A League of his own

Edge Hill Criminology student Kieran Lacey is destined for 'Down Under? after being selected to play for the England Rugby League team.

Kieran, 27, will represent his country in the Student World Cup, which features eight leading nations, to be held in Brisbane this July.

No stranger to making the step up to the international stage though, St Helens-born Kieran has captained Great Britain and England at a number of levels and once earned the national youth player of the year award.

"I have played rugby in New Zealand before but never Australia so I am really looking forward to it," said Kieran, who has played semi-professionally for Widnes and is currently helping Edge Hill?s cause in the national play-offs. "To be picked in the squad of 25 is a real honour and hopefully we can emulate the Union side by beating the Aussies and bringing the cup back to this side of the world."

However, the prop forward?s enthusiasm for the event is curbed by financial concerns with monthly instalments required by the team manager to cover travel and accommodation expenses.

"If I can?t come up with the funds then I?ll be replaced by someone who can ? it's as simple as that," he added. "Student Rugby League is an amateur organisation so both personal and team sponsorship is essential. We are trying lots of ways to raise the cash including selling raffle tickets for shirt sponsorship, packing bags at supermarkets and organising sportsman?s dinners.

"I?ve received backing from the Students? Union and the Student Information Centre at Edge Hill, however at the moment I am still way short of the required figure."

If anyone is interested in supporting Kieran?s quest to make it to Australia, please contact him on 07966 677238.