Lock Graham Kitchener is eager to continue his ‘rugby education’ after his call-up to the England Saxons touring squad – even though it means he will have to cancel his summer holiday plans!
Worcester Warriors duo Kitchener and Tom Wood were both celebrating on Tuesday after winning selections to the Saxons squad to play in the Churchill Cup in June.
Academy product Kitchener, who has impressed in the second half of the season after recovering from injury, will now jet to Denver and New York City in the United States for the six-team competition.
The 20-year-old will now spend a second summer in rugby action after last year’s exploits for England Under 20s in the IRB Junior World Championships in Japan.
However, Kitchener admitted his latest call-up had come as such a surprise he would now have to reorganise his summer trips away.
“I’m delighted with the call-up,” he said. “It came as a little bit of a surprise, but I can’t wait to go and play for the Saxons.
“I have played with a couple of the squad in the England Under-20 set-up and, of course, Woody will be a friendly face.
“I’ve never been to America before. I planned to go next summer but this means it all happens a year early now. I actually quite like American football and I think we play at some of those stadiums.
“The only problem is I will have to cancel two holidays this summer – but on and off the field this will be really good for me.”
“The call has made the end of the season a little bit better on a personal level for me,” he added.
“It was frustrating at the start of the season when I had an injury, but in the latter stages I got game time and started to show what I can do.
“This will be another rugby education for me. Last summer I was at the Junior World Championships in Japan and that was a great learning experience – this will be more of the same.
“England Saxons have a good record and so we will go there to win it. It’s a chance for me to make a mark and also learn from other players from the Guinness Premiership.”