By Dave Woods BBC rugby league correspondent

Halifax teenager Andrew Brocklehurst has been cleared to play for England in the World Sevens in Sydney after a disciplinary mix-up.

The second-row forward was originally named in Mike Gregory's ten-man squad.

But he looked set to miss out over a question of whether he had served a four-match ban handed out last season.

Brocklehurst is part of a ten-man squad

Brocklehurst was sent off in an Academy game at Leeds.

But RFL officials decided at an emergency meeting that he was clear to play.

"Had he not been banned, he would have been involved in the England A team matches against New Zealand at Brentford, and the three tour matches in Fiji and Tonga," said an RL official.

"So it was decided that those games would count towards him clearing his four-match ban."

The news came as a massive relief for 19-year-old Brocklehurst.

It would have been a bit much if I hadn't been allowed to go Andrew Brocklehurst

"I didn't know what decision they were going to make, it was just up in the air." he admitted.

"It would have been a bit much if I hadn't been allowed to go, but now I am and it's fantastic. It's the chance of a lifetime, and I'm just looking forward to it."

Brocklehurst and the other nine members of the Sevens squad leave for Sydney on 26 January to prepare for the two day tournament over the weekend 1-2 February.

They will return in time for their clubs' fourth round Challenge Cup ties the following weekend.