Tom Rock will be lining up for England Under-19s against Scotland in the first game of Rugby Union's six nations championship today.
Tom, from Sandbeds, Keighley, will line up against the pick of England's young rugby players for the match at Peebles. Fixtures against France, Wales, Italy and Ireland follow over the coming weeks.
England then go on to play in the FIRA Under-19's Rugby World Cup, taking place in Paris.
Tom played his junior rugby at Keighley rugby union club at Utley, joining the Bantams at the age of 4, and played with all the age groups through to the under 19's (Colts), and occasionally for the senior second team, before joining Leeds Tykes under 19's last season.
His talent was soon spotted and he was signed on to the England Rugby Academy, and has been attending trials at the England under 19's training camp in Coventry regularly over the past few months.
Whilst still playing for Leeds Under-19's, Tom who plays at centre, made his senior debut with Leeds Tykes in a pre-season friendly at Llanelli. He has also been a regular on the bench for the senior side in the Zurich Premiership, making his league debut in the home win against London Irish at Headingley in October.
He was also a member of the team in the away leg of the Parker Pen European Shield Competition in Padova, Italy, earlier in the season.
A former pupil at Bingley Grammar School, he is taking a year out from studies to play rugby full time, before taking up his place at Leeds University in October of this year, intending to combine his academic studies with his rugby career.
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