AS 18-year-old rugby player Mathew Tait takes to the field in Cardiff later today, four of his former team-mates will be following his progress more keenly than most.

At Barnard Castle School, in County Durham, the framed, signed rugby shirts of several old boys, including the Underwood brothers, Rory and Tony, and Rob Andrew, line the walls of the entrance hall that leads out to the playing fields at the rear of the school.

It is more than likely that shortly another shirt bearing Mathew Tait's name will be added to the collection.

He will take to the field at the Millennium Stadium today to play Wales in his full England debut. Yet only a year ago, Mathew was playing for the school team.

Four members of the current school team, including Mathew's 16-year-old brother, Alex, are hoping they too will get the chance to add their names to the school's proud rugby history.

In Alex Tait, Phil Dawson, Ross Batty and Tim Visser, the school has four England Under 18 rugby players.

This week, Alex, Phil and Ross trained with the school team, while Tim represented the school at basketball.

At the weekend, they will all attend training camps with the Under 18 squad.

Ross said: "I think we would have definitely gone to watch him if we weren't with England. But we're hoping they'll let us skip training so we can watch the match on TV."

Each of the boys said it would be strange to watch their former team-mate turn out for England, when only a year ago he was playing alongside them for the school team or, in Alex's case, kicking a ball about in the field outside their house.

Phil said: "It is pretty mind-blowing when you think about it. I think when it struck me was when we went to watch the Falcons play and there was a little girl in the crowd there with 'Tait' on the back of her shirt."

Mathew's success has set the entire school buzzing with anticipation, and his former team-mates have said his rapid success has given the team a lift.

Phil said: "We have played with him right the way through school, and it is rather surreal that he has gone that far and right to the top."

However, each of the boys agrees that Mathew's promotion has given them the confidence that they could follow in his footsteps.

Ross said: "You look at the shirts on the walls here and it does makes you think.

"If we work as hard as Mathew, then perhaps it could happen."

As well as Mathew's undoubted talent, his dedication and modesty have been singled out by the school's coach, Martin Pepper, and his team-mates as the reason for his success.

Phil said: "He wasn't arrogant at all.

"We used to call him Zeus -the king of the gods -and he hated it."

Alex said: "He used to spend hours kicking a ball about and practising regularly."

Their views were echoed by Mr Pepper. He said: "It's strange, but he often didn't train very well. It was as if he was frightened to show how good he really was. He was very reserved.

"But on matchdays, he was a complete match-winner."

Despite being a relatively small school, the rugby team have enjoyed considerable success, and in the past two years, have reached the final of the Daily Mail Cup at Twickenham twice, although this year the school was knocked out by St Peter's School, in York.

The boys all attribute the school's success to the coaching and, in particular, Mr Pepper's influence.

However, Mr Pepper believes it is also the quality and hard work of players.

He said: "We have got some phenomenal young players and I have got high hopes for them. Some of the players have real potential, and if they work as hard as Mathew, then they could go all the way."