Earlier in the week we picked a squad of 17 Skolars’ players past and present who have been competing in the RLWC 2021.

David Ballheimer, who has watched and reported on both London sides since the early 1980s took up the challenge of selecting a Broncos’ side. With an incredible 27 past and present Broncos in the men’s competition, he had to choose from the 16 players remaining after the Skolars’ side had been selected.

The Broncos’ squad contains players from 11 different nations and could have been 13 if he’d been able to select Ronnie Palumbo, Adam Vrahnos or Rob Tuliatu. Doubtless the Broncos’ squad could have been even stronger if he’d chosen from all 27.

Both sides also have coaches who’ve coached in the competition – Skolars with Jermaine Coleman (Jamaica) and Brian McDermott (Fiji) for Jamaica. They could also call on assistants Mike Castle (who is coaching Canada in the women’s competition and Tony Rae, who was on the coaching staff for Lebanon.

Referee would have to Ashley Klein, referee of the semi-final between Australia and New Zealand, who referred in the London League when he first came to the UK from Australia.

Last player standing of the 27 is England’s Mike McMeeken, who played for Skolars, on dual registration from Broncos in 2014. Mike was selected in the 17-man team for the semi-final against Samoa.