WHEN the opportunity to travel across the world and represent Australia arose earlier this year, Sydney Swans midfielder Kieren Jack knew he couldn't pass it up.

The 23-year-old is too young to remember his father Garry's rugby league years, when he pulled on the national strip for 20 games between 1984 and 1988.

But he's seen the photos, watched the tapes and heard the stories about what it means to have an entire country behind you, and that was enough.

"Playing AFL I always thought I wouldn't get the opportunity to do this, which was a bit sad," Jack said during Australia's International Rules camp in Limerick, Ireland this week.

"Representing my country is something I'm really proud of and really looking forward to."

Garry Jack played 244 NRL games for the Balmain Tigers between 1982 and 1995 (after five for Wests Magpies in 1981), before taking his talent abroad to play for a further 16 in England.

He represented New South Wales in State of Origin 17 times and was known as the No.1 fullback in the world during his international Test days, where he ran out for 20 successive games.

As a proud countryman, Garry was naturally thrilled when he heard of his son's impending duties in Ireland.

"I think he nearly started crying, to be honest," Jack said.

"This is a massive thing for our family. He was so passionate about rugby league and represented his country so many times and I'm really passionate about AFL.

"He's already sent me a few texts and just told me to enjoy it. Some of his best times were on tours and meeting other playing and learning off them.

"He certainly knows what's going on and he's told me to enjoy it and take in as much as I can."

Having spent part of his formative years in England while Garry coached professional rugby league team Salford, Jack started out playing soccer when he started school.

After returning to Australia, he turned his focus to rugby league and played for the Balmain juniors before deciding to specialise in Australian football.

Despite the range of codes he's experienced over the years, he said nothing could prepare him for the skills required to master the hybrid International Rules game.

"We're slowly adjusting," Jack said.

"It's the main problem we're going to have. Structurally and running and finding the footy is something we're not going to have a problem with. It's just a matter of keeping the footy and using it effectively.

"If we turn it over, it means the Irish are just going to run back the other way and kick it over our heads."

Jack is also relishing the opportunity to learn from Australia's coaching staff, which includes recent premiership coach Mick Malthouse.

"The way Mick's already gone about it is a little bit different to the way it is at the Swans and it's great to see the differences," he said.