THE vicar of Plumpton and East Chiltington might just say a few extra prayers for his son tonight.

For the Reverend Godfrey Broster and wife Valerie will be in the crowd as son Ben debuts for Wales under-18s against Welsh Schools at Neath.

The 17-year-old Hurstpierpoint College captain has been named in the squad to play Portugal, Spain and the home countries in the Four Nations Under-18s Championship.

Broster said: "It'll be good to have my family's support. I wasn't born in Wales but my mum was and she is already down in Wales getting the family together.

"Hopefully everyone will be there to cheer me on.

"I get the rugby from my mum's side. They are from Aberdare near Pontypridd.

"It's a hotbed of rugby there. She comes to a lot of my training sessions and, no, she doesn't embarrass me by running on and sorting other players out if they hurt her son!

"My dad doesn't mind such a violent game! "I hope he can also watch me in the other matches providing they are not on a Sunday when he is working

"It's great to be in the starting line-up and hopefully I can do well so I can get into the side for the internationals.

Hurstpierpoint College old boys like Altan Ozdemir and, more recently, Ben Hampson, have both played at junior international level for England.

Broster said: "Knowing they're from my school is an inspiration."

He also acknowledges a debt to Rob Kift, who is in director of rugby at the College. Broster said: "He has helped me a great deal."

Broster's heart goes out to Brighton College pupil David Tibbott, who might have been lining up alongside him tonight.

He said: "David's had a lot of bad luck, like a broken ankle, and has only just got back."

Broster was encouraged to play by rugby master Chris Snell at Mowden (Hove) aged seven before playing for Hove. He moved on to Haywards Heath and has played for Sussex and the Welsh Exiles in London.

He said: "I caught the eye of selectors with Exiles and it went from there. It's been wonderful."

His mother is proud. She said: "Ben has done extremely well."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.