FRONT-row rugby forward Ben 'Bungalow' Howard from South Wootton, near King's Lynn, has been asked to attend the squad training session for Ireland Under-18s at the end of November.

FRONT-row rugby forward Ben 'Bungalow' Howard from South Wootton, near King's Lynn, has been asked to attend the squad training session for Ireland Under-18s at the end of November.

Ben is in his second year at the West Suffolk College Sports Academy in Bury St Edmunds.

He was called up to play for Irish Exiles earlier this season. After a very successful tour with the Exiles at under-18 and an appearance at under-19 Ben made a very positive impact on the selectors, not only with his play around the park - but also his willingness to play at tight head and hooker.

Ben leaves for Dublin on November 30, returning on December 2. Over this period he will join a squad being trained by the Irish international age group coaches. The final selection of players to represent Ireland at Under-18 level will be made from this squad.

West Suffolk College rugby coach, Nigel Brown said: “This is great news for Ben. He has worked very hard with us at the Academy, and to be called up without playing week-in week-out in Ireland is no easy task.

“Ben has obvious strengths in the set piece and this, coupled with his mobility and handling skills, makes him an ideal candidate to play the game under the new laws.

“He has shown great commitment to training, travelling from his home near King's Lynn for training even during holiday periods.”

In addition to this call-up, Ben has also come to the notice of several senior clubs. He has been asked to attend training with the Cambridge RUFC National League Squad and he is a young man with a very bright future in the sport.