For Ben Nutley, this season has already been one that has surpassed his own expectations.
Nevertheless, the Northampton Saints flanker will not be easing up.
Nutley, who hails from Luton and started off at the town’s rugby team, has seen plenty of action in both the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup for the club this season.
He made his breakthrough during the 2010/11 campaign with three appearances in the LV= Cup while several Saints players were away on international duty.
Call-ups to the World Cup at the start of this season saw him get his first taste of league and European action, and the 19-year-old is enjoying every minute.
“I went into this year after playing in a couple of LV= Cup games last year expecting mostly the same, but it has just gone from the strength to strength,” said Nutley.
“Playing in the Premiership and the Heineken Cup – it’s something I never thought I would do, but it has happened and I’ve really enjoyed it. It is a step up every time you play and it is a big learning curve, but it is not like I’m waiting years for my opportunity.
“I’m taking my opportunity and hopefully will get more in the future.”
With back row colleagues Tom Wood, Calum Clark and Phil Dowson all being named in the England squad for the Six Nations, Nutley is likely to get more playing time over the next two months.
He started for Northampton in both last weekend’s 46-14 LV= Cup pool defeat at Bath plus Saturday’s 57-10 win at home to Wasps and has found the intensity and physicality a step up from playing for the club’s second string, the Wanderers, in the A League.
He said: “The A League is quite good for that, but when you are playing in the first team everyone knows their jobs and everyone knows what to do.
“You don’t have to worry about other people, so the main thing is that you can focus on your own game and your own job.
“It’s not like one week you’re playing the hardest game in the world to an easy game the next – every game is full-on and it’s always going to be like that.
“There are no easy teams in the Premiership or the Heineken Cup, or even the LV= Cup. Every week is a contest and we enjoy it every week.”
Nutley is not the only youngster from the Saints Academy making their impact on the first team, with the likes of fellow youth team graduates Jamie Elliott, Mike Haywood and Alex Waller all eager to make a name for themselves.
Those that impress could well find that they remain in the first team when the England boys return, which is something that Nutley is keen to ensure he does.
He said: “It’s a great opportunity for me. I haven’t started in a while, but hopefully I can go out and carry on from where I left off.
“I just want to keep improving, keep getting the game time and showing people what I can do.
“I learnt a lot last season, but playing in the Premiership and the Heineken Cup is another step up.
“I’m still young and I’m still learning, so there is a long way to go but I’m enjoying it.”
