A YOUNG rugby player is on target to carve out a career in the sport after being selected for his county and a prestigious academy.
David Moores, who is a Year 10 student at Trinity Academy, in Thorne, is hoping he can build on his achievements so far and go on to have a professional career in rugby.
The 15-year-old, of Stainforth, started playing six years ago when he joined Doncaster Knights U10s.
"My brother Andrew was at Trinity Academy at the time and I went to watch him play. I thought rugby looked really good so that's when I joined Doncaster Knights while I was still at primary school.
"It meant that when I started at Trinity I was able to join a team straightaway because I already had some experience," explained David.
He now plays prop or hooker for the Knights U15 squad but his most recent achievements prove his talent has been spotted further afield.
Former head of PE and now director of Key Stage 4 at Trinity Academy, Dave Potts, put David forward for the England Rugby Development Player Programme and he was accepted into the Junior Development Squad with Yorkshire Carnegie, which involved a ten-week training programme in Leeds.
He is now hoping to be selected again for phase two of the programme, which could see him playing in the Premiership Academies festival against other junior development sides from clubs such as Sale, Leicester and Newcastle in late spring.
At the same time, David went for a trial and was selected for the Yorkshire County U15 A team which beat Cheshire 17-12 just before Christmas. He is now hoping to be reselected for further county matches.
His success involves a lot of travelling, to Selby and Barnsley for training and county home games, and West Park in Leeds for training with Carnegie, as well as training after school at Trinity.
"The academy has played a big part because I've been able to do extra training and get game time through school," he said.
"I'm also going for trials for the Emmanuel Schools Foundation Lions, which is a squad of the best players from each of the four schools in our foundation that goes on tour to play some of the best schools in Scotland," he explained.
Lorna Hadwin, head of Year 10 at Trinity Academy, said David was an exemplary student. She added: "His success on the rugby field reflects the commitment, hard work and focus he has on his academic work as well. He's a great role model, especially for other boys, and is also very well supported by his family."
Mr Potts added: "David has a fantastic attitude in everything he does. We are very proud of him."