A DREAM will come true for Heworth rugby league ace Liam Watling after he was selected to play for Great Britain amateurs Under-18s.

Watling captained the Yorkshire side which took on the North West at Leeds last weekend in a trial match for the British Amateur Rugby League Associa-tion's young Lions side.

And he has now heard he has been picked for the squad which will tour France at the end of next month.

"I've only just heard I've been selected but I'm really looking forward to it," said the 17-year-old. "It's what I've been wanting to do for 12 years since I started playing rugby."

The former Oaklands School pupil, who has never represented Great Britain at a younger age group, made the grade this year by coming through the Service Area structure, impressing in the North Yorkshire trials, then the Yorkshire trials and now the GB trials.

"People told me I played out of my skin in the Yorkshire game, probably as well as I can play, and it was great to be picked," he said.

Watling, a versatile forward, started training with Hull FC Academy at the beginning of this year, though he has not signed professional forms. He is also set to go training with York City Knights as his local professional club keep tabs on him.

As reported by the Press, York boasts four other players who have been selected for national squads for forthcoming games.

York Acorn scrum-half Andy Gargan is in the BARLA Great Britain U21s squad, while New Earswick duo Ross Divorty and Danny Allan are in the England U16s squad to face France later this month - Divorty will captain the side - and Acorn's David Leeke is in the England U15s team that will play Wales on Good Friday.

Updated: 11:03 Tuesday, March 22, 2005