TWO Blackburn Rugby Club stalwarts are heading to the World Cup after they were chosen as world cup volunteers.

Third team player John O’Ryan and team mate Dan McAreavey were picked as pack members for England’s World Cup tie against Uruguay at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium in October.

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Twenty thousand people applied for the posts, but just 6,000 got the nod for the prestigious roles for the start of next month’s tournament.

Like the London Olympics, volunteers help with various duties, from directing supporters to their seats, assisting journalists in the media centre, transporting officials and organising food and drink stations.

O’Ryan , Head of Computer Science at Saint Augustine’s School, Blackburn, said he was delighted to have been selected.

He said: “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it is such a big honour for both of us to be chosen.

“My role is as a human resources manager, dealing with the logistics and making sure everybody has the correct uniform, and that VIPS, celebrities and the main officials get to the right place at the right time.”

O’Ryan, who has played at Ramsgreave Drive for 20 years, added: “The auditions and interviews were held over several months, and they included several training days, so it was quite a strenuous process.

“However, it will be fantastic to be involved right at the heart of the World Cup, but there is no guarantee that I’ll get to see the game.”

England’s World Cup tie at the Etihad on October 10 is the only England fixture to be held outside the capital – and clashes with Rugby League’s Grand Final showcase, due to be played at Old Trafford three hours earlier.

“Manchester will be one of the busiest places in Britain that day, with over 100,000 rugby fans in the city, so I suppose it will make what we do even more important – we’ll have to make sure everybody gets to the right stadium,” O’Ryan added of his duties for the day.

Meanwhile, he has hailed Blackburn Rugby Club’s Summer School as a huge success.

Potential stars of the future were in action at Ramsgreave Drive last week, with hundreds of youngsters, aged 5-11, taking part in coaching sessions and matches.

Run by Blackburn’s Mini and Youth section, O’Ryan who coaches Blackburn’s Under-11 outfit, said: “It was a fantastic week.

“It was the eleventh year we’ve staged the Summer School, and we’ve always had a lot of success in terms of recruitment for Blackburn.

“There are a lot of lads who have joined us via the Summer School who are now playing second and third team rugby for Blackburn, and Alex Evans, who came to us as a seven year old, is first team prop.

“The idea, of course, is to bring young talent through and introduce them to the feel and culture of Blackburn Rugby Club and hopefully make them stay and enjoy their rugby here.”

Meanwhile Blackburn’s Under 16s squad have returned from their summer tour of Canada boasting a remarkable record, scoring 120 points in their three games and conceding none.