EMMA Butterworth can’t wait to pull on her Great Britain kit.

The former Stroud High student is set for her GB bow at the inaugural University Korfball World Cup in Norfolk this week.

Emma, aged 22, first encountered the sport of korfball at the University of Birmingham, where she is currently in her final year studying International Business with Spanish.

The Forest Green fan also played for a team in Barcelona during her year abroad, where she worked for the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain.

Korfball is the only truly mixed team ball sport in the world. It is currently played in over 60 countries and is on the rise, with Columbia the newest member to the International Korfball Community.

Emma said: “The main principles of the game are akin to netball and basketball, yet the level of tactics and cooperation required between both sexes make for a very fast paced and dynamic sport.

“The team is made up of four girls and four boys, all of whom need to be able to defend and shoot as after two goals are scored, attackers become defenders and defenders attackers.

“There is a korf (basket) at both ends, 3.5m above the ground, requiring far more power and accuracy to score than netball or basketball.”

Making the final GB korfball selection has taken dedication and commitment from Emma with weekly 6.30am training sessions and matches up and down the country.

She added: “After the first trials in Nottingham in January, playing for the West Midlands in February, competing in the British Universities and Colleges National Championships in March and lastly, a final trial in East Anglia over the Easter weekend, I made the final selection.

"This is an incredible opportunity both to receive top level coaching from the senior England coaches, play alongside some of the best players in the UK and compete against world class talent, but all this aside, I am excited to get the GB kit.”

This is the first University World Cup, patronaged by the FISU (International University Sports Federation) and it is hoped will become a regular occurrence.