IT was a bittersweet week for Westhoughton Lions coach Simon Speakman after his side lost a potentially decisive match in the North West Men’s League but he was picked for international honours.

The 35-year-old has been selected to represent the British Amateur Rugby League Association at a tournament in Dubai in November.

He will play for the over 35s side, known as the BARLA Bulldogs, in the Dubai 7s event.

Speakman and his team-mates will come up against players from all over the world, as well as former pros in the Joining Jack charity side, which has included ex-Super League players Gary Connolly, Andy Farrell and Jason Robinson.

“To be 35 and picked to play for my country for the first time in an unreal feeling,” said the Westhoughton-based HGV driver.

“I have always loved being involved in the game, as a player and a coach, but nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”

Speakman played at a decent level in the National Conference League with Wigan St Patricks before taking on the head coach’s role with his hometown team.

The sting in the tail for the dad-of-three, however, is that the Dubai trip is largely self-funded.

“All the players have to pay their own way, which means I need to raise £1,000,” he said.

“So I am looking for help from a sponsor.”

Westhoughton Lions’ fate will be sealed by the time their coach flies off to Dubai.

They missed out on the chance to move into the top four of Division Three at the weekend after blowing a 16-0 lead at play-off rivals Garswood Stags.

Two tries from Stuart Jarvis and one apiece for Daniel Edwardson, Jimmy Haydock and Ryan Berry put them in the ascendancy.

And while the home side came back at them, a late penalty from Nicky Bullough put the Lions two points up going into the last set of tackles, only for the Stags to steal a 30-26 victory.

The defeat put fifth-placed Lions four points behind the Stags in the table but with five home games now to come there is still everything to play for.

Their next match is against Bury Broncos on September 5.

To sponsor Simon’s trip to Dubai email him at simonspeakman12@gmail.com or call 07934 980077.