Short can't wait for South Africa (From Worcester News)

Short can't wait for South Africa

5:00pm Sunday 5th July 2009

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WARRIORS rising star Andy Short is relishing his opportunity to tour South Africa with England Under 18s.

John Fletcher’s side head off on the development tour to South Africa this month and will be playing three matches in August.

The under 18s, who completed a clean sweep of wins in this season’s Five Nations Festival, will take on Western Province on August 1, Boland on August 4 and South Africa Schools on August 8.

Sixways star Short, who plays at centre and is a product of Warriors’ Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence scheme (AASE), is raring to go.

He said: “I’m over the moon to get the England call. It will be a great experience for me to go over to South Africa on what I’m sure will be a very demanding tour.

“I have watched the British and Irish Lions on the television and that gives you a little taste of how much of a strong rugby country it is we are going to.

“It’s a shame we haven’t gone early as I would have liked to have seen a Test over there too.

“To go and play in South Africa is one of the hardest things you can do in rugby.

“I have never faced a southern hemisphere side and it’s great to also tour and see another part of the world.

“We go into the tour on the back of a really successful Five Nations Festival where we stayed unbeaten — and no team came close to beating us.

“We know South Africa will be another step up.

“We will have to be at our very best to get some results but we are a close-knit group and the squad that is going is almost identical to the one that was involved this summer.”

Short added: “I have finished the AASE scheme and I’m now with Warriors full-time and really enjoying every second.

“It’s tough at the moment as we really work on fitness and strength, but I’m enjoying concentrating on my rugby.

“The AASE scheme was a great learning curve for me and the balance was really good between the academic work and the rugby.

“Work fitted around the rugby side really well, even if some 7am starts are a bit tough.

“Now I’m just looking forward to testing myself in the Warriors academy and going to South Africa to challenge the very best at my age.”

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