A SKELMERSDALE law firm is sponsoring a young rugby star’s world cup bid.

Scott Rees & Co, Solicitors, pledged £500 to help fund 21-year-old Daniel Pyke’s place in the Rugby League Student World Cup Championships being held in Brisbane, Australia, this month.

Daniel, who is also studying for a degree in sports coaching and performance development at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, was selected last year to play for the Ireland Students Rugby League team in the European Championships – making it to the final against England.

His performance in the Championship has now won him a coveted place in the World Cup competition.

Following squad training in Ireland and Leeds, he is now due to fly out to Brisbane on the June 27 and will spend four weeks competing for the trophy as the Ireland team’s Stand Off.

Daniel, of Orrell, Wigan, said: “My thanks go to Scott Rees & Co for donating £500 towards the cost of the trip, which is a significant contribution to my mandatory target. It is a wonderful opportunity.

“I am keen to work as a PE teacher and sports coach in the future so the experience will be a great help as I will learn more about coaching techniques.”

Daniel’s mother, Carole, is a training and management services officer at Scott Rees, which specialises in personal injury claims and conveyancing for clients across the country.

Scott Rees’s managing partner, Royston Smith, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring Daniel’s place in the competition which is undoubtedly a chance-of-a-lifetime experience.

“We hope that he will be successful in Australia and we wish him well for the future.”

Ireland will join teams from Australia, England, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, France and Greece who will all be competing for the world title.