Alex Mills-Baker has proved himself more than capable of competing on the international stage.
Mills-Baker selected for GB Rugby League Squad
University of Exeter Rugby League star Alex Mills Baker will join the Great Britain Student Pioneers rugby team as they travel to Morocco at the end of June to promote and develop the sport.
The tour sees the Pioneers leave Europe for the first time since 2005, with the squad of 20 being hand-picked from fourteen different Universities around the country, judged on their playing ability and record of promoting the development of rugby league.
Alex, who only made the move from Rugby Union to Rugby League last summer expressed his delight at being selected for his country, he said: “It is a huge honour and a very exciting opportunity to develop for next year’s British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) campaign. We’ll be promoting the game in Morocco and playing three test matches alongside a few other lower level games.”
The squad will travel across the North African state playing matches in Rabat, Casablanca and Berrechid whilst working with the Federation Marocaine de Rugby League (FMRL) to help develop current Moroccan players and encourage new-comers to the sport.
Rugby League is one of the University of Exeter’s 10 focus sports and as such receives dedicated coaching and support from the University’s High Performance Unit.
Assistant Director of Sport (Performance and Competitions), Nick Beasant explained how Rugby League has developed into one of the University’s flagship sports in recent years:
“Rugby League is a high octane collision sport which demands an incredibly high level of fitness from its players. Over the past decade League has become more and more prominent nationally as well as at the University. Exeter has continued to develop its League programme and remains a force to be reckoned with, finishing third in the BUCS National South League this year.
It is fantastic to see one of our athletes acting as a flag bearer in helping develop the sport globally. To be selected at such a high level, after being involved in the sport for such a short amount of time is testament to Alex’s determination to perform at the top level. The heat of Morocco will provide a new challenge, but I have no doubt that he will impress on the international stage.”
Despite being called up to represent his country Alex is still determined to push his University rugby to the highest level. He added: “My personal ambition within the sport is to go as far as I can and hopefully get a BUCS gold with Exeter along the way. “
Date: 6 June 2013
