HEYSHAM rugby league ace Mark Edmondson is looking forward to his first international chance just a year after fearing his career was over.

Even being sin-binned in a trial game didn't stop the big prop/second row winning selection to the England squad for their tests against the South African national team next month.

Mark, 21, missed most of the year 2000 season with injury, meaning his new St Helens coach, Ian Millward, knew little about his abilities.

Strong performances in the reserves gave him a chance in the first team earlier this year and, apart from a month laid low with tonsillitis, he hasn't looked back.

"My sponsor, Mike Willetts who has a health shop on Pedder Street, helped me get back on track with vitamins and herbal remedies, and I'd really like to thank him."

This season has seen Mark take on sides like Wigan (an experience he compares to 'running across a room into a wall at full speed') and Bradford, score his first challenge cup tie, a 30 yard effort against Huddersfield and kept players like Sonny Nickle off the field.

"I came on within ten minutes of the end of our play off semi-final defeat against Wigan," explains Mark: "I nearly got sin-binned for lashing out because I was frustrated."

The former Morecambe High School pupil started his career with Vale of Lune's colts rugby union team, representing Lancashire and the North of England before turning down scholarships at Arnold and Kirkham schools to take on a professional contract with Saints.

Mark, who proudly shows off a testimonial from legendary former coach, Ellery Hanley which describes him as 'probably the most coachable and dedicated player I have had the pleasure to have guided along,' now finds himself heading to South Africa with the England under-21 side.

Mark made it to the squad by way of a trial game between the best young hopefuls in Superleague and the Northern Ford Premiership.

With 21 players already selected, just five places were available in the squad, so Mark was determined to make a major impression.

"I made a big impact immediately. Within a minute of coming on I had been sin-binned," said Mark

"When I came back on I made a 30 yard break and scored a try from 20 yards out as well as getting two tackles in.

"After the game David Fairleigh, the Australian legend who has just left our club, said I was the best player on the pitch. That gave me a lot of confidence."

Mark, who flies off to South Africa on Wednesday, is now keen to put something back into his local community, by coaching at Heysham Atoms RLFC and the Vale colts.

Mark added: "I want to thank my mum, my girlfriend and the rest of my family for all their help."

His next aim is to build up his weight, start more games for Saints, get into the Lancashire squad for next year's 'origin' game and -- eventually -- the full great Britain squad.