POCKLINGTON School hooker Rob Webber has been named in the 16-man England rugby union national academy squad.
Webber, who hails from Laytham, near Seaton Ross, caught the eye of selectors during an Under-19 training camp in South Africa in July, when he was the youngest member in the party.
The elite band of talent will meet at the University of Bath on Monday for the start of a series of special training sessions with the country's top coaches.
Hailed as the "most exciting young players to emerge in English rugby", the squad will be looking to gain representative honours in 2004 in their age group.
Webber first came to the fore as a Pocklington RUFC mini-rugby player and is now part of the Leeds Tykes' Academy.
Brian Ashton, the Rugby Football Union's national academy manager, said: "I hope this is the start of something we can build on, to help mould players for future senior sides.
"The end goal will always be to help produce players that will one day play for England so the game can continue to prosper at the top level."
Updated: 11:54 Saturday, September 13, 2003
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