AMERSHAM & Chiltern RFC say it is no surprise that a player of Josh Lewsey’s quality has emerged from their ranks.

Club chairman Chris McCombie said the club’s devotion to youth development was one of the main reasons he decided to join the club.

McCombie said: “We do as much as we can to encourage young players – and that’s not the club speaking. That was one of the main reasons I wanted to come here.

“At any stage in the season you can go to Weedon Lane and you will find more than 400 boys training. We’ve got in excess of 70 qualified coaches and have teams from U6 upwards.

“Our youth policy has always been important to us and now we’ve got about five or six colts in our first team.”

Jack Wallace, below, an England U18 international and now part of the Wasps academy, is the latest off the production line and McCombie says that having a star like Lewsey returning regularly is a massive boost.

He said: “Josh has always been great as far as this club in concerned.

“He came to our minis day in September and wants to maintain contact with the club.

“He spent a long time with the boys and joined in a game of TAG with them, more than anything though, he is infinitely patient when it comes to signing autographs.

“He is a great asset to the club and he knows he will always be welcome at Weedon Lane.”