ST PETER'S School pupil Thomas Woolsey was waiting to see which of the England Under-16s sides he would make it through to after being selected for the final two training camps.

Woolsey, one of the stars of last season's Daily Mail Schools' U15s Rugby Cup triumph at Twickenham, will team up with the England squad for a three-day session at Cheltenham on March 14-16, before heading to Castlecroft on April 4-6.

After this final training camp, the boys will split into two sides - England and England 'A'.

Woolsey, who has been boosted by the news he will skipper the school's first XV next season, is now hoping to do enough to prove he can make it into the full England side despite being played out of position.

The West Gilling youngster is a specialist No8 by trade although he can play blindside flanker. However, the England coaches have seemingly spotted something in Woolsey's game and have stuck him in on the openside flank.

But he has backed up the coaches' opinions by scoring a hat-trick in the last trial at Castlecroft - two of the tries coming from textbook openside play as he backed up the winger to take the scoring pass.

There can be little doubt that these sort of try-scoring display, along with Woolsey's ability to cover every blade of grass, will have stuck in the coaches' minds.

St Peter's director of sport Mike Johnson said: "We are immensely proud of Thomas's achievements."

Woolsey's efforts echo the achievements of Pock youngsters, Rob Webber (Pocklington School) and Charlie Allen (Woldgate), who made the England and England 'A' U16s sides last season.

Meanwhile, while Woolsey has been making waves in the England set-up fellow pupil - and Twickenham tyro - Mark Jagger earned a call-up to a North side devoid of their international stars.

The Slingsby-born centre and his North colleagues could do little to stop a strong Midlands side taking a 31-5 victory, but Jagger will be hoping that he did enough to be selected for an England North squad who will play at the Millfield Festival between April 12-16.

The England selectors will now name a combined Midlands and North team to play as England North at the annual competition, where they will play England South and two French Academy teams.

ST PETER'S School's first XV will look to benefit from some top level coaching next season after the appointment of new physical education teacher Richard Francis.

Francis is a former back at Harlequins, having played for the Londoners at the same time as Martin Pepper, an ex-Nunthorpe School pupil who now coaches Barnard Castle School and Harrogate.

Francis joins the school in September and will take over the running of the first XV alongside Mike Johnson.

The arrival of the former Quins is sure to attract some interest from senior clubs in the area, but his commitments to coaching the school side mean he will be working on Saturdays.

YORK duo Thomas Bewick and Chris Woolley are set to lead the county's Clubs Under-15s side from the front this season.

Despite going to different schools - Bewick is at Tadcaster Grammar, while Woolley attends Fulford - the pair have struck up a strong friendship at Clifton Park since they were in the U8s together.

However, in the U9s they teamed up together in the front row, with Bewick filling the hooker's role and Woolley propping.

And the formidable combination have worked their way through firstly to the North Yorkshire squad and now the full U15s White Rose set-up.

And although Woolley was captain in the recent Yorkshire District festivals, it is Bewick who has been handed the skipper's armband for the forthcoming inter-county matches against Cheshire, Lancashire and Warwickshire

Paul Milligan, York's youth section chairman said: "The whole of the youth section is delighted for Tom and Chris.

"Their selections, together with that of Jonathan Walters for the U16 squad, not only recognise the boys' dedication and hard work put into their rugby, but also the hard work put in by their coaching team over the years.

"The boys' success provides a great encouragement to all our junior players and their selection is another success story for the York youth section."

Malton and Norton were ruing the loss of centre Andy Whalley for the rest of the season after the 36-year-old suffered a 'serious' break to his right leg.

According to sources at the club, the Stevenage-born player, who joined the Gannock-based club in 1991, suffered the injury in a collision as he chased a kick ahead for the firsts against Northallerton.

However, the loss of Whalley has been tempered by the arrival of Jason Simpson and the emergence of Lewis Papa.

Simpson, a full-back, is the latest Aussie to join the club from Bowral Blacks, following the well-trodden path of the likes of Chris Creber, Phil Ryan and Nick Tyson.

Simpson, on a six-month trip to these shores, is a friend of flanker David Cooke after the pair met during the latter's sabbatical down under.

However, while Simpson has come in from abroad, Papa, who scored on his debut against Northallerton, is very much a home-grown star.

A pupil at Pocklington School, 18-year-old winger Papa has worked his way through the Malton's colts set-up.

FORMER England prop Jeff Probyn gave the audience at the annual sportsmen's dinner at Clifton Park, York, a glimpse into the world of the front row.

He was the guest speaker at the 37th annual black tie bash with comedian Tom Sutton.

To the delight of many, the pocket battleship, who is a member of the RFU Council, stayed on to share a few beers with the lads at the bar.

Although the dinner includes all the sporting sections based at Clifton Park clubhouse, it is largely dominated by the rugby union boys with the York RUFC supporters group, the Quality Street Gang to the fore.

The dinner has always been organised by club stalwart Peter Johnson, who established the first one with the late Barry Temple in 1966 when it was held at the Merchant Taylor's Hall.

'Jonners' and Chris Houseman were responsible for setting up this year's event which saw a record attendance of 113.

Reasons to be cheerful

COMMISERATIONS to York RI Under-16s after their brave bid to reach the Yorkshire Cup final ended in defeat against Driffield.

However sad the squad may be by the reverse, the boys have a lot to be proud off as they pushed the side which won the Yorkshire Cup at U15s the year before all the way.

And the achievement is all the more special when you consider that the side has only been together as a unit for two years.

The coaching team of Steve Mallinson, Dave Richardson, Hugh Rodden, Vicky Binns, Keith Charlton and Steve Heslop deserve a big hand for all their efforts, while the players themselves have every reason to hold their heads up high.

UNLUCKY: York RI U16s, front from left; Tom Hill, Will Starkey, Mark Musgrave, Elliot Richardson, Danny Holder, Tom Heslop, Tom Dunmore, Martin Schofield, Jim Rae, Lloyd Carlton, Robin Grice. Back from left; Hugh Rodden (coach), Gareth Stewart, Josh Binns, Tim Black, Tim Thomas, Shaun Thompson, Danny Hunt, Rory Robertson, Daniel Hickie, Tom Helstrip, Dave Richardson (coach).

Updated: 08:55 Saturday, March 08, 2003