One trainee teacher will be ‘try’-ing to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games next month

One trainee teacher will be ‘try’-ing to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games next month

 

Mr Spence is a Computer Science teacher at Priory but will be going to Australia in February to represent England in the Commonwealth 9s Championships.

 

England’s team is made up of Under 23s from the community game and Mr Spence plays for Wigan St Patrick’s in the National Conference.

 

“It will be tough to win a medal as all the other teams are professionals and we are amateurs,” said Mr Spence who is full back in a 15-man squad. “England is the only team which is made up of amateurs and the favourites will be Australia.

 

“England is in a group with Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, who were champions in 2014 so it certainly 

won’t be a walk in the park!

 

“I can’t wait really, it will be the first time I have been to Australia and it’s fantastic that it’s to play rugby.”

 

The competition is over two days, based at Brisbane, and Priory staff and pupils helped to fund Mr Spence’s trip:

 

“We needed to raise some of the money ourselves so there were various fundraisers across the way and I’ve sold raffle tickets at school,” said Mr Spence who has four England caps.

 

“It’s great to be involved, it will be a great experience and we will try our best.”