Briscoe boosted by England call

Myler - It's a real honour

Last updated: 14th May 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Briscoe boosted by England call

Briscoe: surprise call-up

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Teenaged Hull winger Tom Briscoe admitted his selection in the inaugural England elite training squad programme came as "a massive surprise".

The 19-year-old has been out with an ankle injury since Easter and is not due to start playing again until August, but he was one of 17 players called up by England coach Tony Smith.

"This news was a massive surprise for me," he said. "I thought I would miss out because of getting injured. I must have done well enough in the first part of the season to impress Tony.

"At the moment I am just kicking my heels because I cannot do any training and have to stay off my ankle.

"As you can imagine, it is pretty boring but this news has given me a big lift and something to really focus on in the coming months, as I start my rehabilitation and get back playing again."

Briscoe made his debut at the age of 17 in the opening match of last season and, after relinquishing his place on the England academy tour to Australia, kept his wing spot in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley in August.

The Featherstone youngster got his chance at the start of the season in the absence of former Great Britain winger Gareth Raynor and was impressive until he was injured in the Good Friday defeat by Hull KR.

"A lot has happened in a short space of time," he added. "If you'd have asked me just over a year ago whether all this would have happened I'd probably have said 'no chance'. But it has and I'm delighted."

Briscoe's call-up also surprised Justin Morgan, coach of city rivals Hull KR, who had expected places for two of his players in winger Peter Fox and full-back Shaun Briscoe.

"As far as I'm concerned, they are the form players in their positions," he said. "I don't know what more they have to do to get selected.

"They hope they will be added to the squad at a later date but that's like they are there as an after-thought."

Promise

With an eye on the 2013 World Cup, Smith has kept to his promise to introduce fresh blood by including three teenagers in all in his 17-strong squad, which will be increased throughout the rest of the season.

As expected, there are places for Salford scrum-half Richie Myler and Castleford pair Michael Shenton and Joe Westerman.

Myler, who turns 19 a week today, is the youngest member of the squad.

Myler, who has scored nine tries in 10 appearances in his first season of Super League, said: "It's a real honour to be selected for England.

"I've put the hard work in week in, week out but I'm delighted it has been rewarded in this way.

"If anything, and this is no disrespect to the lower leagues, I've found playing Super League more suited to my game because there is more space and things move so much quicker.

"Obviously now the aim is to continue to progress and be in contention for the Four Nations Tournament at the end of the season."