England rugby hero Jamie George never sat A-levels but still got two As after mum found loophole

JAMIE GEORGE grappled with a giant sumo wrestler on his first trip to Japan a decade ago.

But coming here for the 2009 Junior Rugby World Cup meant he NEVER tackled his A-Levels, thanks to a secret loophole dating back to World War Two.

The Saracens star revealed how his teacher mum, Jane, discovered the hidden get-out that meant he could pass his final year of school and still join Ben Youngs, Courtney Lawes and Joe Marler in Japan.

George said: ";I was in Japan during the time of my A-Levels.

"I got given my coursework grades as there was a loophole in the system that dated back to the war.

"So during the time of exams, you were given your coursework grades if you were on international duty. I got two As and a C.

"But the issue was that only two of my subjects had coursework and the other one, Philosophy, you sat an extra paper.

"The school were really good and said they would take on a coursework paper for me.

"I had two days to do it and I got a C, so I'll take that. My mates were fuming! Japan has happy memories."

TEN YEARS LATER

George was just 18 when he touched down on these islands for the first time.

Despite being a wide-eyed teenager thrust into a unique country and culture, he admitted he did not make the most of what was on offer.

Now 29, he recalled: "It was amazing. Obviously, it will be totally different this time round from a junior competition.

"I had only just left school. I don't think I fully embraced Japan at the time. I was a bit sceptical of doing something wrong.

He added: "I remember sitting in the meeting in January 2016 and Eddie Jones talked about where we were, being eighth in the world, bombing out of our home World Cup and that it wasn't good enough.

"But he said in four years' time we would be where we want to be, striving to win a World Cup and we would be World Cup winners.

"He said it and, potentially, we didn't believe it at the time but he got us all onboard and we have a really good opportunity to do something special."