Budding young England Red Rose Amelia is among those celebrating results day today.

Following a summer that saw her called up to compete at the inaugural Six Nations Under 20s Women’s Summer Series in Parma, Italy, the 19-year-old was proud to represent her country on the international stage.

Also selected to play for premiership rugby team Sale Sharks Women this year, she said: “There’s been a lot happening, but it has all been good.”

Today she achieved her Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science from Bede Sixth Form College in Billingham, the pinnacle of a year spent juggling her studies around the demands of her sport.

“It seems crazy to me to have been picked to represent England at this level,” said Amelia. “I come from a family that likes rugby, so I have always grown up around the sport.”

A former swimmer with a local team, the former St Michael’s Catholic Academy pupil is well accustomed to the demands of training but was looking for a new sport when she started college.

Drawn to Bede’s Institute of Sport and Education (ISE) Women’s Rugby Academy, she quickly discovered a passion beyond watching the sport.

Now also playing for Bishop Auckland Rugby Club, she said: “The last few months have been very stressful but as a former swimmer I have decent time management and the teachers at college and through the ISE academy have helped me loads.”

Of competing in Palma in the England rugby women’s pathway squad, she explained: “It was boiling playing at 28 degrees at night, but it has helped me to grow in confidence.”

Hoping to get more game time, both with Sale Sharks and the England under 20s squad, Amelia now plans to study chiropractic science at Teesside University.

She said: “I am looking forward to what is to come and to develop myself further this season.”