The Australian Lifesaving Squad is to take part in the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships later this year and participate in the intensive Australian Teams training camp to be held in June.

The Training Camp will be held in conjunction with Event 1 of the RLSSA Grand Prix series which will attract elite pool lifesavers from around Australia and internationally.

Selectors will confirm the Australian team to compete at the 2006 Commonwealth Championships in England this September following the Grand Prix.

Royal Life Saving’s “Aussie Barras” 10-member squad was selected based on competitors’ performances at the 2006 Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships held in Geelong, Victoria, in January. The five males and five females chosen for the squad displayed impressive performances in the pool.

Every five years, the Royal Life Saving Society UK hosts the Quinquennial Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Britain, with this year the Championships being held in Bath between 24-29 September, 2006.

The final Aussie Barras team will be heading to Bath to defend their title as Commonwealth champions.

“Australia has an excellent reputation in International competition,” said Royal Life Saving national sport manager Penny Hodgers. “The Aussie Barras are the current Commonwealth champions and we intend to head over to England in September to retain that title.”