A FORMER Tavistock College student has recently returned from Poland after being in the GB Lions American Football Youth Team which beat the Polish team.

Elliot Hoyte, 16, is the youngest player in the national team. He is 6'4" tall and weighs 18 stone and is in his first season in the sport. He plays defensive line, which means he lines up nearest to the ball on defence. Defensive linemen are some of the biggest and strongest players on the field and have one of the toughest jobs on the field.

Elliot also plays for the Bristol Aztecs American Football Youth Team and previously played in the Devon County Rugby Over 16s team last season.

The sixth former also plays rugby at Ivybridge Community College, where he is part of their 'talented and gifted' sports elite.

His aim is to go to the USA on a football scholarship, and is following in the footsteps of his father, Nigel, who did just that some 20 years ago. Nigel is currently defensive ends coach for the GB Youth squad, but he has played for London Ravens, Brighton B52s, the University of Akron, Ohio, on a scholarship, for London Monarchs and as player/coach for the Cornish Sharks.