Pig farmer Tom: I’ll bring home England bacon

TOM HOLROYD is determined to hog the headlines in his bid to break into the full

England squad.

The prop’s hot streak for Leeds Rhinos earned the 20-year-old (above) a call-up for England Knights’ 56-4 win over Jamaica on Friday, where he had a spell off the bench.

But it’s next year’s World Cup that is his big ambition – and he’ll have a snorter of a training regime to thank if he does.

Holroyd rears pigs on his family farm and insists it helps him physically and mentally, as well as his diet.

He said: “I enjoy having pigs and the work ethic it involves.

“Just being able to get up on the days you don’t want to do it.

“Farming is a bit like a release and it keeps my feet on the ground. It isn’t too kind on the rest days from rugby, but it’s nice to come home to.”

Holroyd has always helped out on the family farm, but started his own pig rearing sideline last year with 15 large white cross Welsh weaners.

But it’s purely business for the 6ft 2in, 18st forward, who insists he never treats the squealers like pets.

He said: “I enjoy them being there, but I don’t get attached because they are there for a reason.

“I have automatic feeders, but I always give them extras because they always taste a bit nicer that way. I want to know what I’ve reared is going to be good food.”

The plan is to breed pigs in the rugby off-season, but that’s been put on hold following his call-up by the Knights.

It’s a start on the international ladder that the highly-rated youngster hopes might win him a call-up for next year’s postponed World Cup.

He said: “I’m not doing the pigs as much at the moment because, after I heard I’d been selected for the Knights, I wanted to concentrate on that. “It’s very important.

“The Knights is a step in the right direction of where I want to be. It’s an exciting process to be part of.”

Holdroyd – who has broken his leg, foot and wrist in the last two years – added: “I just need to be up at a level that will put me in with the best shot for the World Cup.

“I need to keep improving and playing my best rugby.

“If I do that I will hopefully be up for selection.”