Anna Bay’s Blaine O’Faherty will represent Ireland in the men’s over 30s competition, while twin brothers Jacob and Alex Napoli, from Soldiers Point, will don the Italian colours in the mixed opens tournament.

The trio will be representing the mighty Port Stephens Bandits at the 32-nation Oztag World Cup, to be staged from November 1-4 at the Coffs Harbour C.Ex International Stadium.

O’Flaherty, 34, is one of just two Irish players picked from outside of Ireland, which he says provides him with even more motivation to succeed at the top level.

“This is my opportunity to live the dream and represent the birth place of my father in a sport I am very passionate about,” said O’Flaherty, who has been running the Port Stephens Oztag competition for more than a decade.

“I had a knee reconstruction last year and I have worked very hard with Bodyworx physiotherapy to get me back on the field. It is very exciting to be competing against the world’s best players.”

O’Flaherty, who has competed in the NSW state cup mixed opens side for six years, has had a long association with the game including coaching, reffing and playing. He has spent the past few days in Sydney with his Irish teammates preparing for the biggest event of his life.

The Napoli twins, proudly representing their Italian heritage, are no strangers to the representative scene in Oztag.

Alex, the younger of the two, has competed for the Bandits at State Cup, played for Newcastle in the men’s 20s and represented the Country Bulls in the mixed 20s.

He also traveled to Ireland last year with the Australian side and competed in the Three Nations comp and the Pig and Porter, winning gold medals in both events.

Jacob has also played for the Country Bulls men’s 20s and now moves onto the men’s opens Hunter Miners team.

The siblings are blessed with incredible speed and have the ability to slip through the defence with their magical feet.

Like O’Flaherty, they have been regularly travelling to Sydney to train with the full Italian squad in preparation for the World Cup.

An anticipated 190-plus teams will compete in the tournament, made up of approximately 3800 players and officials.

The World Cup age group divisions include open and 30s men’s, women’s and mixed; under 16s, 18s and 21s, plus over 35s, 40s, 45s, 50s and 55s.