YOUNG GUNS

TOM DE GLANVILLE ENGLAND U18S & BATH CENTRE

Tom de Glanville has one of the most famous rugby names in England and with it comes the pressure to succeed in his father Phil’s footsteps.

The 17-year-old, who made his England U18s debut in South Africa this week alongside another famous son, Sale’s Cameron Redpath, was just over a year old when former England captain and Heineken Cup winner Phil hung up the boots in 2001.

Matching his career would be a dream come true for De Glanville Jnr but for now he is just a kid enjoying running around with a rugby ball in his hands.

“My dad is very subtle with me when it comes to rugby,” Tom told TRP. “He never pushes me too hard.

“It’s very informal. We chat here and there about how I’m going but he knows how much I love the game so he just tells me to enjoy playing rugby.

“I quite enjoy the pressure and I think I deal with it quite well but it comes more from me wanting to do well rather than who my dad was. As soon as I go on the pitch it goes and I’m just a normal kid throwing the ball around.

“That said I do want to follow in my dad’s footsteps and one day play for the Bath first team and why not play Test rugby for England, too?

“I’m good mates with Cameron and we often chat about our dads. His dad Bryan captained Scotland back in the day so he knows exactly what I’m going through. It’s nice to have something in common with someone.”

Being selected a year young means playing against bigger players for the 6ft 2in 12st De Glanville but he has taken the challenge in his strides and he is already reaping the benefits.

He added: “Being picked a year young has been great for my development in terms of defending in the wider channels.

“I played mostly on the wing this tour and I can play at fly-half or inside centre but outside centre is my favourite position because you have a lot more freedom to move around the pitch.

“But it’s such a hard position to defend from because you have to read what the opposition is going to do in attack and they’re always trying to isolate you.

“It’s a double-edge sword in the sense that if you get it right you stop them in their tracks instantly but if you don’t you have to chase shadows and often concede a try.

“Unfortunately you have to make mistakes to learn but I feel like I’ve improved massively this season playing U18s at 17. It’s been a great year for me and I can’t wait for next season already.

“I’ll have another year at school and in the Bath U18s academy and I’m sure I’ll be able to show how far I’ve gone this summer.

“There’s also one more year with England U18s so, hopefully, I can get back into the squad and play a bigger role in the team.”