RICK Ackers' hugely successful return to playing rugby league will see him tour Jamaica with a North West representative side.

The Bolton Mets club player gave up playing the game a decade ago before making a comeback in 2017.

Coaxed by Mets chairman Stuart Cooke to give it a go again, Ackers eased his way back into it, playing a few games that season before a superb 2018 campaign which has earned himself a place on the North West English Lionhearts squad this summer.

Around 20 players will travel to the West Indies for the two-week Jamaica tour in July when they will play three games – one against a local semi-pro side and two against a Jamaica Select XIII.

Ackers' outstanding season as captain of the North West League Division Five side last year saw him make 18 appearances – missing only one game due to holiday.

The forward scored 32 points and won four opposition's-man-of-the-match awards, and the opposition's-player-of-the-season prize.

The club nominated him for a trial with the Lionhearts, along with team-mate Daryl Devlin, where they competed alongside the elite players from the North West League's top two divisions at Thatto Heath Crusaders' ground.

As the tour is self-funded, Ackers now has to raise £2,200 to pay for his place on the tour.

The Mets plan to stage fund-raising events to help him and are inviting anyone who would like to donate to contact them.