FORMER Blackburn prospect Ben O’Ryan is preparing to tackle his dream of playing professional rugby union.

O’Ryan was rejected by Lancashire — but the 19-year-old flanker has been picked for Ulster Under-20s for next month’s all-Ireland performance programme.

O’Ryan, who is studying at Queen’s University Belfast, is currently starring for Ballymena, the club who gave British Lion Willie John McBride his first taste of the game.

In 1974, McBride captained the most successful Lions tour to South Africa.

O’Ryan’s father John, who plays for Blackburn 3rd XV and is the under-11s’ coach at Ramsgreave Drive, said: “To be chosen for Ulster is a huge honour. He is really proud.

“The standard is very high, and a couple of the fixtures will be against Munster and Leinster who are traditionally very strong.”

O’Ryan junior also had a spell with Sale Sharks’ academy — and his father said: “Ben did all his rugby schooling with Blackburn Rugby Club, and now he is working incredibly hard to see if he can make it as a professional one day.

“He is very dedicated and he has a chance.”

Ben O’Ryan is not the only former East Lancashire junior making waves in the game.

Former Burnley junior and colt Jake Pope is touring South Africa with England Under-18s.

Pope, who was born in Burnley, now represents Sale Sharks. And the Myerscough College student has helped the young England side beat their France and South Africa counterparts.

He came on at half-time in the first game but started the 33-8 win over South Africa.

Head coach John Fletcher said: “We wanted every player to start in either the first or second game so that they had opportunity to transfer what we had been working on in training into a game situation.

“Playing away from home is a big focus in what we do in the under-18 programme. We try to test the players as much as we can to support their development. Playing South Africa away, twice in one week, is a great example of that.”

Blackburn have been paired with Aldwinians in the first round of the Lancashire Trophy.

The tie will be staged at Blackburn on August 29, ahead of the club’s opening league fixture of the season — against Kirkby Lonsdale — a week later.

The 2nd XV are also at home on September 5, receiving Nantwich.

The 3rd XV go to Sedgley Park to play the hosts’ fourths.

Burnley are in the Lancashire Plate this year and they are away at Trafford MV on August 29, with the winners playing Thornton Cleveleys or Southport.

As there are only12 teams in the competition, the draw sees winners of two of the ties going straight into the last four and the rest into the second round.