DESPITE being two years younger, two Tynedale rugby players have earned a call up to the North of England U18 squad.

Tynedale Panthers duo Charlotte Tweddle and Daisy Oliver have impressed the northern selectors so much that the U16 players have been deemed good enough to play for the older age category.

They impressed during trials at Sheffield Hallam University after being nominated by Northumberland Rugby Union.

Charlotte (far left), who attends Haydon Bridge High School, and Daisy (right of the picture), a pupil at Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School, will attend their first North of England Academy training camp in less than two weeks time.

They will be joined by four younger teammates at the Panthers after Hannah Carter, Holly Thorpe, Maisie James and Beyonce Fowler who made it through to the North’s U15 squad. Just missing out on the final squad but earning trials were fellow U15 players Charlotte Spark and Emily Longstaff.

Despite the disappointment, both can be proud of their progress because they weren’t in the Northumberland squad last season, but have developed into players good enough to trial for the regional team

Panthers coach Nick Oliver said “We’re really proud of all of the girls and the progress they are making.”