Teenager Thomas gets Norway nod

Photo: PICTURE: DARREN ROBINSON

TALENTED TRIO: Saddleworth Rangers’ Norwegian contingent Lars Haigh (left), Thomas Hilton and Nils Haigh.

RUGBY:

AGED just 16, Thomas Hilton has received his first full international cap for Norway.

Scrum-half Thomas, who plays for Saddleworth Rangers under-18s, travelled to Malta to represent his country in the final game of the 2011 European Shield.

The teenager, from Greenfield, is one of the youngest players ever to get a full international cap.

Fellow Rangers and Norwegian players, Lars and Nils Haigh took Thomas, whose mother is from Norway, under their wing for the trip.

“At Thomas’s age it’s quite a big experience,” said dad, Matthew. “But he really enjoyed it.

“Lars and Nils were given the envious task of looking after him.”

Norway, nicknamed The Vikings, took on The Malta Knights, with expectations high after their surprise 32-28victory over Germany in the competition opener in July.

The Norwegians, who have only been involved in the sport since 2008, suffered a 64-24 defeat but Malta missed out on the silverware, falling short by five points to Germany.

Matthew said: “Malta have a very good side — Thomas’s opposite number was Bradford Bulls’ Jarrod Sammutt.

“We couldn’t go out to watch him in Malta as the call-up was such short notice, but we will definitely go to see him play in the future. As parents we are very proud and we have lots of family in Norway who are thrilled.”

Thomas will next join the squad in October, to play Denmark.