AN exciting change in fortune has been welcomed by Woolston Rovers' Conference team coach Dave Elliott.

The former Warrington Wolves player has been selected as assistant coach to the BARLA tour of Australia this summer and two of Woolston's star performers are also in the squad.

Elliott had his professional playing career cut short through injury two years ago and last month his 30-year-old wife, Sarah, died of cancer.

He said this week: "My selection has come as a surprise but with the bad luck I have had over the last few years this news could not have come at a better time for me.

"I did hear a few months ago that I was in the running but with not hearing anything more until now I thought my chance had gone. I am looking forward to it."

And Elliott is full of praise for the two Woolston players who will be on the tour, scrum half and captain Neil Kelly plus the versatile Nigel Quarmby.

He said: "These two players pick themselves. With the form they have been showing this is everything they deserved."

Kelly and Quarmby know all about BARLA tours having been on the South Africa one in 1995.

Elliott, who toured Australia with BARLA under 19s in 1989, remarked on his surprise that there are not more of Woolston's talented squad in the BARLA ranks.

He said: "We're at the top of the Premier Division table so it does surprise me that we only have two.

"There are only two from the top four clubs in the Premier Division but I have not been involved with these decisions."

A squad of 26 will jet down under in June for a series of games against Australian Aboriginal teams.

It includes games in Cairns, Ayres Rock and Canberra and concludes with a Test match on July 12 in Sydney.

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