WORCESTER Warriors prop Nick Schonert makes no secret of his desire to play international rugby for England.

The tighthead prop was part of South Africa's IRB Junior World Championship in 2011 but has now set his sights on the Red Rose.

Durban-born Schonert has been with Worcester since the summer of 2014 and is an English-qualified player thanks to a grandmother who hails from Reading.

“I know for certain I don’t want to go back to South Africa – my home is England and it would be a massive honour for me to play for England,” said the 25-year-old.

“I am never going to call off my country of birth but if you were to ask me who I would rather play for at this moment I would say England.

“I am representing an English club and I have been here for several years and I am not looking to go back to South Africa in the next 30 or 40 years. I am really happy in England.

“It’s a great way of life and if I could represent England it would be massive. I have English blood running through my veins.

Schonert is known for his physical presence and technique at the set-piece is good friends with former Warrior Mike Williams who is now playing his trade at Leicester Tigers.

Bulawayo-born Williams was brought up in Zimbabwe and is forcing his way into the England reckoning.

“We still keep in contact and Mike’s loving life at the moment,” said Schonert. “He’s doing really well and I hope to see him in the white jersey of England sooner rather than later.

“I think he’s a top class player and a good lad.

“When I have a day off I drive up to spend a few evenings with him.

“He’s got such a physical presence on the field who wouldn’t want someone like that in their team?

“I would love him back at Worcester because he’s a really good friend of mine but he seems extremely settled with Leicester.

“He’s bought a house, got a girlfriend and made loads of friends. He is loving it there.”

Schonert signed a new deal at Warriors earlier this week having represented KwaZulu-Natal as a youngster before stepping up to play for the Sharks at under 19 and under 21 levels.

He said: “What makes Worcester such a great club are the lads and the coaching staff.

“You could bring in anyone and they are going to be accommodated.

“There’s loads of banter, laughter and good times among the lads “Ben Te’o, for instance, has slotted in perfectly and it feels like he’s been at Worcester for the last three years.”