Another feather in the cap of OLs junior teams! Under 16 prop Gregg Swinburn was picked to play in the Welsh Exiles team.

The Welsh Rugby Union runs a team known as the Welsh Exiles where those of Welsh Ancestry can be picked to play on behalf of the Exiles team, and where talent scouts try and identify potential in younger players, with a view to bringing them back into mainstream rugby in Wales, potentially even representing Wales at international level. Previous Exiles have included Tom Shanklin, and Colin Charvis  and Huw Bennett, well known names in International Rugby.

Gregg  Swinburn (known in the team as "Sherli" due to his long red hair) registered his ancestry with the WRU and got a surprise invite to come and play for them in late February. He was unequivocally shocked by the invite and spent the two weeks in the run up doing a bit more physical training! He met up with about 9 new team members to the Exiles core, and ended playing the second half as loosehead, his normal position.

In early March Gregg received a second invite to represent the team against the Lutterworth under 16's, a very strong side doing very well in their regional cup currently. He started out in 1 position from the outset and was only substituted after 20 minutes in the second half. It was a hard match, the line outs were a very weak point for the Exiles, but they finished 8 -3 in the lead and were congratulated by the Lutterworth president on not only their performance given there were again a high number who had never played before, but also on their ambassadorship for the sport.

Sherli said "it's been brilliant though I was disappointed not to be able to play for OL's on the Sunday, I have learnt a lot and seen different techniques, my grounding with OL's has given me a real advantage". "I hope I get called up again, it is a privilege and one that has spurned me on to even greater efforts, I am really looking forward to our U 16's Dutch tour now"!