Newcastle Knights outside back, Dominic Young, will make his senior international debut this month after the 21-year-old earned his first senior call-up to the England squad for this year’s world cup.
Standing at 6’6, the Huddersfield academy prospect has now spent two seasons with the Knights, appearing 26 times and scoring 18 tries in the NRL.
Young only made one Super League appearance before heading down under and is returning to the UK for only the second time since the move; when asked about his return by the England Rugby League YouTube channel he says he is excited to be back in his home country.
“It’s good mate, yeah. Obviously, it’s been a little while since I’ve been back so just to see all the family and catch up with a few old mates, it’s been pretty good so far.”
The youngster was eligible to play for Jamaica in this year’s World Cup and reports in Australia earlier this year suggested he had chosen the Reggae Warriors over England.
However, a change of heart will now see him appear for England on the world stage, but he admits it was a tough decision deciding to reject the opportunity to represent his roots.
“It was obviously a pretty tough decision because I’m close to my roots which is obviously Jamaican,” Young explained.
“I’ve represented England before and I was born in England, and we’ve got a good squad here and we can do something pretty special here as a team and in front of the fans.
“That’s obviously an exciting prospect I couldn’t really turn it down.”
Young will take part in England’s one and only warm-up game this Friday (October 7) against Fiji at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium.
The winger is in contention for a starting place with Tommy Makinson, who will miss the warm-up match, and Ryan Hall, who has played in the two previous Rugby League World Cup, for the opening game against Samoa at Newcastle’s St James’ Park a week on Saturday (October 15).
