WOLSINGHAM rugby star Mathew Tait will be missing his "number one fan" when he makes his England debut on Saturday - because his younger brother, Alex, is representing his country on the same day.

Eighteen-year-old Mathew will fulfil a lifetime ambition when he plays in England's Six Nations opener against Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

But, after watching his elder brother rise from his Barnard Castle School side to the international fold in less than 12 months, Alex will be unable to share in his big day.

The 16-year-old is already following in Mathew's footsteps and, while he will be training with England's Under-18s for most of this weekend, he will be glued to the television when the whistle blows on Saturday night.

"Alex is Mathew's number one fan," said his mother, Julie. "He's watched him everywhere but, unfortunately, he won't be at Cardiff with us on Saturday.

"He's away training with England's Under-18s at RAF Halton, but I think they've promised all of the lads that they can watch the game on TV.

"It'll actually work out quite cheap for us because he's away with the Under-18s right the way through February so it's looking like he'll miss all of the games!

"He'll speak to Mathew after the game though. He'll be wanting to know how Mathew's done but, knowing the way the lads look out for each other, I'm sure Mathew will be wanting to know how Alex has got on just as much."

Julie and her husband Alasdair will travel to Cardiff only 11 years after they took Mathew to his first training session at Consett.

His talent was evident from an early age but, even though county honours and junior England caps quickly followed, the pair never thought he would eventually represent his country on the biggest stage of them all.

"We knew he was a decent enough player when he started at Consett because he was always the one that was bombing through the middle and scoring tries," said Alasdair.

"But we obviously didn't think it would turn into anything like this.

"Martin Lewis - one of Mathew's teachers - told us he could go all the way, but we didn't really know what he meant by that. We thought he meant he could go all the way to the first team at the school, but he said 'No - he can go right to the very top'.

"We're a bit apprehensive, but we're excited as well. He's only 18, but they obviously haven't picked him for fun. He's handled everything so far, and I'm sure he'll take this in his stride."