THREE York youngsters are gearing up for international rugby league honours after being named in their respective England youth squads.

New Earswick All Blacks duo Ross Divorty and Danny Allan are in the English Schools Under-16 20-man squad to face France in two Tests later this month, to be joined by Scarborough starlet Sam Millward.

And York Acorn youngster David Leeke is in the England Combined Youth U15s 18-man squad to face Wales U16s on Good Friday.

The Evening Press reported last year that the quartet, along with Heworth U15s star Chris Peace, had been picked for their respective train-on squads, and they are now set to play in the big games after shining bright in training.

The England U16s games will be at Widnes' Halton Stadium on Saturday, March 26, and at Cougar Park, Keighley, on Tuesday, March 29, while the U15s will play at Pontypool a week tomorrow.

Ian Davies, the chairman of the English Schools Rugby League, who will manage the U16 team, said: "As our weeks of preparation have gone by I have become more and more impressed with this squad of players."

England U15s head coach Chris Chapman said of his team: "They have trained well during the past two months and are well focused for the match on Good Friday.

"We have the best available talent that has been identified through our extensive player pathway and they are keen to do well in their first year of international rugby."

HEWORTH teenager Liam Watling may also be on the verge of international honours.

Watling captained the Yorkshire team that faced the North West at Leeds University in the selection trials for the Great Britain Amateur Under-18s squad, who are to take on France.

NW won 24-18 while in other trial games, London & South beat Scotland, and Wales beat North.

Watling was the only player in the Yorkshire squad to play for a club whose first team is in division two of the National Conference, the others all playing for teams in the premier or division one.

Updated: 09:46 Thursday, March 17, 2005