HOOKER Thomas Bewick is following in the footsteps of England's World Cup rugby union heroes.

The rising York RUFC star has just won his first England caps at Under-16 level.

Amazingly, the 15-year-old has never been to a rugby union playing school and has honed his skills at Clifton Park.

The Tadcaster Grammar School year 11 student, who also attended Copmanthorpe Primary School, earned his first cap in the 22-7 victory against Italy in La Spezia, near Pisa, over the Easter period.

Bewick, of Leadley Croft, in Copmanthorpe, was also in action in the recent victory against Wales at Pontypridd and hopes to feature against Wales again at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road ground on Saturday.

His brother Alex, 19, was also a promising flanker with York and earned county honours. He has just completed a gap year trip to Japan before studying medicine at Nottingham University, but is currently out of action with a shoulder injury.

Updated: 13:58 Thursday, April 22, 2004