Manchester Grammar School’s powerhouse centre Marcus Webber has shown sport runs in his family after being chosen for the England Under-16 rugby team.

The 16-year-old, from Hale Road, Altrincham, is the cousin of Portsmouth striker Danny Webber and has been rewarded for his decision to pick rugby ahead of football.

He said: "At the age of 11 when I first came to MG, I had to pick either football or rugby.

"Though I love playing football with my mates and still enjoy a kick around, rugby was always going to be my first choice."

Marcus can play anywhere along the backline but has been selected as both a centre and a full-back.

Even though he is three years younger than his schoolmates in the MGS first XV, Webber has scored 15 tries this season and been a major influence in the school reaching the quarter-final of the Daily Mail National Schools Cup.

Training four times a week, he is also a member of the Leeds Carnegie Academy and intends to make his way in the professional game.

"I want to go to one of the country’s top universities, but at the same time I want to pursue my rugby career and simply go as far in the game as I possibly can," he said.

"I feel that commitment to training and a desire to be as fit as possible are the most important attributes at this age."

MGS head of rugby Steve Swindells added: "Marcus was noticed as a major talent from his first training session in the Under-12s as he picked up a loose ball, sidestepped about four different defenders and then showed a blistering turn of speed to run the length of the field to score.

"He has a natural ability and gift for the game, good hands, tremendous upper body strength, and explosive power and speed.

"He has always been a team player though and never tries to steal the headlines.

"He has benefited from travelling to Leeds Carnegie to train and play for their academy over the past two years and has received the very best advice and support to enable him to be successful.

"An England call at Under-16 level is a fantastic achievement and I am sure that if he continues to train hard and listen to all the advice on offer he will succeed in his desire to reach the very top."

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