Now 17, Westlake has been included in an England coaching camp in preparation for April’s U18 Six Nations Competition in Vichy, France.
“England Rugby was always a massive thing for me growing up,” says Westlake, trying again.
“I just loved England and I’m very patriotic.
“I bear in mind moving into the tunnel and asking Chris Robshaw if he was prepared.
“Then we cracked on, went out and I think I thought I was going to play!
“You see me strolling out and virtually staring everybody down.
“Before it, my mum had said to me, ‘Make sure you sing it loud and sing it proud’.
“So I simply thought, ‘All proper, I will do this’.”
Westlake was playing for Devonport Services under-7s at the time, but already had his eyes on the big stage, with plans to become England fly-half or centre.
That part probably won’t come to pass.
Westlake, who plays in Exeter’s academy, is now a hard-running back row, channelling the energy and drive of Ben Earl and Henry Pollock, even if he does cite childhood hero Owen Farrell as the embodiment of the mentality he aspires to.
Westlake has already had to show resilience to keep pursuing his dream.
“Rugby has at all times been the main target, even when the trip hasn’t essentially been as clean because it might have been,” he says.
Westlake has Crohn’s disease, a chronic gut inflammation.
“I am on medicine which I take each eight weeks, which form of ticks me over and will get me by way of,” he explains.
“There was a two, three, four-year interval the place it was fairly robust, however we’re getting by way of it now.
“It affects energy levels so for two or three days before my medication is due, I’ll struggle and then a day after I’ll struggle as well.”
Harry’s anthem second was not his even his first expertise assembly the England squad.
After utilizing a picture of Harry on father Kevin’s shoulders at a match the earlier yr in publicity materials, the Rugby Soccer Union (RFU) had introduced each into the staff resort to fulfill the gamers and coach Stuart Lancaster.
