Newcastle Falcons’ west Cumbrian hooker Jamie Blamire has been named in England Under-20s' Elite Player Squad for the upcoming Six Nations.

Jamie, 19, who learned his early rugby at the Workington club, is a product of the Falcons' AASE scheme at Gosforth Academy, and last summer toured South Africa with England Under-18s.

It had been rapid promotion to the England ranks as he had only become the first addition to Newcastle’s senior academy structure in March last year.

It was a reward for Blamire’s impressive performances within the Under-18s set up last season and saw him train full time at the club for the first time.

He went on to earn his first cap and began playing senior rugby with Tynedale under the tutelage of Falcons first-team hooker Scott Lawson.

Falcons Academy Manager Mark Laycock said: “Jamie came through the Cumbrian DPP set up and counties.

"He joined the AASE scheme from Workington at 16, which is a big move for any young kid and he took that in his stride.

“There has been a lot of hard work put in by his family and the AASE scheme to bring out the best in him and he is definitely a talent of the future.”

Blamire hails from Seaton and went to Stainburn School in Workington but didn’t take up the game for a while.

Andrew Branthwaite, a coach at the Workington club, said: “Jamie only started playing at Under-15s when he was at school and we got him down to the Zebras where he played for our Under-16s at prop.

“He clearly enjoyed the game and progressed through the District and County sides until he represented the north of England.

"I think it was his attitude which marked him out as one who would make progress.

“I remember when the county wanted to play him at hooker he came in for sessions at the club, working at throwing to the line-out. He picked up things very quickly.

“It was no surprise, looking back, that he joined the Falcons set-up and we are all delighted at the Workington club that he has gone on to earn England recognition, first at Under-18s and now at Under-20s.”

England start their Under-20s Six Nations campaign against France on February 4 in Exeter, and will be in the North East on Friday, February 24 when they host Italy at Darlington Mowden Park's Northern Echo Arena.

They also play Wales at Colwyn Bay on February 10; host Scotland at Northampton on March 11 and finish-off in Ireland at Donnybrook on March 17.