ARTHUR Garvan was in the international rugby spotlight on Saturday, writes Ryan Lovejoy.

The Salisbury-born youngster carried the match ball at the British & Irish Lions warm up game against the New South Wales Waratahs in front of a crowd of over 40,000 in Sydney, Australia.

Arthur, pictured below, attended St Mark’s Pre-school and Cathedral School before his family, with English mother Jane, decided to relocate to the homeland of his father, Tom.

The 12-year-old plays rugby for Beecroft Rugby Club and Barker College, and is the nephew of Salisbury Rugby Club coach John Coley and cousin to Rupert Coley, who will be visiting as part of the upcoming Bishops Wordsworth’s School rugby tour of Australia.

“Arthur was very excited and did an excellent job as ball runner, with family and friends across the world watching both at the stadium and at home in England,” said Jane.

“He was lucky enough to be on the field to watch both teams warm up and much later met his favourite Waratahs player Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Everyone agreed that his dual nationality made him the perfect candidate for the job.

“My husband and I also attended the game with Arthur’s brother, Henry. We all wore England jerseys and sat with both sets of supporters.

The atmosphere was fantastic and everyone was goodhumoured, particularly the Lions’ supporters as they won the game 47-17.

“There has been a great interest in the Lions’ tour to Australia, and we were all proud that Arthur had the opportunity to be a tiny part of it.”

The Lions will play three test matches against Australia – in Brisbane this Saturday, in Melbourne on June 29, and in Sydney on July 6.