WITH parents who have played for Eccles Rugby League Club, it was hardly surprising that Erin Thompson followed in their footsteps.
The 15-year-old Haslingden High School student started playing the sport in Year 7, but took a break for a couple of years, returning to play for Eccles in Year 9 and a year later joined Burnley Rugby Club.
Now, following two trials she has been selected as one of 40 players on the Lancashire U16s Girls team and is hoping to get picked for their first match in the New Year.
Erin said: “My mum Abi played for Eccles until she had my sister Aila and my dad Martin has retired from the team.
“At the trials I was nervous, especially when I got picked to go into the second trials. They will pick the team of 20 from how we do in training.
“I play centre but I think they are going to position me as No 6 a flanker. Centres play at the back near the wing whereas flankers are at the back of a scrum and are forwards.
“I have only been in a scrum once, and I was on the outside; I don’t think I would want to be in the middle.
“I really enjoy the sport and the team is quite supportive of each other because we have to work as a team.
“My first training session for Lancashire at Trafford will be on November 25 and then every couple of weeks after that and I will continue to train with Burnley every Wednesday evening and play on a Sunday.
“Our first internal match with Lancashire is at the end of January and then we will play Cheshire in February.
Her younger sister Aila, 12, is also a student at Haslingden High School and plays rugby for Rochdale.