SIMON Whatling knows the ups and downs of professional rugby only too well, but he's definitely at the higher end of the emotional spectrum this week.

Along with former Wootton Bassett junior and Bath scrum-half Mike Baxter, the stocky centre was being put through his paces by the England U21 coaching staff yesterday in preparation for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament in that age group throughout February and March.

The initial squad of 33 was named late last week for an intense three days of training from Monday morning through to last night at Bath University.

It will be whittled down to 22 at a another three day session at Bath immediately prior to the first match against Wales on February 4.

It was something of a homecoming for the former Wansdyke and Devizes School pupil, now based at Zurich Premiership club Worcester, after he wasn't offered a new contract by Bath Rugby at the end of last season.

After leaving Devizes juniors at U11 age group, Whatling played for Chippenham juniors and then did A-levels at Oldfield School in Bath. He was one of the first crop of players to come through the Premiership club's academy system of development.

He played for Bath U19s and was on the bench for a first team game with Northampton in the 2001/02 season. But after playing all the pre-season matches in 2002/03, he fell out of favour for a spot in the centres, competing with the likes of Mike Tindall and Chippenham's Alex Crockett.

The 20-year-old admitted it wasn't an easy situation to deal with, but said family support from parents David and Lynda, who still live in the family home in Lawrence Close,Devizes, made it much easier.

"It really made me start treating rugby as a job, a club can put you up and down as they please, you've just got to deal with it," Whatling said.

"If you don't fit in, you look elsewhere."

He took up an offer from newly promoted Worcester, and said his season has been getting better and better. The icing on the cake being selection in the England squad.

But he is no stranger to the honour of wearing the English rose, representing his country in the U19 World Cup in South Africa last year and also winning caps at U16 and U18 level.

"It's great to be named, but now it's all about doing what the coaches want of you in camp," he said this week. "It's not just physical prowess, size and strength it's a lot to do with attitude as well.

"The way you act around people, not backing down, not wimping out of a situation, showing strength not weakness, it's all considered."

It may sound like something from The Running Man, but watching the squad perform exercises from hydrotherapy through to judo this week, the scene was more like the Brady Bunch.

"There's some new guys, but it's the same old faces really," said the former England U19 representative. "It's competitive but also good natured and it's actually really good to see all the boys again."

Whatling has enjoyed catching up with his former scrum-half Baxter, The Wootton Bassett boy has had a much more recent taste of club rugby at the highest level. He started in the unnacustomed position of wing for Bath's Heineken Cup 23-17 victory over Bourgoin on Saturday, testament to the 20-year-old's versatility, a quality which he hopes will endear him to the England selectors as well.