The Rugby League 2014 Commonwealth Championship will bring together players from all corners of the world but few will be as raw as Jamaica forward Joel Simmonds. He is typical of some of the exciting young athletes who will descend on Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld for their first taste of international competition. A former track and field athlete, Joel only took up rugby league eight months ago. Hailing from the rural parish of St Mary, where no rugby league is played, Edmonds picked up the game when preparing for university.

“It was at my first year orientation camp at the Mico University College (in Kingston) where I first heard that they played rugby at the school,” recalls Joel. “I was interested immediately. Later in the week when school had start I met Romaen Campbell and Antonio Baker, who played for the rugby team and they both encouraged me to come out to training and join them.”

Joel was naturally suited to the running rugby game and his ferocious runs and durability during the Intercollegiate season caught the attention of the national coaching staff. “What Joel lacks in technique, he makes up with commitment and aggression,” says coach Romeo Monteith.

Simmonds, who plays prop and second row, is juggling academics with preparing for the trip to Scotland and the adventure of his young life: “Balancing my rugby life and school life comes normal to me because I use to do track and field in high school so am used to the training after school and doing my assignments after training.

“My family was really supportive of me playing rugby. They told me to work hard and do my best and I'll do great at it,” says Simmonds, whose typical diet consists of chocolate tea and a cheese sandwich for breakfast, chicken, rice and peas for lunch, and the same for dinner.

“Representing my country playing rugby means the world to me. To know that I just started playing rugby league in September last year and the coaches see enough potential in me to call me up for the national under-19 team motivates me to work and do my best to make them, my school and my country proud.”

Caribbean representatives Jamaica are in Group A and will play hosts Scotland, favourites Australia, and Wales on Friday 27 June with play-offs the following day, all at Broadwood Stadium.