Four Warriors were today named in the 31-man England Training Squad to gather next week in Brighton ahead of the summer tour to South Africa and the Quilter Cup match against the Barbarians on Sunday 27 May at Twickenham Stadium (kick-off 3pm).
Centre Ben Te’o will be heading to South Africa as part of the tour while Nick Schonert, Jack Singleton and Warriors Academy youngster Ollie Lawrence will be taking part in England’s training camp next week.
Te’o will be flying out to South Africa as part of Eddie Jones’ 34-man squad for the tour in June and has been in good form recently after starting all of Warriors’ final five games of the season – crossing the whitewash twice as part of an exciting backline which scored 18 tries during that time.
The British & Irish Lion started Warriors’ first seven games of the 2017/18 season but missed a large part of the campaign with an ankle injury sustained back in October, before returning to feature in all of England’s NatWest 6 Nations games.
And Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons was quick to pay tribute to his centre.
He said: “It was great to have Ben for the last few games of the season. As he settled back into the environment, he played better and better. I wish him all the best on the trip to South Africa and we look forward to welcoming him back to Sixways for the new season.”
Meanwhile Warriors prop Schonert has now racked up 80 appearances for Warriors since moving to the Club in 2014, including 18 appearances this term.
He has been one of the Premiership’s standout tightheads, as he helped prop up a Warriors front row which was joint-fifth in the league in 2017/18 for average scrums won per game.
And Solomons admitted he’s been impressed with how the tighthead has developed his all-round game.
He explained: “Sharky has had a tremendous season. He is an outstanding scrummager but what has been significant in the time since I’ve been at Sixways, are the huge strides he has taken in terms of his general play. He’s also providing a very strong leadership role.”
Schonert’s fellow front rower Singleton has had a busy campaign in the Blue and Gold too, featuring 25 times across the season and playing in all but one game in the Premiership.
The hooker showed his skills around the park, making line breaks and beating defenders as he went over for two tries, while also showing his ferocity in defence making 218 tackles at a 94 per cent success rate and winning five turnovers.
At the set-piece, the number two impressed in the scrum while also enjoying an 86 per cent lineout success from his whopping 225 throws across the Premiership season.
And Solomons stated: “Singo is another man who’s had an outstanding campaign. He’s a young guy and has played the most minutes of any hooker in the Premiership this season.
“He’s coped tremendously well and has a big future ahead of him. The experience he’s had this year has seen him progress enormously and I’m looking forward to seeing him play next year.”
Singleton toured with England in Argentina last summer and also featured in last year’s clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham, as did teammate Will Spencer, but the latter misses out on an England call-up through injury.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Lawrence has had a remarkable year, culminating in today’s England call-up.
In his breakthrough season at Sixways, the centre made three first-team appearances while still at Bromsgrove School, scoring a try on his debut at Sixways after coming off the bench in November’s Anglo-Welsh Cup clash with Sale Sharks.
Lawrence also bagged two tries in six appearances for Worcester Cavaliers in an impressive Premiership Rugby A League campaign – scoring a try and assisting four more as he stole the show against Sale Jets last month at Sixways.
Lawrence, who has also played for Warriors Under 18s this term, has also represented England Under 18s and 20s this season and will start for the Under 20s at Sixways this Friday night against the Junior Springboks.
Warriors Academy Manager Chim Gale said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Ollie to pick up vital experience alongside a host of world-class players, and to learn on and off the field to become the best version of himself.
“We’re proud of Ollie as we are of all our Academy lads who’ve been tremendous this season.
“His selection is a testament to the hard work of the Academy from top to bottom. We work closely with a number of players and it’s great to see this hard work paying dividends with six players representing England at Under 20 level this season.”
Solomons added: “Ollie is clearly an outstanding young talent. I think he is someone who will make a big contribution to our Club.”
You can see Ollie Lawrence in action for England Under 20s who host Junior Springboks at Sixways on Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm). Tickets are just £5 for Warriors Season Ticket holders and Juniors, £10 for all others. Get yours now by clicking here, calling 01905459309 or visiting the Ticket Office.