Blues Bassett starts for England U20s
Bedford Blues winger Josh Bassett has been selected to start for England Under 20s in their Six Nations game against Italy in Rovigo on Friday night.
Bassett, 19, who is studying for a sport and exercise science degree at the University of Bedfordshire, has been in sparkling form for the Blues since stepping up from the Academy during the summer and he is the Championship’s top try scorer with 15 so far this season.
The call-up has already rounded off a perfect season for the former Ampthill RFC speedster who lifted the National Colts Cup with Bedford Blues Academy last season.
Speaking before he stepped on the plane to Italy, Bassett told the T&C: “If someone had told me last season I would be regularly playing Championship rugby I wouldn’t have believed them. It’s good but it’s down to the hard work in training and the other lads getting me into positions to score.
“It’s a really good experience (to be involved with the England U20 set-up) and all the boys are from Premiership clubs. I think it’s helping me progress. Playing with people at the top of your sport and age group, you will develop off of them.
“Nick Walshe (a former Bedford Blues coach) is here from last year so it’s good to meet up with him. He has taken a few drills down at Bedford so he definitely expects me to do the drills better than all the other boys.”
Bedford Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer said: “We are all delighted for Josh and he thoroughly deserves his opportunity. The majority of the national squad is made up of Premiership players so to have a representative from the Championship and Bedford is a real honour for the club.
“Josh has shown all of us what he is capable of and has established himself in the squad this year. He is still a young lad and I’m sure that he has a big future ahead of him.”
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Weather for Bedford
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
