A FORMER Queen Elizabeth School pupil and Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club player has been called up to the England Under 20 squad.

Ellie Prescott, 19, who plays for Waterloo near Crosby, Liverpool, has been called up to the squad to play against France on an as yet undecided date next season.

She played in the 12-5 defeat to France in April earlier this year, and aims to exact revenge on the side when they next take each other on.

Prescott, who is studying a Level 3 Diploma in Sport at Lancaster and Morecambe College, began playing rugby for Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club when she was 16 as a second-rower.

But Prescott, who has also represented Lancashire and the North of England sides, suffered a terrible injury when she broke her foot and ankle and damaged her Achilles tendon and ligaments in a match.

The injury kept her out for nine months, but she returned all the stronger and moved into the prop position which has propelled her onto the national stage.

“It still hasn’t sunk in that I’m playing at this level,” said Prescott.

“Playing at Waterloo has also really helped me out and I’ve really developed as a player.

“The plan now is to up my fitness levels and hopefully move into the senior squad if I can continue to play well.”