Talented Wallace brothers on rugby big stage

Jan 7 2009 By Jill Menghetti

TWO former members of Amersham & Chiltern’s minis section are making their mark on the national scene.

Great Missenden fullback Jack Wallace has been selected for a second year to compete for England in the U18 Six Nations Festival.

His brother Tom, who has just turned 15, has been selected for the South West U16 squad for the Divisional Festival this weekend at Broadstreet RFC – and will hope to catch the eye of the England U16 selectors.

Tom, who plays at outside centre, said: "My goal for this year was to get into the South West squad a year young, and obviously I’d love to play for England too."

He said that before the South West trials he had watched videos at home of when Jack attended the U16 trials, but added that the game had changed. "It’s got about five times quicker since Jack’s trials," he said.

The squad of 24 will play the Midlands tomorrow (Friday) and London and the South East on Sunday (kick-offs 11.15am).

Three years ago Jack Wallace was called up a year early, at the age of 15, to play in the England U16 squad.

The following year he scored two tries for England in their record

32-10 win over Wales in the U16 Four Nations Tournament before being invited to join the U18s on summer tour in Australia.

In 2008 he helped England to the U18 Six Nations grand slam in April, and enjoyed an overwhelmingly successful four-week summer tour of Argentina.

He has again been called up for the England U18 Six Nations squad who kick off their season against Scotland on March 22 at Kingston Park (2pm).

Both brothers play for RGS High Wycombe and Wasps.