• Q&A session with this season's Under 20 captain
• Inside the England camp with the Leeds Carnegie flanker

With England U20 part way through a promising RBS 6 Nations campaign, RFU.com catches up with captain Jacob Rowan to get the inside line on life in the squad and what the future holds for one of England's most promising young talents.

Hi Jacob, first of all where are you from?

I’m from Keighley in West Yorkshire. That’s where my mum’s side of the family are from – my dad’s side of the family are from Liverpool.

I know there are some strong sporting links in your family.

My grandad, Mike Hellawell, played football in the 1960s for England and sides like Birmingham City.  

And where did you go to school?

I was originally at St Anne’s in Keighley then moved to Bradford Grammar School at the age of nine and spent the rest of my time there. It’s a good rugby school, good coaches, they have good links with Yorkshire and the North of England rugby.

Who were your big rivals – are you playing with some of the guys you used to play against?

Sedbergh was always a big one. Tom Casson (Harlequins) from the U20 squad was there. Woodhouse Grove was another just down the road and the other was QEGS Wakefield. Good few players – like Mike Tindall – have come out of there.

How did you get into the England system?

At 16, trialling for Yorkshire and then progressing through there to the North of England and then I was lucky enough to play for England at Under 16, two years with the Under 18s and then here with the Under 20s.

Were you with a club as well?

I played Academy games for Leeds Carnegie at Under 17 and Under 18 and played the likes of Leicester, Newcastle, and so on, and that was very beneficial.

Any other influences?

Two flankers at Leeds who are really good role models are Hendrie Fourie and Calum Clark. I always followed the guys who were the year above me. Growing up Neil Back was always good to watch. Martin Johnson’s leadership and the way he controlled the team was always striking when I was young.

And what of the future? How’s your game been developing?

It’s just about focusing here with England on us as a team doing well in tournaments this year. Clubwise I’m just enjoying the time I’m getting at the moment. I’ve played a few games in the LV=Cup and the European Cups for Leeds which is really helping. I’ve been playing on loan at Nottingham as well in the Championship with a few more boys from here like Tom Casson and Sam Harrison. They’ve given me some game time which is what you need. We’ve played the likes of Bristol, Exeter, London Welsh, been down to Plymouth.

How do you relax and what are your passions outside the game?

I’m doing a chemistry degree at the moment, so that takes up most of my time outside rugby.

You’re the Keighley Poisoner?

Probably I am when I get stuff wrong! I haven’t blown up any laboratories yet. I chose chemistry because I enjoyed it at school and it gives you a lot of options. It’s mathematical based, high skill level in the labs and the research, covers lots of areas.

And to unwind?

I play a bit of golf with my friends from school. We play up at Shipley or Baildon and enjoy that. Don’t have much of a handicap, just try and hit the ball as far as I can. The radar’s not that accurate. I probably go off in the low 20s so I just go out to enjoy it.

Do you have any brothers and sisters?

I’ve got a younger brother and he plays a bit too for Yorkshire and the North of England and a bit for Leeds Carnegie. He’s 17 and in the Upper Sixth at school at the moment. He’s doing well and looking to go to Uni next year and do Biochemistry. He is clever.

What is your England U20 squad like as a group? Is there lots of banter?

It’s good. Everyone gets along and a few boys know each other from previous years so it’s not a totally new environment for them. We have get-togethers regularly and that really help.

Who’s the biggest joker? Who does the tying the bootlaces together stuff in the changing room?

Our new addition (London Wasps wing) Christian Wade, who’s been away with the Sevens, is pretty funny and likes to get a good laugh out of everyone. (Gloucester wing) Jonny May as well is never very far away from laughter…

What are they all into?

Most are into DVDs, Wii, Xbox. Lots of FIFA football games. Lots of Mario Kart. JJ (London Irish centre Jonathan Joseph) is probably the best at that. He’s beaten me a few times.

Whatever you do, you’re all really competitive?

Definitely. What else? Jonny May’s pretty good at Guitar Hero but (Leicester Tigers wing) Will Hurrell’s probably the best. Fantastic at it.

He’s got the hair. The only real lesson last summer in Japan with England U20 was never play table tennis with Courtney Lawes.

He’s fantastic. He beat me 11-0 in one game. I did get to 11-8 once.

That was when Mark Mapletoft christened him Mr Tickle because of his enormous long arms.

Absolutely. He’s got a huge reach. He’s awesome.