Kyle joins elite club

RUGBY UNION:

LIFE in the South West is good for Kyle Eastmond.

It’s now almost two years since the 24-year-old, Oldham-raised centre switched codes from Super League giants St Helens for the Aviva Premiership with Bath.

It took time for the former Radclyffe School pupil to adjust, but now his career is heading skywards thanks to the call-up to England head coach Stuart Lancaster’s 33-man elite player squad.

“I’m absolutely over the moon to have made it into the elite squad,” said Eastmond, who scored a try

on his first start for England in June against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

“I’ve worked hard at developing my game since I came to Bath and now it seems I’m being rewarded.

“I’ve still got a lot to learn about rugby union, but I’ve thought carefully in recent months about where I am and I have no regrets whatsoever.

“I’m so glad I moved down here. I’m nice and settled in an apartment in Bath and I’m enjoying myself.

“It took a bit of time to adjust and I missed the family, but that’s gone now and I’m looking

forward to the new season.”