AT first glance his disabilities might seem to present an impossible barrier for a youngster tackling the hurly-burly of rugby under both codes.

But being born with Down’s Syndrome has not held back Christopher Foster, of Rainford, believed to be the first youngster in the world to take up the oval ball as an unlikely form of therapy.

The son of John and Pauline Foster, 13-year-old ‘CJ’, as he is popularly known, has severe learning difficulties.

He attended St Thomas of Canterbury School before moving to De La Salle High School, where he enjoys one-to-one tuition under the eye of senior learning assistant Stuart Tucker.

Lessons over, energetic Chris can’t wait to take the field, a trait apparent as a seven-year-old with Thatto Heath Crusaders when the Star first reported on his story.

Now a teenager, fleet-footed Chris has maintained his exuberance at school and Liverpool St Helens.

He wears specially-prescribed specs on the field in rugby league and union.

Chris has been a Saints mascot, and his late granddad John Whelan played for West Park and Birkenhead Park at 15-a-side.

Chris’s dad also worked first for the rugby league before transferring to union as schools community development officer.

Hail or shine, winter or summer, winger ‘CJ’ can’t wait to get his kit on at Knowsley Road or Moss Lane as long as the ball is egg-shaped and where he is treated as an equal from kick-off.

He regularly plays tag and mini-rugby, is a prolific try-scorer and revels in folk hero status among players and officials under the differing rules.

His ‘supporter’s club’ includes grandmother Eileen, auntie Anne and two cousins, both Saints’ fans who play amateur rugby in St Helens.