Director of sport at St Joseph’s College, Mark Patterson, revealed England Under-20 World Championship winner Alex Day was always destined to be a star.

The 20-year-old former Colchester RFC player, who spent his formative years at the Ipswich-based school, was part of the team that defeated Wales in the final of the IRB Junior World Championships, in France, last month.

Day, pictured above, who is hoping to break in to the first team at Premiership club Northampton Saints next season, also played an integral role when St Jo’s won their own National Schools Rugby Festival in 2010 and is in regular contact with his former teachers.

“Alex is not letting his success go to his head, he is St Jo’s through and through, and we are proud of him,” said Patterson.

“It’s a big cliche to say he was always destined for great things but his ability levels, determination and work-rate set him aside from anyone I have worked with before.

“He plays with a smile on his face, he comes back to visit the school when he can, and I hope this is just the start for him.

“It is a fantastic achievement for him to have captained his country and scored a hat-trick in the record win against USA.”

St Jo’s has a rich tradition of producing high-quality youth rugby players and Patterson said Day’s heroics will act as an inspiration.

However, he also believes the contribution of the Harwich-born scrum-half and his team-mates in winning the aforementioned school tournament in 2010, also stood the pupils in good stead.

“Northampton have just signed Alex on a new contract and he is a tremendous example to young players at St Jo’s,” said Patterson.

“There is a huge buzz amongst the pupils that coincided with the school winning its own rugby festival. That was the start of a new era.”

Meanwhile, Northampton Saints’ Eastern Counties co-ordinator, Simon Sinclair, believes Day has all the right attributes to be a scrum-half

Day, 20, was converted to the position by present Saints academy manager Alan Dickens and has been a revelation, starring for his country in France, at the IRB Junior World Championships.

“Saints have Lee Dickson playing at scrum-half but that does not faze Alex and I know he is just concentrating on his game,” said Sinclair, who is also director of sport at Framlingham College.

“As a person, Alex is a very determined individual and his work-rate in a game is unbelieveable. He puts in more than anyone else.

“He always had really good footwork and explosive power and he has got the makings of a great scrum-half.

“He is cocky and cheeky in a good way and he will talk to the referee all the game, which is important as the scrum-half is the focal point on the pitch.”