IT is probably rare for Welsh teams to think of Northwich when recruiting new players.

But one teenager from the town crossed the border after accepting an invite to make his debut for one of the country’s most prestigious clubs.

Liam Conboy, a prop, was part of a Crawshays Welsh youth side that took on the Independent Schools’ Lambs at a wet and chilly Merthyr.

And the 17-year-old is glad he made the trip; the hosts prevailed 40-28, scoring six tries during an entertaining encounter.

“He loved it,” said dad John.

“To play for a team like that, which thousands of Welsh lads want to, is some achievement for him.”

Crawshays is an amateur club that encourages Welsh rugby talent and selects boys from clubs across the country.

Formed in 1922 by Captain Geoffrey Crawshay when he took a team to play an inaugural fixture against Devenport Services, it boasts a rich history that includes sides touring the world.

Conboy, captain at of the rugby team at Sir John Deane’s College, was put forward by coaches from the Welsh Rugby Union’s Exiles programme.

He has been part of that scheme, designed to identify Welsh-qualified players based outside of the country, for the past few years.

John said: “That’s put him on the Crawshays radar.”

Conboy, a former student at Weaverham High School, played previously for Northwich before switching to Sandbach where he is a regular in their junior colts side.