Swinton Lions players to feature in Rugby 9s World Cup

Three Swinton Lions players have been called up to represent Wales in the Rugby 9s world cup.

Rhodri Lloyd, Mike Butt and Gavin Bennion will all travel to Australia to play at the Bankwest Stadium in Sydney between October 17-18.

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?? DOWN UNDER | #WalesRL’s ??????? men’s team have arrived in #Sydney ahead of #RLWC9S! #rugbyleague #rugby #sport #internationalrugbyleague #internationalrugby #internationalsport #Australia #Wales ??

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They will face England on their opening match, which kicks off at 9:10 and then France the following day.

Lloyd will be looking to bring experience to the team, being the youngest ever to feature in the Wales team, making his debut against Italy in 2010 aged 17.

His first International try was also scored against Italy in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. He then went on to Captain Wales in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers.

? | THREE LIONS INCLUDED IN WALES 9s WORLD CUP SQUAD

Congratulations, @Rhodrilloyd93, @GavinBennion1 and @Buttayy! ?

➡️https://t.co/HvYt8aLbau pic.twitter.com/325eZr4xVl

— Swinton Lions RLFC (@Swinton_Lions) October 9, 2019

Butt, who won Swinton’s Man of Steel and try of the season awards in 2018 will also be looking to impress.

When speaking to the Wales Rugby League, he explained “I was out in Mexico for a wedding and I was having a light-hearted chat with Rhodri Lloyd over text.

“I was saying as a bit of a mess around how I was eligible because my gran was Welsh, but I didn’t actually realise that was the case and it qualified me to play.”

Wales have a well-known history with the sport, dating all the way back to New Year’s day 1908 when they became the first ever International side to host a match under Northern Union rules.