BLACKBURN Rovers successful youth system will gain further recognition today -- on the other side of the world.

Two Rovers starlets, Jerome Watt and Ciaran Donnelly, were named in the England squad for the prestigious Mundialito Joao Havelange tournament in Brazil, which kicked off yesterday.

England's first game, against Uruguay, was due to be played today, and the two Rovers Under 16s players were hoping to play.

Rob Kelly, who is head of youth coaching at the Academy, said the tournament is a great opportunity for the boys.

"It is going to be a brilliant experience for them," he said. "That is why we have let them go. We could have dug our heels in because we had an FA Youth Cup game against Colchester scheduled for when they were away but we thought it was best for them to go."

Happily, the game against Colchester has now been put back until after the players return from South America.

The decision to allow the boys to go to Brazil was made jointly by Kelly and Academy director Bobby Downs.

"We spoke to Manchester United and Liverpool who also had boys who had been picked for the tournament and they agreed that it was better for them to go.

"Everyone wants to win Academy games and Youth Cup games but you have to look at the wider aspects too."

After the Uruguay game, England play Mexico on Monday and the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday in Group B.

There are two groups, with Brazil, France, Hungary and Thailand making up Group A.

The top two from each group go through to the semi-finals. There will also be play-offs for the last four places.

The experience -- on and off the pitch -- will be unique.

Kelly said: "Neither of them have ever been to South America before. How many 16-year-olds have? Even I haven't. It will be a wonderful experience for them.

"It is a different culture, a chance to meet new people and they are getting to see a new part of the world, all-expenses paid.

"They will be playing in heat, against teams like Uruguay, who they normally wouldn't normally come across at that level, and they are playing every other day which will be new thing for them. It will be good to see how they recover.

"This wasn't an opportunity we wanted them to miss. It could be great for their development."

Another Rovers youngster, John Fitzgerald, was due to go out to the tournament with the Republic of Ireland, but injury has forced him to stay at home.

Goalkeeper David Stevenson and striker Andy Bell were on stand-by for England but were not needed.