THREE years ago, Eamon O'Carroll was showing schoolchildren in Bolton how to play cricket with a rugby ball.

The lad from Waterhead was a key figure in the Wigan Warriors community team, whose job is to go out and introduce more and more youngsters to rugby league.

Eamon, who now packs down at prop for the Warriors, proved a big hit with the kids and is now enjoying World Cup glory with Ireland in Australia.

It's been a remarkable fairy-tale journey for Eamon. He was once late for work at Wigan, but used his mobile phone to take pictures of the traffic jam he was stuck in to back up his excuse for being late when he met his boss Mick Hannon.

Such honesty has always shone through. He used to work at Wigan with another young academy player who had also come through the club's development scheme - Bob Beswick.

He is now alongside Eamon at the World Cup, with the Irish having qualified for the knockout stages.

Beswick replaced Billy-Jo Edwards on the community scheme. Edwards, who was tragically killed in a road accident in 2003, was brilliant with the youngsters, but Bob and Eamon carried on the good work.

Hannon says any success coming their way is thoroughly deserved.

Mick told M.E.N. Sport: "They're both cracking lads, and have done well. The kids used to love them when they went out into the community because they both enjoyed putting smiles on faces.

"Eamon and Bob won't mind me saying this, but they're just like big kids themselves and they had a way with the youngsters.

"They enjoyed coaching and promoting our lesson-for-life programme, aimed at encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

"They worked hard and to now see them on the biggest of stages in the Rugby League World Cup is just great. They would even play cricket and netball with a rugby ball simply to get the kids familiar with handling and enjoying the competitive aspect of sport.

"I'm delighted with how they've progressed after coming through the system at Wigan. Eamon is a real unsung hero and a very brave lad.

"He's worked very hard and I remember him telling me once how desperate he was to have a real go in the first team. I told him to go and see Ian Millward, the then coach.

"Bob was one of those lads who slipped through the Wigan net. I rate him highly. He's a very good player and excellent organiser.

"He's done very well in the World Cup and I hope they both keep on doing well. I'll certainly be cheering them on. I know a lot of kids out there who also know them well will be doing the same.

"They've been in great form for Ireland. Pulling on the green shirt immediately seems to instil enormous pride in every player.

"Other nations appear to have been far too arrogant.

"I know what it will mean to these two lads. The Irish coach, Andy Kelly, is extremely passionate and that has rubbed off on his players.

"The anthems and the songs before the games are very much the Irish war dance.

"This seems to have stirred the players and instilled even greater confidence and self belief."

ST HELENS prop Maurie Fa'asavalu has been ruled out of the rest of England's World Cup campaign with a hand injury.

The Samoa-born forward broke a finger in his right hand during England's 52-4 defeat by Australia in Melbourne and had already been ruled out of Saturday's final pool game against New Zealand.

England cannot call up a replacement at this stage and coach Tony Smith is ready to gamble on playing just two specialist props against New Zealand, with Fa'asavalu's club-mate James Graham, the Super League Man of Steel, due to be rested.

ENGLAND Women kicked off their World Cup campaign in style with a 72-0 rout of Russia. England have only two days to recover before they face France in their next group match. Tweet