Number eight James Chisholm knows he is in for a stern physical test when the LV=Cup gets underway this weekend but the Harlequins No.8 admits he can’t wait to get stuck in, writes Pippa Field.

The 19-year-old formed part of the England team that retained the IRB Junior World Championship title this summer after a thrilling final defeat of South Africa in Auckland.

It capped off an impressive season for Chisholm, who made his first-team debut for Quins against Exeter in the LV=Cup before coming off the bench for his Premiership bow the following month.

And, while he has not featured in the league since, with Jack Clifford and Joe Trayfoot leading the battle to be Nick Easter’s understudy, Chisholm knows a run in the LV=Cup can help push his cause.

“I was thrown into it straight away last year, I was on the bench against Exeter down there which is a great place to go and great for my first bit of first-team rugby, it was a great experience to get on for five or ten minutes down there,” he said.

“And then a week later play against a strong Sale team with a strong pack and lots of Premiership players in there was great as well.

“I’m just hoping to get a little bit of an opportunity like last year. I’m hoping to get a bit of game time in the LV= Cup and who knows where it will take me?

“New Zealand is an awesome place to go and place rugby. I absolutely loved it. It’s cool to play against teams like Australia and South Africa which you don’t usually go.

“I really learnt a lot, but playing in the under-20s there is not that physicality and tempo that you get a first-team level.

“It’s not a level down at all because there are some fantastic players there but it is a little bit slower, a bit less physical.

“The LV= Cup is important to me because it is a chance to play first-team rugby with the lads and test myself and play against some good players.”

If physicality is what Chisholm is after then it doesn’t get much tougher than a trip to face last season’s Premiership runners-up Saracens at Allianz Park first up this weekend.

Newport Gwent Dragons arrive at The Stoop the following week while Bath and Gloucester lie in wait in the new year and Chisholm is relishing the chance to test himself and proving he is capable of stepping in to the not insignificant boots of Easter.

“We have Saracens first up, they’ll have a strong team out, full of good players, Premiership players,” he added.

“I’m really looking forward to it. In the LV= Cup, there’s bigger guys, they’re trying to hit you hard, it’s just obvious things and everything is a bit quicker, you’ve got to think on your feet.

“It’s a bit faster; you have to have a better body position because people are trying to hit you. It’s a steep learning curve but I really enjoyed it last year and hopefully it will be as good this time.”

Round One of the LV= Cup starts this weekend. For more information visit lv.com/rugby or follow @LVRugby