Bedale High School year 11 pupil Tom Young, from Aiskew, narrowly missed out on selection to the England under-16 rugby team following trials at Wolverhampton last weekend.

Billeted at the Quality Hotel for the weekend, the 15-year-old found there was a very strong, friendly camaraderie between all the trialists.

Despite the competition for the coveted England places, all the youngsters got on very well together.

Sporting all-rounder Tom, whose father and grandfather both played football and rugby, has played football for the school team for five years as centre half and goalkeeper and also rugby for the school since year seven.

He attended Crakehall Primary School and developed his love for rugby union at the high school.

Tom has played rugby for the Hambleton and Richmondshire area for three years, the last two as captain.

He also captains the Bedale High School under-16 team, which includes ten more boys who have represented the area this year.

Rugby coach Clive Pointon said: "The present year 11 team is the best one I have been associated with.

"The lads are so keen to learn and their success at area level is entirely down to their efforts.

"Tom is an outstanding talent who leads by example and we are all proud of his wonderful achievements."

In his final year at Bedale, Tom is studying PE, biology and English literature at GCSE level, but still manages to fit in training and coaching with Leeds Tykes, where he has been part of the development squad for more than a year.

His plays his club rugby with Darlington, where he has played since he was 12 years old.

He has taken part in tours to Ireland, Scotland and Wales and has also captained the Darlington side in numerous festivals in recent years.

Tom was selected to represent the North of England under-16 rugby side and said: "The standard was much harder than I expected initially, but after attending several development squad weekends I found myself adjusting to the standard quite well.

"It was great to score a try in the Divisional Festival against sides from the South West, South East and London."

Head of PE Martyn Coombs said: "Tom was delighted last year to win the Richard Blanchard cup for rugby as a year ten pupil for the outstanding progress he had made in four years at the school.

"Everyone is delighted that he has become the first boy from Bedale High School to reach the North of England team which, for a school with very little rugby history, is a marvellous achievement.

"Despite reaching these dizzy heights of performance, Tom remains a very modest young man who is very popular with his peers and teachers alike.