TWO members of the all-conquering Dowdales School RL team will be reunited in Great Britain colours this week.

Brad Walker and Liam Paisley will be part of the GB Academy squad taking on France at Warrington on Friday.

It will be the first time the pair have played together since winning a third Champion Schools national crown with Dowdales at Castleford in 2014.

Walker is on the books at Widnes Vikings and Paisley is among the Academy and reserves players at Wigan Warriors and they are looking forward to a new challenge in the GB side.

Eighteen-year-old centre Paisley, who came through the junior ranks at Dalton as well as playing for Dowdales, said: “It's a privilege to be in the Academy squad. I've been training with the development squad and to be picked for the game is a dream come true.

“It's going to be a tough game. We played them as England Youth and that was a tough game. They're going to be bigger and more skilful now and the game could go either way.

“It's going to be a similar level to what I've experienced at Wigan. I've played a few games for the reserves. I've been all right in those games, so hopefully I will be here. The physicality is going to be tougher, but it's nothing that I won't be used to.”

On playing alongside Walker, he added: “It will be the first time in a while – I haven't played with him since school.”

Walker too is looking forward to lining up with his old schoolmate – the pair not having played against each other for some time either as both have battled through injury.

The Askamite 18-year-old, who has overcome two ankle issues this term, said: “It will be good to play with him and see him. It's great to have two Dowdales players in the team.

“It's a big achievement for me to be in the squad. It's something I've always wanted to do, playing for the Academy. I played for the scholarship team last year and that was great, but to play for the Academy is an even bigger achievement.

“It's going to be tough. Every game internationally is always going to be tough. It's a challenge, a big step up for me from playing club Academy rugby to international Academy. I'll have to take it as it comes.”

The match against France is a precursor to a summer tour of Australia with Great Britain, which will take in two Test matches and two encounters with club Academy sides.

It is a tour both Paisley and Askam RL product Walker hope they will be on.

“Hopefully I will have good season,” Paisley said. “I want to be selected for the Australia tour in July and August and hopefully earn a first-team contract at Wigan as well.

“Playing in Australia would be the ultimate test. It would be great to see how they go down there.”

Walker added: “I'm getting back fit and feeling better playing games.

“Going to Australia would be a great achievement. I'll just have to work hard and see what happens.”