Young Gun: Tom West – Wasps loosehead

England U20s has provided the stage for much of the country's current stars to shine over the last few years and Wasps academy prop Tom West is one of most highly rated of the lot.
The 19-year-old loosehead won his first cap as a substitute against Italy in February during the Six nations on the back of an impressive season in the Wasps academy in his first year since leaving school. The ambitious youngster has recently signed an extended deal with the club which will see him remain on dual-contract with Henley Hawks.
Hailing from Norfolk, West attended Radley College in Oxford where he captained a 1st XV which included fellow Wasps academy prop Will Stuart.
A call from his rugby master when Wasps were looking for players for the newly formed U18s league a couple of years ago was the start of what has been a rapid development for West.
“In the first year with Wasps, Will and I were both playing on and off of the bench in the U18s league and then in the year that followed I was starting most of the games.
“I then got a contract last Easter just as I was finishing my A Levels.”
This season West has appeared off the bench in all Wasps' A-League games as well as turning out for Henley.
The Hawks, who have blooded a number of Wasps youngsters as part of the clubs' agreement, comfortably won promotion as champions of National Two South, allowing West to continue with the club.
“It's a really good environment down at Henley with good coaches and a great bunch of players.
“Playing men's rugby, especially in my position, is really important. You can't just be playing people your own age. You need to be scrummaging against those older blokes who have been doing it for a long time.
“The other good thing is that the promotion means I get to play there next year which is great as I know the systems down there already.”
Henley's rise to National One means West will still be playing with them throughout next campaign as he continues to move up the rugby pyramid as part of his planned development before he is scheduled to play in the Championship the following season.
A tear in his left thumb saw him miss the end of the campaign and also means he will be absent from the U20s World Cup next month.
However, despite the setback he is determined to add to his solitary U20 cap and keep making inroads at both international and club level.
“It was an easy decision to re-sign with Wasps especially given the direction the club is going in. I had a quick chat with my parents when I was offered the contract but I didn't really have to think too long about signing it.
“This season has been much better than expected and I've got a lot more out of it than I imagined.
“Next season I definitely want to play a bigger role in the U20s and get in the EPS.
“Hopefully I can play a big part in the Six Nations and then next year's Junior World Cup – and maybe go for a  senior Wasps appearance as well. You've always got to aim high.”
CALLUM WOOD