SEDBERGH SCHOOL RUGBY PLAYERS CALLED UP TO REPRESENT NATIONAL TEAM

Five of Sedbergh School’s rugby 1st XV have been selected to train with their respective national teams.

Full-back Johnny McPhillips and second row Alex Moon have both been selected for England u18.

Joining the England u17 team will be fly-half Alistair Crossdale and second row Max Davies while hooker Jack Solman will link up with the Scottish u18 squad.

Simon Mulholland, 1st XV coach, said: “At Sedbergh we have a very long and proud history of producing School boy rugby internationals. As the Director of Rugby I am very proud of these young men.

They are all very gifted players who thoroughly deserve the opportunity to represent their country. A strong work ethic and high skill set are qualities that Sedbergh players are known for and it is great to see them being rewarded for this on an international stage.”

McPhillips, 17, who hails from Gosforth in Newcastle, studies A Level Politics, Geology and Religious Studies and hopes to study Philosophy and Politics.

He said: “I’m excited and can’t wait to involved and get playing and training. It has required a lot of hard work and many hours of dedicated training but Sedbergh’s rugby environment and high standards have helped massively as I’ve been getting such a high level of quality coaching, and I’m always around quality players, so we are always improving.

“Mr Mullholand, our coach, has also been a massive help, as have all the coaches, as they take a real interest in you as a player, and also always make rugby enjoyable so it never becomes tedious and you are always trying new things and keeping you at the peak of your game.”

Head master Andrew Fleck said: “We are immensely proud of these talented young men. In addition to their achievements on the pitch, some are top academics, talented cricketers and several sing in the choir. They demonstrate that elite rugby players can achieve the highest standards in many spheres under the right conditions.”

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