FORMER St Augustine’s Year 11 pupil Lewis Saliba has had a taste of international rugby over the pre-season, courtesy of the IRFU Irish Exiles U18s.

Following a selection process that began in October last year, the 16 year old was selected as part of a 25-man squad to play Luxembourg U18s and the Welsh Exiles U18s in an International Festival held at Dorking RFC.

The Irish Exiles ran out victors in both their games, winning 17-7 against Luxembourg and 13-12 against the Welsh Exiles.

Saliba was one of a handful of young hopefuls aged 16 to be selected a year early for the U18s programme.

Following the international festival, he took part in a week-long tour of Ireland, where he played against U18s academies from the four Irish Provinces of Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster.

His father Carl said: “Aside from the matches themselves, the expert coaching and physiotherapy, hydrotherapy sessions, video analysis and team bonding exercises created an intensive week and invaluable learning experience for the group as a whole.

“A successful performance at the Inter Regional Championships at the London Irish RFC training facility at Sunbury – involving several hundred players – saw Lewis captain the Wales & South West Region, winning one match and losing the other, and scoring two tries in the process.

“This led to a two-day National Assessment Camp at Stowe School, Buckinghamshire for just 45 players.

At 6ft 5ins and 98kgs, second row forward Saliba made it through to a final three-day Elite Player Camp at the Oratory School in Reading.

To qualify for the Exiles, players must have either a parent or grandparent born in Ireland, with the aim of identifying young players who have the potential to represent Ireland in the future.

Saliba is playing his first season of national league AASE rugby as part of the Sixth Form initiative with Bath Rugby at Beechen Cliff School.