Years of developing his skills on the West Cumbrian rugby and football fields have helped make Myles Hudson an England international in an unusual sport.

Hudson, 24, who grew up in Workington, has been selected to represent his country in Australian rules football.

The former pupil of Workington’s St Joseph’s School and Cockermouth School sixth form will represent England Dragonslayers at the Euro Cup in Croatia next Saturday.

Hudson, an engineer now living in London, credits playing rugby league and football while growing up in West Cumbria as providing him with the core skills needed to play Aussie rules, one of the most popular sports in Australia.

He played rugby league for Ellenborough Rangers and Salterbeck Storm as well as football at district and county levels.

He said: “I kind of had the core skills. It’s a mix of football and rugby played on a cricket pitch.

“It’s not a hugely popular sport in this country or in Europe.

“In London it’s quite big. There is a full scale, 18-a-side league.

“There are a lot more players and Australians living in London.

“I do appreciate the popularity of the sport isn’t anywhere near as big as football and rugby league. It’s a sport I have picked up and I am quite proud to represent my country.”

Hudson was introduced to Aussie rules about three years ago when living in Manchester by a friend he played rugby league with at Newcastle University.

Hudson plays as a full-back and represents Wimbledon Hawks in the AFL London Premiership.

Next Saturday’s nine-a-side Euro Cup will be the second time Hudson has been selected for England after he played in the same competition last year.

England lost out in the quarter-finals to this year’s hosts Croatia.

Hudson, who also went to St Patrick’s Primary School in Workington, started his Aussie rules career with Manchester Mosquitoes and helped them to a league title after going the whole season unbeaten.

He was picked for the England squad after impressing at a selection camp in August.

He also plans to try out for the Great Britain squad which will compete at the World Cup next year in London.

Hudson’s parents, Julie and Darren, still live in Workington.

In Aussie rules, players can position themselves anywhere on the field and use their hands and feet to move the ball.

Two opposing teams of 18 players attempt to kick goals to win the match.

A goal is scored when the football is kicked through the taller posts and is worth six points, while a point is scored if the ball is kicked through the shorter outside posts.