THE first try in England U19?s victory over Ireland helped secure a spot for West Devon rugby player Richard Bolt in the squad for the U19 World Championships in Dubai next month. Scrum-half Bolt got England off to a flying start in their last game of the U19 Six Nations with a try against Ireland after just four minutes ? he surged down the blindside into the right-hand corner. That set England on course for a 32-9 victory over the Irish on St Patrick?s Day at Twickenham Stoop. The 26-man England squad departed for Dubai on Monday. Bolt will be hoping to retain his place in the team, when they play Ireland again on Wednesday, April 5, in the first game of the championships. The English youngsters will also play Argentina and South Africa. The team hope to be lining up for the final which will take place on Friday, April 21. Richard?s father, Fred, said his son was ?over the moon? to have scored his first try in an England shirt and was now looking forward to the tournament. The games will be played during the evening to avoid the sweltering heat, but even so the team flew out ten days ahead of the first game to acclimatise. Eighteen-year-old Richard has been given leave by his club, Exeter Chiefs, to travel to the tournament. His father said with his performance against Ireland, he felt his son had ?put down a marker? against any other scrum half and would be hopeful of keeping his place during the tournament. Richard started his rugby career as a youth played a substitute role against Wales and Italy earlier in the U19 Six Nations championship. Richard said he was pleased to have been able to get his chance to show what he could do in the final U19 Six Nations game before the competition. ?It was the first time I had started a game, I had only come on for 20 minutes at the end up until then and it?s difficult to get into the game. ?So it was great experience to get on the field and it is awesome scoring for your country.? Richard added: ?This means a lot to me. It?s a great honour to be representing my country at a world tournament. ?Competing against the Southern Hemisphere and the best in the world at my age group means I can compare myself with those players. ?We are all looking forward to the matches. We have worked hard to deserve our places and are really grateful to Nigel (Redman) and Damian (McGrath) for helping us develop as players and I am especially grateful for the support I have had from Exeter Chiefs through the season.? Richard said he was hopeful the team could go all the way to the final on Friday, April 21. ?I think we can win it if we play like we can do and cut out the little errors.? Richard played in the centre for Okehampton Rugby Club up to under-16s but switched to his favoured position of scrum half after playing for Exeter College and then Exeter Chiefs. Richard still has another year at under-19 level but said he hopes if he continues to develop as a player he can go on to be capped at under-21 and then senior level. Coach Nigel Redman said: ?We are all eager to get out there and get started. The Under 19s and Under 21s world tournaments are a precursor for what is to come and there are some terrific players taking part. This is a fantastic opportunity for Richard to judge himself on a world stage and to play the World Champions South Africa in the third game is a bonus. ?The first match, against Ireland, will be difficult for both teams. Having played them in the last of our Six Nations matches and won 32-9, mentally we will have to be very careful.? England?s games against Ireland and South Africa and the semis and final will be screened live on Sky.
