England face battle to tie down London Irish teen star

ENGLAND may fast-track teen sensation Henry Arundell into their Test squad as soon as this summer amid interest from Scotland and Wales. The London Irish full back made a dazzling impression during the recent junior Six Nations. Using his pace to deadly effect, the 19-year-old scored a length-of-the-field try for England Under 20s against Scotland and later produced an eye-catching, long-range solo strike against France. He is being carefully integrated into the 1st XV at Irish, and used their run to the Premiership Cup final to show his attacking threat. He touched down twice in the Exiles’ semi-final thrashing of Leicester at Brentford on Tuesday. Arundell qualifies for Scotland, as well as Wales, through his grandparents. Sportsmail understands England are weighing up an early call-up, perhaps even as an ‘apprentice’ on the end-of-season tour of Australia. Last month, the RFU’s director of performance rugby Conor O’Shea said: ‘He’s played three games for the Under 20s and scored five tries. There was a gasp when he took the ball in France. I haven’t heard a crowd react like that to a try. He has got something different.’ Scotland are thought to be pursuing Arundell as a possible long-term successor to captain and Lions full back Stuart Hogg.

• LEICESTER’S former England hooker Tom Youngs has retired with immediate effect. The 35-year-old played 28 times for his country and in all three Tests for the British & Irish Lions in Australia in 2013. England wing Anthony Watson will join Premiership leaders Leicester from Bath next season.