PANGBOURNE College pupil Fin Rossiter has been selected to start for England Under 16s in their international against Wales on Sunday.

The 16-year-old flanker, from Upper Woolhampton, beat hundreds of hopefuls, representing all 14 RFU Regional Academies, to earn his first England honour.

He attended England U16 trials at this year’s BMW Festival earlier this month, and is one of three representatives from London Irish – along with Sam Clough and Will Sinfield – in the 23-strong squad for the game at Bridgwater and Albion.

Rossiter said: “I was in disbelief when I discovered I had been selected. It has been my ambition to play for England as long as I can remember. To be picked above some of the other guys at the trials is quite something. It is, 100 per cent, the biggest accolade of my career so far.

“I have two more years left at U18 level. My aspiration definitely is to earn a professional contract with London Irish at the end of that.

“Pangbourne College has helped me hugely achieve my aim of playing for England: from using the gym at the College, to playing on our beautiful pitches and to the fantastic coaches here, particularly (U14 and 15 coach Chris) Sutton, who has had the biggest influence on me. He is always prepared to do the little extra things to help me reach the next level.”

Sutton added: “Fin deserves his selection more than anyone. He has worked tirelessly to achieve this and is the ultimate role model for young players.

"He keeps a record of everything he does in training and everything he eats meticulously. He has an excellent understanding of the game and is a natural leader. He epitomises the Pangbournian spirit; I cannot praise him highly enough.

“He is head and shoulders above any other player I have coached – and I have coached rugby for a long time. He is disciplined, his attitude is absolutely first-class and his skill level is very high.”

College head of rugby David Metcalfe concluded: “It is a phenomenal achievement for Fin. He has missed some of the season after breaking a bone in his foot, but he has worked hard and done extremely well to come back from that and now be selected for what is a fantastic honour.”