Great Britain Men’s Development Team have named their travelling squad for Sunday 11 October’s European Championship opener away to Georgia, with quarterbacks Louis Benzey and Reece Aris included for the Level 2 contest in Georgia. The British American Football Association said the game at Mukhianis Rugby Complex will start at 6pm local time, or 3pm BST, and will be the hosts’ first competitive fixture.
The selection gives head coach Adam Lillis a group including players from named club and university teams for Great Britain’s first game in the competition. Georgia are the hosts for the opening assignment, before the Development Team are scheduled to return home to face Spain in Coventry the following weekend.
Who is in Great Britain’s travelling squad?
Benzey, of Bristol Aztecs, and East Kilbride Pirates quarterback Aris are the two quarterbacks in the 45-player party announced by BAFA. They are joined in the backfield by University of Bournemouth running back Jaedon Wilson, Firenze Red Lions running back Simon Olaifa, East Kent Mavericks running back Ben Crabbe and East Kilbride Pirates running back Mike Sop, while Newcastle Vikings’ Jack Lewis has been selected as kicker.
The receiver group contains University of Stirling player Joshua Johnson-Mitchell, Bristol Aztecs’ Oliver Luck, University of Durham’s Conrad Phillpot, London Olympians’ Javelle Roberts, Solent Thrashers’ Matt Rickard, Manchester Titans’ Sam Wilson, University of Nottingham’s Zion Anjorin, East Kilbride Pirates’ Arran McDonald and East Kent Mavericks’ Dante Langlais-John-Jules. BAFA’s roster also lists a defensive back group featuring University of Exeter’s Callum Twine, University of Durham’s Rory Humphries, London Blitz’s Ademiju Sijuwade, Hertfordshire Cheetahs’ Joe Parton, Manchester Titans’ Jonathan Omal, Solent Thrashers’ Toby Dean, Manchester Titans’ Fin Norton, London Blitz’s Jake Ramus and Scunthorpe Alphas’ Sean Bedford.
The defensive front includes East Kent Mavericks linebacker Ian Whitehead, University of Portsmouth linebacker David Dagogo-Jack, Kent Exiles linebacker Josh King, Wembley Stallions linebacker Luke Ogodo-Avbara, East Kent Mavericks linebacker Boyd Marnham and University of Portsmouth linebacker Sammy Yates-McCabe. Joseph Mustapha of London Blitz, Coventry Phoenix’s Sam White, Wembley Stallions player Jamal Ryan-Coker, Firenze Red Lions’ Lambert Ondoua, London Blitz’s Dan Obinkwo and Bristol Aztecs pair Adam Woodward and David Shorinwa have been selected on the defensive line.
Great Britain’s offensive line options are Liverpool John Moores University’s Max Charnley-Collins, Manchester Titans’ Scott Tomlinson, University of Nottingham’s Towdah Kemevor, London Blitz’s Joshua Aina, University of Portsmouth’s Duygu Ozkor, University of Nottingham’s Ethan Villalta and Wembley Stallions’ Jordan Davies. The roster includes players from clubs such as London Blitz, Bristol Aztecs, East Kent Mavericks, Manchester Titans and Wembley Stallions, as well as university teams.
A straightforward count of the published list shows London Blitz supply five players, more than any other named club or university side. Bristol Aztecs contribute four, while East Kent Mavericks and the University of Portsmouth each have three. Olaifa and Ondoua are both listed with Firenze Red Lions.
BAFA’s published staff list names Andy Paton as running backs coach, Alex Malchow and Michael Muranda as offensive line coaches, Andy Batha as defensive line coach, Martin Hume as linebackers coach and Allan Murdoch as defensive backs coach. Geoff Williams is listed in defensive quality control, while Jason Scott is chef-de-mission and Isiaka Dapo and Jakub Galis are physios.
What happens in Georgia and what comes next?
BAFA said the meeting in Georgia is part of Level 2 of the IFAF European Championships. Georgia will be playing its first competitive fixture as host.
The association said SILK Sport 2 will show the match on Georgian television, but added that UK availability had not yet been confirmed. BAFA said UK availability remains to be confirmed and directed followers to its Instagram Stories for updates.
The Georgia fixture is followed the next weekend by a home match against Spain. Great Britain are scheduled to host Spain at Nick Newbold Stadium in Coventry on Sunday 18 October. BAFA said that home fixture will begin at 10:30am, one week after the Georgia game.
This is the travelling squad for Georgia. Spain are due in Coventry the following weekend. The named coaching staff include defensive coordinator Alasdair Jarvis, offensive coordinator Alex Challands and special teams coordinator Matt Turner-Orsborne, working under Lillis.
Great Britain’s Georgia fixture
- Opponent: Georgia
- Competition: IFAF European Championship, Level 2
- Date: Sunday 11 October
- Venue: Mukhianis Rugby Complex, Georgia
- Kick-off: 6pm local time, 3pm BST
- Next fixture: Spain at Nick Newbold Stadium, Coventry, on Sunday 18 October at 10:30am