Rugby League: Tales from the BARLA Tour - Aidan Gleeson

Photo: Aidy Gleeson

Aidan Gleeson, Mayfield Rugby League

Aidan Gleeson is one of the vice captains of the BARLA touring party. The Rochdale Mayfield prop has enjoyed a steady season despite the side's inconsistency.

"We've had quite a poor season by our last few season's standards. For the last three years, we’ve reached play-off semi-finals and last year we needed to win our last game to stay up!

"After that our coach has stepped down and a few players have moved on. It's going to be a challenging year."

Regarding experience of leadership roles, Aidy explained: "I've been vice-captain at Mayfield for a couple of seasons but with players moving on and young lads coming through, I thought I had to take that role."

In addition to BARLA honours with Lancashire and the Lions, Gleeson also represents GB Teachers and went on a short tour to Spain earlier this year.

"I played for them about six or seven years ago, when I worked for Rochdale Hornets, I then got involved again about two years ago and went to Spain, which was good. Rep honours are always nice.

"I've played for Lancashire for the last four years and captained them last year. Luckily enough I got the chance to come on another BARLA tour. I went to South Africa in 2015. Doing that was really fun."

Regarding his experience of Fiji so far, Gleeson said: "It's a bit of a contrast to what I thought it would have been, but knowing what sort of country Fiji is now, there isn't a lot of wealth, they have a very laid back culture, there is no rushing around - that's what the world should be more like."