Young Gun: Callum Chick – England and Newcastle U18s

Callum Chick started his professional career this week but he has one assignment left as a schoolboy and that is a daunting to tour South Africa with England U18s in August.
The 18-year-old No.8 kicked off pre-season with Newcastle‘s first team on Monday after being signed straight from school by Dean Richards on a two-year contract.
Back in February, Chick captained England against France and Wales and he is now looking to end the season in emphatic fashion with a three-match tour where England will take on France, South Africa A and South Africa in the space of eight days.
“The season’s been good so far and I can’t wait for the tour to South Africa,” he told The Rugby Paper.
“I’ve never been there so it’ll be great to experience that. Hopefully we can comeback unbeaten like the 2014 crop did last year.
“We have a very good squad with a lot of experience of playing together. A few lads who will join for the first time but I have no doubt they’ll be up for it too.
“I was too old to go to the FIRA tournament in France in March but I’m looking to win a few more caps before I move up to the U20s.
“It was a great honour to play for England back in February and to make it even better I captained the side in the two games I played.
“I really enjoyed the task of leading the team out and hopefully I can do it again in South Africa in a few weeks.”
Coached by his dad Brian at Ponteland RFC from the age of 7, Chick was picked up by the Falcons aged 12 and he has never looked back.
Successfully going through the Newcastle academy system as well as attending the Gosforth Academy, the Falcons’ AASE College, he is now ready for one final push in order to realise his childhood dream.
He said: “The season is starting quite late because of the World Cup and there won’t be any LV=Cup but hopefully I can get involved with the first team in the A-League or maybe even in the Challenge Cup.
“I’ve been really fortunate to have been offered a two-year contract straight out of school. It puts a little bit less pressure on me to make my break.
“I might have to put on a bit of weight but I don’t think it’s the most important thing for me. My rugby skills will be the key. I like to carry the ball but I also enjoy getting involved in the wider channel and throw the ball around.
“I know I’ve got a lot of work to do to break into the first team with a lot of experienced players in the back row but hopefully I’ll be able to compete against some of them over the next couple of years.
“I’ve been at the club for six years now and I grew up supporting the Falcons so to actually pull on a first team jersey would be a dream come true.”