RISING rugby union star Rob Webber has the world at his feet.

The Pocklington School student has been selected for the England squad to play in the Under-19 World Cup which kicks off in South Africa.

It is the latest honour in a fast-track career which could eventually lead to him knocking on Sir Clive Woodward's door for full international honours.

That may be a few years off yet, but the 17-year-old is one of England's hottest prospects, playing regularly at national level with players a couple of years older than himself.

He will jet out to Durban with the rest of the England U19 squad on March 19 and hopes to figure in their pool games against Georgia, Ireland and Australia - the Aussies no doubt hellbent on revenge for their World Cup final defeat at the boot of Jonny Wilkinson.

Ironically both Wilkinson and Webber's fathers went to Pocklington School, Mike Webber largely played at second team level while Phil Wilkinson was a powerful goal-kicking No 8.

Now Rob hopes to follow Jonny in to the full England set-up - and his progress continues at a rapid rate since switching from prop to hooker a few years ago.

"He actually started with the minis at the Pocklington club as a scrum-half . He was quite a scrawny kid," said dad Mike.

Now his 6ft, 14st powerhouse son, who also played at No 8 in his early teens, is putting his slick hands and ability to read the game to good use.

He is a member of the Leeds Tykes Academy, where he receives expert advice from Mark Regan, the England hooker, and coach Stuart Lancaster.

Every other week he spends two days with the England Academy base at Bath under the watchful eye of Brian Ashton.

Webber, who lives at New Road, Laytham, near Pocklington is captain of the school team where he also plays cricket for the first team.

He missed the opening U19 Six Nations game against Scotland because he was doing an exam at school. But figured in the whole game against France when England lost 26-22 in Marseille, played in the big win against Italy and is in the side to face Ireland at Coventry on Friday night.

The home season closes with a match against Wales the following week with the squad jetting out to the World Cup shortly afterwards.

On completion of his 'A' levels in economics, business studies and geography he hopes to earn a place at Leeds University so he can continue his rugby union education with the Tykes in an effort to fulfil his dream of becoming a full-time player.

Rob's brother, Matthew, 20, a student at Loughborough University, has played for England at U16 and U18 level and was a member of the Yorkshire U20s side which triumphed at Twickenham in the County Championship final last year.

Updated: 11:05 Friday, March 05, 2004