A student from Barnet and Southgate College has qualified for the England Students’ Rugby Team.

Dion Chapman, 20, is studying for a National Vocational Qualification Apprenticeship in Sport and has been playing rugby with London Skolars since he was 11-years-old.

Dion successfully qualified for the national Students’ Team after completing a series of training sessions and trial matches.

He said: "I'm really happy and excited - I've waited for this for a long time. I'm looking forward to gaining more experience and enjoying rugby at a higher level."

The team is made up of 30 students which is whittled down to 20 for the Home Nations tournament in June where England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland will compete.

A Great Britain team is then selected from this tournament and will go on to play internationally against university teams from Australia and New Zealand.

Speaking about his passion for the sport, Dion said: "I like the physical aspect of the game as well as the discipline, the team work and the training.

"I want to become a professional rugby league player, but if I can't do that, then I want to coach rugby league and give kids in the local area the good coaching I had when I started."

Barnet and Southgate College Principal David Byrne said: “Barnet and Southgate College is very proud of Dion’s achievement. He really is an inspiration to our other sports students.

“Dion has been an avid rugby player for many years and his hard work at college and his training on the rugby pitch has paid off. We wish him luck for the Home Nations tournament in June, and for his future career in rugby.”