Roaring young Lion Darren Callaghan is aiming to cap his Great Britain adventure with a Test match place.
The 21-year-old declared a Test slot was his top priority as he headed Down Under with the 26-strong ground-breaking BARLA touring party.
The York Acorn captain will be vying with Saddleworth Rangers stand-off Emerson Jackman for a place in the tour showpiece against the Australian Aboriginals on July 12.
Callaghan is guaranteed three appearances on the six-match tour - the first all Aboriginal tour hosted in Australia - but admits the Test match is the big draw.
"There is only one Test match and that is the one I am aiming for," he said.
"There are two stand-offs on the tour, they are taking two of every position so you are guaranteed three games out of the six.
I am pretty confident and just looking forward to it.
"I am the youngest in the side and I just can't believe I am going. It has started to hit me more now. It is a great experience at my age. It is awesome, it is a great honour being the only one from York."
International selection capped a rapid rise for the Blue and Golds' play-maker, who was made captain at the start of the season and gained Yorkshire County and Great Britain Under-21 honours.
The prolific stand-off piled up the points for Acorn in the National Conference League second division last season and his form caught the eye of the County selectors.
After figuring in Yorkshire's County Championship winning squad, Callaghan was named captain of the GB Under-21s for their clash with the RAF at Dewsbury in February.
The Acorn man received man-of-the-match plaudits as he had a hand in six Under-21s tries in their 42-16 victory.
Callaghan also swept the board at this year's Acorn presentation night, claiming the player's and coach's player of the year awards, plus the Colin Nolan Memorial Shield for the York and District player of the year.
Now he is eager to get back to action after a ten week break.
Said Callaghan: "I have not played for ten weeks because Acorn finished very early. I could have played for the second team at Acorn but I didn't dare get injured.
"But we have had five training sessions and it has been very good. We have been doing a lot of fitness training."
York Acorn supporters have raised more than £2,500 to back Callaghan's Australian trip, covering the cost of his travel and providing money for equipment.
"I want to thank everyone at Acorn who has fundraised for me. They had a race day, a concert and a sportsmans dinner. It is brilliant. I will go over there and do my best," added Callaghan, a former York RL Academy player.
Callaghan takes his place in a strong BARLA touring party, which also includes National Conference League player of the year Steve Mills, of Wigan St Pats, and former BARLA player of the year David Roe, the Skirlaugh hooker being the only survivor of the 1994 South Pacific tour.
Coach Mick Turner has steered the Lions to victory in their last two Test outings against the Aboriginals and France and, as he aims to complete a glorious hat-trick, he will be assisted by ex-Warrington player David Elliott.
Lions squad: Paul Brassington (Waterhead); Darren Callaghan (York Acorn); Colin Carter, Scott Fletcher, Scott Jackson, Chris Verity (all West Hull); Paul Cornforth (Clayton); Phil Crane, David Roe (both Skirlaugh); Stuart Dancer, Ian Devlin (Walney Central); Nigel Halmshaw (West Bowling); Anthony Hill (Hensingham), Emerson Jackman, Jason Wilkes (both Saddleworth); Darren Jones (Wigan St Judes); Neil Kelly, Nigel Quarmby (both Woolston); Duncan Kirkbride (Ellenborough); Stephen Larvin, David Ward (both Beverley); Chris McGee (Barrow Island); Steven Mills, Philip O'Neil (both Wigan St Pats); Dean Pickup (Eccles); Graham Summerscales (Shaw Cross).
Tour itinerary: Saturday, June 20: v North Queensland Aboriginal development team at Davies Point, Mareeba (kick off 10.30am BST); Wednesday, June 24: v North Coast Aboriginal development team at Coffs Harbour International Stadium (10.30am BST); Saturday, June 27: v Northern Division Aboriginal development team at Armidale Sports Ground (6am BST); Wednesday, July 1: v Western Division Aboriginal development team at Victoria Oval, Dubbo (10.30am BST); Saturday, July 4: v Newcastle Aboriginal development team at Waratah Oval, Newcastle (6am BST); Sunday, July 12: Test Match v Australian Aboriginals at Redfern Oval, Sydney (6am BST)
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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