Jamaica commence their preparation to bid for a place in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup with an international in Neath on Tuesday against fellow hopefuls Wales (1:30 pm kick-off Jamaica time) before moving on to Toronto for another friendly against Canada next Saturday.

With the Atlantic Ocean separating the venues, financial constraints dictate that only one player is likely to feature in both games.

Super League Castleford Tigers’ emerging utility back Leo Skerrett-Evans is set to make his Reggae Warriors début at the Lexton Knoll — home of Neath RUFC — then follow it up by again donning the black, green and gold four days later.

What’s more, the 18-year-old Birkenshaw amateur club product is funding all travel and accommodation himself, or with the aid of friends, such is his keenness and commitment to the task of representing the country of his grandfather’s birth.

The winger, turned centre or second rower, is understandably thrilled looking ahead to the forthcoming transatlantic adventure.

Having been aided by funds raised through a social event and online media appeal, the talented teenager enthuses, “It’s a dream come true and I can’t thank enough, everyone who has helped to make it happen.”

“I’ve known Romeo [Monteith — Jamaican director of rugby] for quite a few years through my family and he’s always kept me in mind for when I reach this stage. It’s insane — a really surreal feeling — to think I’m going to play in Wales and then going to Toronto to play again for my country,” added Skerrett-Evans.

“If you had said something like this was to happen a couple of years ago, when I was watching them in the 2022 World Cup, I wouldn’t have believed you!

“I also played for Birkenshaw last season but am now taking on a full-time roll with Castleford, moving up into the reserves next year and taking in the coaching aspect as part of my course.

“It’s just below playing for the first grade, so I’ll have to invest most of my time with Castleford, training with them, maybe four or five times a week.

The Bradford in Yorkshire-based player originally came through neighbouring Leeds Rhinos Academy.

Whilst the rest of the Reggae Warriors make the five-hour each way journey to Neath by coach, Skerrett-Evans will return independently in order to catch a flight from Manchester the following day.

Jamaica’s path to the 2026 RLWC in Australia and Papua New Guinea is via a World Series Qualifier against the Cook Islands (Pacific), South Africa (Africa/Middle East), and the winners of a European Group featuring Wales, France, Serbia and Ukraine, which is contested over the next two weekends.

The top two progress to join the eight seeded nations (the 2022 quarter finalists) — champions Australia, co-hosts Papua New Guinea, Tonga, England, New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, and Lebanon.