Oldfield Rugby Club could have a current England international in their Southern Counties South line-up before long if Bath Academy starlet Freddie Burns makes a big impact with the England Under 18 Conference squad.

"Freddie got into the England Under 18 squad the hard way and he deserves to be there. He's an immensely talented young rugby player and he got into the England squad via the trials in Loughborough, despite having no England pedigree at younger age-group levels. That's a rare achievement."

A National Certificate in Sport (performance and excellence) student at the City of Bath College, Burns studies alongside his Bath Rugby Academy commitments and also turns out for Oldfield, where his father, Jerry, is Club Chairman.

Burns has been playing rugby since the age of five and while he was a pupil at Beechen Cliff School, he saw the opportunity open up for him to pursue a career in rugby. He was selected to play in the B&NES District Under 15 side and his performances saw him picked up by Somerset Under 15 and progress to Captain the under 16s.

Injury kept the youngster out of the South West area trials and the Somerset Under 18 side last season, but his performance at Loughborough University recently caught the eye of England Under 18 coach and former Saracens, London Irish and England stand-off Mark Mapletoft.

"I'm over the moon to be selected for the England Under 18 Conference Squad," said Burns, whose performances have helped Oldfield reel off six league wins on the bounce.

PS He did still lose an arm wrestle to brother Sam!!!!