WORCESTER Rugby Club's talented teenage centre Andy Higgins is celebrating a surprise England call-up.

The 18-year-old has been drafted into the full England squad for next week's Six Nations Championship clash with Italy in Rome.

Higgins, the first Worcester player ever to get a full England call-up, said today: "I am extremely pleased to be picked although I wasn't expecting it at all.

"I had a driving lesson yesterday and when I got back to the club, they knew already and told me."

Higgins, who has represented his country at under 18, under 19 and under 21 level, is unlikely to be in the starting line-up in Rome and admitted: "It is mainly for experience at the moment. But I am looking forward to it -- my aim has always been to play for England."

Sixways Director of Rugby Les Cusworth was delighted with the selection of Higgins, who joined the club in August.

He said: "He has displayed nothing but great maturity since he has been here.

"With the form he has shown this season, he fully deserves this opportunity. It speaks volumes for both him and the club.

"He has his feet very firmly on the floor and will take each opportunity as it comes."

Higgins had a double cause to celebrate yesterday after receiving a magnum of champagne for being named as the Allied Dunbar Premiership Two Player of the Month for February.

The teenager also collected a rugby shirt which he received from Allied Dunbar officials.

Higgins, who joined Worcester in August and has been an ever-present in the first team this season, said: "I hadn't expected anything like this at all, but I'm very happy about it.

"Obviously, it means a lot to be recognised. It shows people are watching and that's encouraging. It will encourage me to keep going and to keep striving to improve.

"My goals this season were to try to get a few first team starts and go for an England Under 19 place, but it's gone on from there."

Meanwhile, Worcester scrum-half Chris Simpson-Daniel and prop Andy Collins both helped England Students to achieve a 34-18 victory over Welsh Students at Weston-super-Mare.

Collins is studying at Oxford University and Simpson-Daniel is currently at Wolverhampton University.

The side also included former Worcester fly-half James Lofthouse and hooker Richard Protherough.