A PROMISING county rugby player has earned his stripes after being selected to train with Leicester Tigers juniors.

Chris Pinner, aged 14, a pupil at the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, beat off fierce competition from 70 other players to land one of 10 prized places up for grabs in the club's youth academy.

Former England full-back and Leicester legend, Dusty Hare, is one of the youth coaches at the Premiership champions' junior academy.

Chris, who plays inside centre for his club Kidderminster Carolians as well as RGS, was up against 17 other players for a position in the scrum at open side wing forward.

He was put through various drills during two hours of trials, before playing a series of 20-minute matches on the Welford Road pitch so his skills could be assessed.

"We had the letter last week saying he had been accepted," said his father Brian.

"It is for pre-season training through August and early September, which I think is just to confirm their choices.

"During the season they train once a fortnight for an hour-and-a-half.

"It will be a good experience for Chris. It exposes the players to better coaching and training with high quality players.

"But at the same time it will also be benefiting their own clubs as they bring the skills they have learned back with them."

Earlier this year Chris was also selected for the North Midlands Clubs U15s.

His younger brother, Neil, aged 10, is also making a name for himself at cricket with the Worcestershire County U10 side where he stars with both bat and ball.

Neil opened the batting for the County in their first warm-up match and also skippers his RGS side.

Both boys are following in the footsteps of father Brian, who enjoyed a successful 20-year career in both cricket and rugby with Kidderminster Carolians and Kidderminster Cricket Club in the Birmingham League.