RILEY TO EARN THIRD INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN FOOTBALL CAP BY PLAYING FOR GB LIONS U17 SQUAD AGAINST SPAIN 

Riley Read, Year 12 student at Richmond Sixth Form College, recently received this email from the British American Football Association, the national governing body for the sport in the UK: 

 “Following your involvement with the GB U17 2024 National Programme, I would like to offer you a place on our Travelling Squad to play in Spain on Sunday 17th November.” 

 As you can imagine, Riley has a long history with American Football and has been playing at a high level for some time. Paul, Riley’s dad, provides some background to Riley’s latest success: 

 “Riley has been involved with the Great Britain Lions program at the U17 level since the age of 13.  He was the youngest player to represent GB aged 14 against Austria for his first international cap and then won his second cap against Norway in 2022.  

 The cycle for the 2024 Lions began at the end of 2023, starting with trials for the 2024 Squad. Riley was excused the initial trial phase which involves all players across GB as he was a starting player from 2022.  He then joined the broader squad of approximately 100 players – the GB Practice Squad. These players are then evaluated through a number of training sessions over the course of the year, culminating in the final Travelling Squad selection which happened recently. The players were informed by email if they had made the final travelling squad of 45 players who would then take on Spain in November. 

 Riley received the good news he was part of the Travelling Squad and will therefore earn his third international cap.  In the weeks leading up to this he will also make his debut for Team North in the U19 age group as part of a regional series that pits the best of Team North against Team Scotland, Team South and Team Midlands.”

We will catch up with Riley after his trip to Spain for a match report and an update about what happens next for him and the GB U17 squad. In the meantime – all the best to Riley and the GB U17 British Lions American Football Travelling Squad as they take on the Spanish team on Sunday November 17th. 

Riley wears shirt 99 in the photos.