Hull KR, Toulouse back Matty Russell and St Helens forward James Bell.
As expected, Hull KR full-back Lachlan Coote is not included because of injury. Danny Addy, Callum McLelland and Canterbury Bulldogs’ Aaron Schoupp are also sidelined.
Scotland open their World Cup campaign against Italy in Newcastle on October 16. They also face reigning champions Australia and Fiji in Group B.
The squad is: Charlie Emslie, Shane Toal (Barrow Raiders), Keiran Buchanan (Batley Bulldogs), Logan Bayliss-Brow (Brisbane Broncos), Bailey Hayward (Caterbury Bulldogs), Davey Dixon, Dale Ferguson (Dewsbury Rams), Lewis Clarke (Edinburgh Eagles), Ben Hellewell (Featherstone Rovers), Lachlan Walmsley (Halifax Panthers), Kane Linnett (Hull KR), Calum Gahan, Alex Walker (London Broncos), Kyle Schneider (Mackay Cutters), Euan Aitken (New Zealand Warriors), Luke Bain (Parramatta Eels), Ryan Brierley, Sam Luckley (Salford Red Devils), Bayley Liu (Sheffield Eagles), James Bell (St Helens), Matty Russell (Toulouse), Liam Hood (Wakefield), Guy Graham (Whitehaven RLFC), Jack Teanby (York City Knights).
