England Player Tells Of Owls Woe

England international rugby union player Danny Care has revealed he only made it in to the sport because he was turned down as a youngster at Wednesday - for being too small.

Care, now 21, made his debut for England when he came off the bench in the 37-20 defeat to New Zealand last Saturday and is expected to line up against the All Blacks again this Saturday.

But his career could have gone in a totally different path had he been successful as a youngster playing football in the junior ranks with the Owls, only to be told he was too small to make it as a professional footballer.

'The new academy manager came in and said: 'He's too small. He can't play football',' Care told BBC Sport.

'I felt I was good enough. That gave me motivation to never give up.'

Care, at 5ft 9in left Wednesday at 15 and within 18 months was involved in rugby union, which he also played at school as a youngster, and had signed for the Leeds rugby academy before going on to Harlequins.

He maybe too small to pull on the famous blue and white stripes, but he'll be big enough to take on the world's best when England face New Zealand this weekend - good luck Danny!

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