WHEN Jake Pope made the move from the backs to front row, little did he know it would end with an international call-up.

But for the play-maker turned prop, it proved to be the best move of his young rugby career.

The 18-year-old from Burnley is now a member of the England Under 20s squad, has signed professional forms with Sale Sharks and has set his sights on the forthcoming Junior World Cup.

So while today it is all about rucks, mauls and scrummaging, Pope insists he can still channel his ‘inner back’.

“When I first started playing, I fancied myself as a centre or a fly half and I thought I was pretty good in that position,” said the former Blessed Trinity pupil.

“Then I moved to number eight and realised because of my size I would probably be more suited to the front row and it has all gone from there.

“But I still think I could do a decent job in the backs!”

However, his backs to front row move has paid dividends, so much so that he made his England Under 20s debut off the bench against Scotland in the first round of the Under 20s Six Nations earlier this month.

The match at Broadway Stadium in Glasgow may have ended in a shock 24-6 defeat for the reigning champions - and a first against Scotland - but Pope says the loss will take nothing away from his debut.

“I was gutted that we lost the game but it didn’t take anything away from the fact that I had played my first game for the England Under 20s,” said Pope who also played nine times for England Under 18s.

“I was very nervous before the game and the whole build-up to the match but to get on the pitch was a very special moment for me - something I will always remember.”

Pope first started playing rugby when he joined Burnley Rugby Club aged seven and remained at the Holden Road side until he was 14 before moving to Preston Grasshoppers.

He still has friends at Burnley but it was his move to the Hoppers, where he worked under Steve Hackett from Under 14s to Colts, that put him on the path to county and ultimately national honours.

“I still have plenty of friends at Burnley and will go and see them when I can,” added Pope who also attended St Augustines Primary School.

“I trained with the club last summer so it is important for me to keep in touch with those lads.

“But it was at Hoppers were my game really came on and it was Steve who persuaded me to move from number eight to the front row.”

While Pope found his feet at Burnley and flourished at Grasshoppers, he added finesse to his game at Myerscough College where he is currently studying a Level Three BTEC in Rugby Studies.

He works under the guidance of head of rugby Steve Gough, who is also an academy coach at Sale, and Gough believes the talented young prop has the world at his feet. But the modest Pope never thought he would ever play for England.

“My aim was always to go down the path of trying to play for Lancashire and maybe England Counties which, in itself would have been a great honour,” added Pope. “I never thought I would play for England Under 20s.

“But I have come on in leaps and bounds at Myserscough College and at Sale Sharks and I am extremely grateful to both for the help and guidance they have given me.”

England Under 20s head coach Jon Callard certainly believes in Pope, who is the youngest member of the England Under 20s squad, while he has already played first team rugby at Sale Sharks where he is one of the youngest professionals on the books at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Despite that, Pope refuses to look too far in to the future.

His immediate aim is recover from a training injury he picked up after the Scotland game which ruled him out of the 42-7 win over Italy last Sunday and get fit for the game against Ireland Under 20s next weekend.

“Unfortunately I picked up an injury the Monday after the Scotland game,” Pope said. “I was due to travel with England for the Italy game but had to withdraw and instead I had to undergo treatment back at home.

“It was frustrating and bad timing as I had just made my debut. But I know injuries are a part of the sport and you just have to get on with it.

“Luckily it was only an ankle sprain so my aim is to try and get fit and be in contention for the Ireland game.”

Pope has also set his sights on getting in to the England squad for the Junior World Cup which will be held in Manchester in July.

England have a proud record in the competition, winning it twice in 2013 and 14 while they have also been runners-up on four other occasions.

“My aim this year is to keep working hard, try and get in the match day Six Nations squads for the remainder of the competition and then hopefully get selected for the Under 20s World Cup which would be fantastic,” he said. “With the World Cup in Manchester this year, it is a real incentive because my friends and family can come along to watch.

“But I know I am still young enough and if I don’t make this squad I have next year to aim for.”

Pope says his time training with the England squad at Loughborough University has given him a thirst for more.

“It has been superb being involved in the squad and they are a brilliant bunch of players,” he added. “I’ve made some good mates within the squad.

“My injury is getting better all the time and hopefully I will be involved in the Ireland game.”

While Pope clearly has international ambitions, he is also hoping to make his breakthrough at Sale Sharks.

And working alongside the likes of Danny Cipriani - who this week announced he will be returning to Wasps next season - Tommy Taylor and Josh Beaumont can only help him improve his game.

“Training and being around those guys is a great experience and they have been a massive help,” added Pope. “Seeing the likes of Danny Cipriani and Josh Beaumont is very inspiring and has really helped me improve as a player.

“So my aim is to become a regular member of the first team squad and that is something I am working hard towards.”