NORTH Yorkshire has had two rugby union starlets selected for national honours.

Former York RUFC junior Will Scholey has been selected for England Counties Under-20s, while Easingwold schoolgirl Emma Hardy has been picked for the England Under-18s girls' squad.

Former St Peter's School pupil Scholey, 19, who starred for York up to under-17s level, will travel with the squad to Moscow on Thursday for a two-match series against Russia U20s, playing games on June 5 and June 8.

He also represented England Counties U20s - featuring the best amateur and semi-pro players in the land - last year on a tour to Hungary.

Scholey, a prop or hooker, who hails from near Green Hammerton, is currently living in the North East, were he studies agriculture at Newcastle University. He plays club rugby for National League outfit Harrogate, though only when not turning out for his university.

Curiously, he is the only player from Yorkshire or Northumberland in the England Counties squad, even though the White Rose won the U20s County Championship, beating Northumberland in the championship final.

Hardy, meanwhile, has been selected for the England U18s after impressing the England Talent Development Group selectors in appearances for Yorkshire and the North of England.

Hardy, a talented fly-half, started playing rugby aged six at York but aged 11 she moved to play at Castleford as the Clifton Parkers did not have a girls' team at that level.

Hardy has won regional and national cup competitions with Castleford and has been selected for Yorkshire in the last three years, winning all their matches.

Her most recent success has been with the North of England in the National Academy 7s competition.

Hardy's first England training camp is in August where players are selected for the 2016/17 season, starting in September - just as Hardy is due to start the AASE programme for rugby (Apprenticeship for Sporting Excellence) at Bishop Burton College.

Her club and county manager Steve Ball said: “We are very proud of Emma and she has been a very important part in Castleford and Yorkshire's success.

"I have no doubt she will continue to develop and be a great asset for the national team, and we wish her all the best for her future."