YORK Acorn hooker Lewis Lord will fly to Australia this weekend to represent England at the Student World Cup.

Lord, who is studying economics at Loughborough University, booked his place in the 24 man squad after impressive displays in a series of warm-up games. As a teenager, he also represented England Youth and the Great Britain Emerging Lions side.

"I have had my eye on this trip ever since I first applied to University two or three years ago," he said. "Now it is finally coming around and to be selected is a dream come true.

"Of course we want to win the World Cup," he said. "But the experience of touring 'down under' might only come along once in a lifetime so I will be giving it everything I have got.

"It will be very exciting to to test myself in a new country and environment. It will also be great to sample the culture and see the sights in a country that loves Rugby League so much."

The ten-day Student World Cup is being staged in the Parramatta and Penrith areas of Sydney with the final held at Pepper Stadium, the home of Penrith Panthers, on Sunday July 16.

The tournament involves six countries - England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

England have been drawn in Pool B with Wales and Scotland and also play a 'cross-pool' game against Australia.

They open their campaign against Australia next Friday before playing Wales on Sunday July 9 and Scotland on Wednesday July 12.

Defending champions Australia have won the tournaments five times out of eight with New Zealand winning on the other three occasions.

Lord, who lives in Tadcaster, joined York Acorn as a schoolboy and says the club has 'made him the player he is today.'

While studying at Loughborough he has been training with the Coventry Bears and made his debut for the Kingstone Press League One club against London Skolars in March.

All players and staff involved in the England Student squad have been required to raise £2,400 to pay for their own travel and accomodation.

Lord has raised around £1,300 so far which includes £500 from an auction organised by York Acorn.

Anyone wishing to support his World Cup adventure should donate via gofundme.com/rugby-student-world-cup-fundraising