England Under 20s

Scott Spurling

Key Facts

Squad	Saracens
Position	Hooker
Age	19
Height	1.78m (5'10")
Weight	100kg (15st 10lb)
Caps	U20: 3

Signing a two-year contract with Saracens pointed the way to a bright future for Scott Spurling, who joined the club’s senior academy in July 2011 after completing A levels in PE, photography and business studies at Harrow, where he was on a sports scholarship. Scott has since begun a part-time course in Business at Hertfordshire University and played on loan for National Two South champions Old Albanians in 2011-12 before appearing on a similar arrangement for Bedford Blues in 2012-13.

A new member of the England U18 squad for 2010-11, he was unavailable for the match against Ireland that December after tearing a cartilage playing for Saracens Storm in the final minute of a game two months earlier. Scott was subsequently on the bench for the Italy U19 match at Sale in February 2011 before starting the Scotland and Wales matches in March and April.

He was then a half-time replacement for Nathan Morris the FIRA/AER Championship final against Ireland at Tarbes. His three England U20 appearances last year helped to bring victories over Scotland, Wales and Italy.

Edgware born, he attended Holland House School and Haberdashers’ Askes, Elstree from the ages of 11, when he first played the game, to 16 before moving on to Harrow. Scott was a Number 8 before switching to hooker after a season at U16 level.

He left London Wasps in 2009 after four years with the club, has played for Middlesex and London & South East at age group level and benefited from the guidance of Saracens Academy coach Matt Davies, his school coach Jesse Coulson, England U18 forwards coach Peter Walton, scrummaging coach Ian Peel and throwing coach Simon Hardy. His present mentor is Richard Hill.

Scott, a former Haberdashers’ captain, said: “I want to have a long career with Saracens, play for England at Test level and one day represent the British & Irish Lions. Outside the game, I'd like to become a successful businessman.” His triumphs on the field include winning a Junior Commonwealth Gold for Rugby Sevens and starting the England U18 match in which his side beat Australia 46-19 in Sydney in August 2011. He added: “That was very memorable because everything we had done through the season all came together in that game.”

Athletics are also his forte. He was a district champion for discus in the U15 and U16 age groups and sport runs in his family with his father Stuart and uncle David previously representing England at badminton, a game he also plays.

His favourite match was for Saracens Academy against London Irish in which his side clinched a draw with a last gasp try and touchline conversion. His senior debut was in the LV=Cup match against Worcester Warriors in January 2012. Players most admired are Schalk Brits, his fellow Saracens hooker, Richie McCaw, flanker Heinrich Brüssow, of South Africa and John Smit. Twickenham is his top ground.

Scott also had a ‘hall of fame’ moment when sidestepping Wallaby wing Joe Roff to run in a try from deep inside his own half when the Northern Hemisphere played the Southern Hemisphere, who achieved a 36-22 victory in the Heroes Match at Twickenham in December 2011.