A RUGBY star of the future from North Tawton has received the call-up for his country after another good performance in trials for the England under 16 team.
Richard Bolt, who has played at scrum half and centre for Okehampton U16s, was one of a number of youngsters from the South West to be chosen to represent the region at the second U16s? Divisional Festival held at Castlecroft in Wolverhampton.
The Okehampton College pupil travelled to the trials again following a highly successful weekend earlier this month at Castlecroft in which the South West beat the Midlands 12-5, but lost to the North 7-0.
The festival represented the last chance for selectors to whittle down their choice for a national squad to play in internationals against Italy and Wales in April.
Richard has been told he has made the England U16s squad, although the final decision on whether he plays for the A team or B team will not be taken until after a further week of training in Wolverhampton.
Richard?s father, Fred, who coaches the Okehampton youth side in which his son plays, travelled up to the trials last weekend to watch his son.
Fred said Richard was ?very pleased? to have been chosen for the squad after his team won their game at the weekend, and he was looking forward to the training week at Castlecroft next month.
He said Richard had high hopes of going on to become a professional rugby player and had already been invited to the South West Rugby Academy.
Richard first started playing rugby aged just five and has been the top try-scorer for his Okehampton side for the last three seasons.
Although selected as a South West player, Richard played for the London and South East side at the first festival because their team was short of a scrum half.