A WEST Craven teenage rugby player completed the first part of what he hopes will be a unique double this week.

Tom Handforth, of Barnoldswick, made his debut for Lancashire under-18s at rugby league on Wednesday, playing against Widnes under-18s.

And the 17-year-old is hoping to make the same representative side at rugby union later this season.

Tom got the call-up to play for the league county side after impressing in trials before the new year. He revealed that news of his selection was greeted with relief more than anything.

"They said they would let us know if we'd been picked before the new year, but I heard nothing. I went on holiday for a week and when I came home, there was a note on the table saying ring the coach. When I heard I'd been picked, it was quite a relief," said Tom.

The former West Craven High School pupil has been rugby-mad ever since his father put an oval ball in his hand when he was just six.

His weekends are split playing league for West Craven Warriors on Saturdays and union for Colne and Nelson on Sundays.

You might think this constant switching of codes would be confusing, particularly as Tom plays as a hooker in league and at fly half in union.

But this is clearly not the case for the teenager, as he seeks to gain county honours in union in forthcoming trials.

With training sessions twice a week and gym work in between, Tom is dedicated to the oval-ball game and would love to turn professional one day, with union his preferred option.

"People tend to say I'm better at union," said Tom, whose coach at Colne and Nelson is also an England under-18 coach. "I also get more control of the game at fly half."