NATIONAL honours await York City Knights youngsters Ed Smith and Josh Mortimer – after both were selected for the England Colleges squad.
As reported by The Press, the pair were named in the Yorkshire ranks last month, bringing more kudos to the rugby league development centre at York College, and they have now come through the next batch of trials to win the England call.
Back-rower Smith, 18, a former York Acorn ARLC junior who has progressed through the Knights scholarship scheme, first broke into the Championship club’s first team as a 17-year-old last season, making two appearances.
He has also played five times this year, his latest appearance being against league leaders Leigh on Sunday, playing out of position on the wing.
Mortimer, 19, has been a mainstay of the Knights reserves’ front row.
Knights head coach Dave Woods has long hailed Smith as a great prospect, affording him more praise after Sunday’s match, and he says Mortimer has plenty of potential too. “Their call-ups are very much deserved,” he said.
“Ed’s a good young player. Positionally against Leigh, he wasn’t right up with things – a couple of times he made wrong decisions – but he showed guts and courage, his carries were good and his contacts were good. He’s definitely one for the future.”
As for Mortimer, he said: “Josh is one we said last year would do all right.
“He’s still young for a prop and has lots of learning to do but he’s improving all the time and we think he will be a pretty decent player. He’s starting to realise he’s got the potential. He’s talking about his diet and weight programme and he’s never really done that before.”
Woods’ own son, scrum-half Scott, along with Knights first-teamers Dave Sutton, Matt Garside and Rhys Clarke have all played for England Colleges, Woods junior having been named player of the series on a tour to Prague.
Knights reserves Sean Carmody and Jordan Rice – who made his first-team debut against Leigh – have also represented Ireland and Scotland respectively at the same level.
Woods senior said: “It’s good for them. When Scott was playing, Wales had players in their side who are now playing in Super League. This is another way of getting into top-level rugby league and it’s good recognition for them.”
The Aussie, meanwhile, would not be drawn on whether Smith would become a first-team regular this season, but added: “We’d have no problems with leaving him in.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here