JACK Innard is hoping to secure a starting place in the England Under 20s after being named in their squad for the season.

The 19-year-old hooker made it into the team announced last Tuesday which will work towards the Six Nations and World Championships due to take place next year.

Falmouth-native Innard who is currently at the Cornish Pirates on a dual registration deal with his parent club Exeter Chiefs celebrated the call-up by scoring a try at the Mennaye on Sunday in the 34-33 win over Cross Keys.

Last season he was a part of the England Under 19s squad and said making the next step up is an exciting prospect.

Innard said: “It is great to be included in the team and I am really looking forward to it.

“Hopefully before the matches start I can keep progressing and pushing for a starting spot.

“What I have learnt being in the Under 19s was how professional everything is, how switched on everyone is and how high the intensity in training is.

“I just want to get out on the field and be part of the team coming together, meeting new players and relish the chance of playing with guys my age.”

Since the U20s replaced the old U21 age group in 2007, a total of 22 players from the squad have gone on to represent the full international team.

Among these are fellow Cornishman and Exeter star Jack Nowell, Gloucester winger Jonny May and Northampton prop Alex Corbisiero.

Innard said he knows what a great chance it is to show his skills in international colours, but insisted his main focus is improving his skills at the Mennaye.

“There others who have gone from the 20s to the England test side and it is a great platform to push up from,” he said.

“But what I have to keep doing is working on my set pieces and other parts of my game before I think of reaching the top level.

“Hopefully I can kick on here with the Pirates and there are a great bunch of guys here who I am learning from.”

He went onto say he never imagined representing England at any level when playing youth rugby at Falmouth, mainly as it was not his initial sporting ambition.

“I always wanted to be a football player,” Innard admitted.

“I started off at Falmouth and just saw it as a bit of fun as I was just playing rugby with my mates at the weekend.

“Then when I went to Truro College, I got a few more chances from the coaches there and it went from there really, so I have to really thank them for all the work they did.”