Young Gun: George de Cothi – Worcester scrum-half

When a team are struggling at the bottom of the table they may look to their youngsters to provide the inspiration – and Worcester Warriors scrum-half George de Cothi insists he is more than ready if called upon.
The 18-year-old – who has been involved with the club since he was six – is on the cusp of a breakthrough season after initially being drafted in to the Warriors' JP Morgan 7s squad this summer.
Following that tantalising taste of senior action, de Cothi patiently bided his time before being introduced to the first XV.
A spell at National League Two South Bromsgrove underlined his claims as he scored a memorable hat-trick in victory over Dudley Kingswinford in October.
His moment of destiny came last month when, in front of friends and family at Sixways, de Cothi ran out against Leicester Tigers in the LV= Cup for his first appearance.
Former Tigers backs star Sam Vesty – an arrival at Worcester as academy transition manager over the summer – has taken George under his wing and de Cothi believes he will not go far wrong under his tutelage.
But with the Warriors stranded at the foot of the Premiership table, the half-back is desperate to kick on and assist his boyhood club.
“I had a great spell with Bromsgrove and it's all just gone from there this season,” he said.
“Now I want to try and help the team in any way I can and if that's getting more playing time this season I'll be ready.
“Of course it's hard to see the team not do as well as they've hoped but no one has given up.
“I've been with Worcester since the age of six so it hurts me as much as any fan, but being around the club and now the seniors I know the mood is as positive as ever.  Getting to hear praise from an experienced player like Sam Vesty is amazing, he has really helped my game since coming in.
“He takes me for one-on-one sessions and, knowing what he's done in his career, it's advice you have to take.
“If he has a lot of faith in me it means I'm doing the right thing but I think there's a lot of talent coming through.
“Training with the first team has been really beneficial.
“I wasn't expecting the call up, but it was almost a full house against Leicester and I think I did quite well considering it was my debut – having been here for years it was something really special.”
De Cothi does not have to look further than fellow scrum-half Jonny Arr for inspiration, the latter having come through the ranks as a local lad.
Arr became a Warriors centurion this season at the age of 24 and though de Cothi is not looking beyond his first Premiership outing just yet, he admits he wants to emulate his rival's success.
“I wouldn't say there's any competition with Jonny Arr just yet as he's someone I've looked up to for a lot of my years at Worcester,” he added.
“He's come up through the ranks just like I'm planning to do and it gives a lot of younger players belief that they can make it too.
“The aim for the rest of the season is to get more first-team appearances, the LV= Cup is a great opportunity when it comes round again.
“But I'd love to get my first Premiership appearance, that's my biggest goal.”