GUNS YOUNG
WORCESTER & ENGLAND U20S LOCK
James Scott might have been a footballer and could have been a top basketball player – instead he chose rugby and mightily relieved the effervescent 18-year-old lock is.
Scott explained: “I started playing rugby for Hereford RFC when I was younger but I actually stopped playing at nine or 10 because I didn’t like it. I preferred football and basketball, but then at 13 I picked up rugby again and at 15 I had a big decision in my life to make.
“Football was an option and I had trials with Cheltenham Town, but the biggest decision was either to play rugby for Worcester Warriors or basketball for Worcester Wolves.
“I was pretty good at basketball and who knows where I’d have been now, but I’m glad I chose rugby and to have represented England at U18s and 20s level has been brilliant.”
As a member of the U20s squad currently doing battle at the Junior World Championship in France, Scott is set to play a big part in this week’s semi-final, having previously enjoyed his time at U18s level while being mentored at Worcester by one of the world’s best. “I just had the one year training alongside Donncha O’Callaghan and would have loved to have had more,” Scott said. “He’s one of the most humble blokes I’ve ever met and even in his last few weeks at Worcester, when he knew he was retiring, he was so professional. “He was still doing all the extras, trying to be even better, and he’s just a great bloke who was a fantastic mentor to me at Warriors. I managed to play in the same team as him at training a few times and the thing I noticed is he’s always talking, telling the people around him where they need to be, and that’s something I’ve tried to bring into my own game.” As for his England experiences, Scott adds: “I really enjoyed the U18s last year, playing nine games, and they employ a lot of ‘out of the box’ thinking. Peter Walton’s probably one of the best coaches I’ve had and, along with John Fletcher, they got us doing a lot of things outside our comfort zone like throwing the ball out of the back in contact and kicking it. “As a lock I struggled with that early on, but it was a great environment to be in and to be part of the U20s squad a year early is a massive privilege. I’ve played in all our matches this year and hope to be involved next year as well, but for now all my focus is on this World Cup.” With O’Callaghan and Will Spencer having left, there are second row vacancies at Worcester. Scott added: “I’m not sure I’ll be competing for a Premiership spot just yet but if I could play A-League and get involved in the cups that would be great. I might look to get out on loan as well, but everyone’s eager to kick-on now and it’s an exciting time.”