ONE of the junior players with Melksham Rugby Football Club is off to Twickenham on Saturday (Nov 17).

William Watters will have a pitch-side seat at the England v Japan rugby international, after making an appearance alongside the sport’s stars.

William, nine, of Ingram Road, Melksham, is going to be one of the mascots walking out alongside the England team onto the hallowed Twickenham turf.

He said: “It’s an amazing opportunity. I’m hoping to walk out onto the pitch with Sam Underhill.”

His mother, Sharon Watters, said: “William is mega excited. We found out in October that he was taking part and he can’t wait for Saturday to come.”

William, who goes to Forest & Sandridge Primary School, was chosen because he has a heart condition known as tetralogy of fallot, which needed surgery when he was only four months old.

The condition, known as Tetrology of fallot, results in low oxygenation of blood due to the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the left ventricle.

He has had a pulmonary valve replaced to help solve the problem and is due to go back into hospital for more surgery when he grows older.

William plays full back for Melksham RFC’s U9s team and is a keen Bath Rugby Football Club supporter, regularly going to their home games.

He was chosen to be a mascot at the England game after his mother contacted England Rugby in May. She said: “Because of his heart condition, he is quite small for his age but has been playing rugby for the past three years.

“It’s unbelievable that he will get to walk out onto the pitch with the team in a full England kit, which he gets to keep.

“He’s looking forward to meeting the team, particularly Owen Farrell and Dylan Hartley.

“We’re also hoping he will be given a tour of the stadium, including the changing rooms, and get some photographs.”

William will be accompanied by his mother and her partner, Richard Cotter, while his step-sister Freya, eight, who also plays rugby, stays at home to watch the match on TV with family.